Melaloncha xanthocauda, Brown, 2006

Brown, Brian V., 2006, Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 1280 (1), pp. 1-68 : 22

Melaloncha xanthocauda new species

Fig. 6

Recognition. Within the M. digitalis group, this species is immediately recognizable by the yellow ovipositor.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 2.0 mm. Frons yellowish­brown, bare of setulae; ocellar triangle black. Head unusually narrow, frons 0.53 head width. Dorsal ocular setae black, lateral ocular and genal setae yellow. Flagellomere 1 orange; arista dark brown. Palpus yellow; palpal setulae yellow, except apical seta black; all setae short, fine. Scutum medium brown, except light brown at anteroventral corners; with dark medial line. Scutellum light brown. Pleuron yellowish­brown, except basalare and anepimeron dark brown. Legs yellowish­brown. Combined length of foretarsomeres approximately 1.1 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws simple, unmodified, without basal lobe. Costa 0.52 wing length. Halter white. Abdominal tergites dark brown with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen dark gray. Ovipositor yellow; tube­shaped, dorsally curved; densely setose.

Host. Unknown. A second specimen, which subsequently was lost, was collected at a mixed aggregation of bees attracted to sprayed honey, including A. mellifera and Plebeia spp.

Geographical distribution. Argentina (specimen lost) and Peru.

Derivation of specific epithet. The name is based on Latin for yellow tail, referring to the color of the ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, PERU: Madre de Dios: Zona Reserva Manu, Pakitza , 11.95°S, 71.28°W, 1–6.iii.1992, R. Cambra, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 054801 ] ( LACM).

A second specimen, apparently now lost, had the following data: ARGENTINA: Misiones : Reserva Vida Silvestre Urugua­í, 25.97°S, 54.11°W, 18.xii.2003, L. Gonzalez, G. Kung, honey­sprayed undergrowth .

Figures

FIGURES 5–8. Melaloncha spp., female. Figs. 5–6. Head, anterior. Figs. 7–8. Ovipositor, left lateral. Abbreviations: vfo—ventral fronto­orbital seta, vif—ventral interfrontal seta.