Melaloncha hirsuta, 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 : 54-56

Melaloncha hirsuta new species

Fig. 44

Recognition. As mentioned in the Recognition of M. gomezi , this species is similar, and might be just a variant of the latter. The ovipositor, however, is much broader dorsally, and much more setose, so for now I recognize it as a separate species.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 2.1 mm. Frons orange, bare of setulae except for few along eye margin; ocellar triangle black. Frons 0.49 head width. Medial furrow absent. Ocular setae black dorsally and ventrally, brown laterally; genal setae black. Flagellomere 1 white basally, mostly yellow; aristomeres 1–2 yellow, 3 brown. Palpus white; palpal setae black. Scutum yellowish­brown with posterolateral dark brown spot. Scutellum yellow, with anterolateral dark round spot. Pleuron yellowishbrown except basalare black. Legs yellowish­brown. Combined length of foretarsomeres 0.87 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Costa 0.52 wing length. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites anteriorly yellow, posteriorly black. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor yellow at base, mostly dark brown to black; relatively straight (with only slight dorsal bend at basal one­third), laterally and dorsally flattened; slightly differentiated into narrow dorsal and larger ventral lobe; with long setae concentrated near apex; setae densest dorsally, ventrally and especially laterally.

Host. Scaptotrigona limae Brèthes.

Geographical distribution. Colombia.

Derivation of specific epithet. Latin hirsutus for hairy, referring to the dense setae at the apex of the ovipositor.

Holotype. COLOMBIA: Cundinamarca: Arbalaez , 4.27°N, 74.41°W, 7.x.2000, V. Gonzalez, 1500 m, nest entrance Scaptotrigona limae [ LACM ENT 120268 ] ( UNCB).

Figures

FIGURES 43–53. Melaloncha spp., female, ovipositor, left lateral (except Figs. 52 and 53, bottom). Figs. 45 and 52 showing intersegmental membrane and sclerite of intersegment 7–8.