Melaloncha punctifrons Borgmeier, 1934

Brown, Brian V., 2006, Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 1280 (1), pp. 1-68 : 15-16

Melaloncha punctifrons Borgmeier

Figs. 2–4

Melaloncha punctifrons Borgmeier, 1934, p. 171 , figs. 1, 11, plate 3 fig. 2 (♂; Mapiri, Lorenzapata, Bolivia). ­ Borgmeier & Prado, 1975, p. 54 (♀; Vilhena, Rondônia, Brazil).

Holotype. ♀, BOLIVIA: Mapiri , Lorenzapata, 10.v.1903 (not examined; Dresden).

Recognition. The punctate frons lacking most frontal setae, plus the elongate ovipositor, makes this species easy to distinguish. Males, described here for the first time, also lack most frontal setae.

Description. Female. Body length 1.3–1.7 mm. Frons pale yellowish­brown, evenly setulose and punctate; ocellar triangle with dark coloration encircling each ocellus. Interfrontal and fronto­orbital setae absent; only postocellar, inner and outer vertical setae present. Mean frontal width 0.37 head width, range 0.35–0.39. Ocular and genal setae yellow. Flagellomere 1 basally white, mostly yellow; aristomeres 1–2 yellow, aristomere 3 brown. Palpus yellow; palpal setulae yellow to dark brown, apical seta black. Scutum yellow to light brown. Scutellum light brown. Pleuron yellow to white, except basalare dark brown. Legs yellow to yellowish­brown (some specimens are darker in overall body color). Combined length of foretarsomeres approximately 1.1 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws unmodified, without basal lobe. Mean costal length 0.55 wing length, range 0.52–0.58. Halter yellow to brown. Abdominal tergites vary in color from mostly yellow with small, dark brown, posterior spots to mostly dark brown with small anterior yellow markings. Venter of abdomen white. Ovipositor dark brown to black; greatly elongate, tubular, narrow; with scattered short setae.

Male. Frons yellow, except ocellar triangle with band of black. Flagellomere 1 basally white, mostly yellow; aristomeres 1–2 yellow, aristomere 3 brown. Postocular setae brown, genal setae brown to black. Palpus yellow; palpal setulae black. Scutum yellowishbrown. Pleuron yellowish­brown to white, except basalare dark brown. Legs yellowishbrown. Abdominal tergites vary as do those of female. Venter of abdomen white. Cercus yellow. Epandrium with long, dense setae.

Host. Unknown.

Geographical distribution. Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama. In addition to the specimens listed below, Borgmeier & Prado (1975) recorded this species from Rondonia, Brazil, and I saw several further specimens in the MPEG collection from the Brazilian states of Acre, Amapa, and Pará. It is interesting that many of the MPEG specimens were collected from Malaise traps suspended in the forest canopy.

Material examined. BRAZIL: Pará: Serra Norte, Managanes , 1♂, 19–22.viii.1984, armadilha suspensa 20 m ( MPEG) , V’gia – MATA, 1♀, 9.xii.1988, armadilha suspensa 15 m, I. S. Gorayeb, ( MPEG) . COLOMBIA: Amazonas: PNN Amacayacu, Mocagua , 3.82°S, 70.26°W, 1♀, 7–14.viii.2000, A. Parente, Malaise trap, CAP­ 677, 150 m ( UNCB) ; Caquetá: PNN Chiribiquete, Rio Mesay , 0.23°N, 72.93°W, 1♀, 25.i.2000, E. González, FIT, 300 m ( UNCB) ; Valle de Cauca: PN Farallones de Cali, Alto Anchicaya , 3.43°N, 76.80°W, 1♀, 18.vii–1.viii.2000, S.Sarria, Malaise trap, CAP­ 1101, 730 m ( LACM) . COSTA RICA: Alajuela: 20 km S Upala , 1♂, 15.vii.1990, F. D. Parker ( EMUS) ; Guanacaste: Estación Pitilla , 9 km S Santa Cecilia, 1♂, x.1994, P. Ríos, 700 m, #3294 ( INBC) ; Heredia: Chilamate , 10.45°N, 84.08°W, 1♂, 1♀, vii–x.1990, P. Hanson, Malaise trap ( LACM) , La Selva Biological Station , 10.43°N, 84.02°W, 1♂, 2♀, 3.iii.1993, ALAS, Malaise trap M/01/16, M/12/027, 1♀, 14.vi.1993, ALAS, Malaise trap M/12/134, 1♀, 10.viii.1995, ALAS, Malaise trap M/12/421 ( INBC, LACM) , 11 km SE La Virgen , 10.33°N, 84.07°W, 1♀, 23.ii.2003, ALAS, 05/M/13/013, 500 m ( INBC) . PANAMA: Darien: Cruce de Mono , 7.92°N, 77.62°W, 1♀, 6.ii–4.iii.1993, R. Cambra, J. Coronado, Malaise trap ( LACM) .

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Melaloncha spp., female. Fig. 1. Ovipositor, dorsal. Fig. 2. Head, anterior. Figure. 3. Ovipositor, left lateral. Fig. 4. Ovipositor, dorsal.