Melaloncha ruinensis, 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 : 34

Melaloncha ruinensis new species

Fig. 19

Recognition. This species differs from others in the M. sinistra group by its long, evenly curved ovipositor that lacks differentiated longer apical setae.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 2.1 mm. Frons orange, punctate; ocellar triangle black. Frons 0.33 head width. Median furrow present, shallow. Ocular and genal setae black. Flagellomere 1 basally white, apically yellow; arista dark brown. Palpus yellow; palpal setulae black. Scutum dark brown, except large area anterolaterally and small areas posterolaterally light brown. Scutellum dark brown. Pleuron mixture of light and dark brown; basalare dark brown. Legs yellowish­brown, except apex of hind femur dark brown. Forefemur dilated with anteriorly­extended flange on apical one­half. Combined length of foretarsomeres approximately 0.6 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Costa 0.47 wing length. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites black, anteriorly with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen gray. Ovipositor dark brown; elongate, narrow, dorsally flattened, curved dorsally; with sparse, short setae, mostly dorsally.

Host. Unknown.

Geographical distribution. Argentina.

Derivation of specific epithet. Named for the type locality.

Holotype. ♀, ARGENTINA: Misiones : Loreto, Ruinas Jesuiticas, 27.77°S, 57.28°W, 24.viii.2000, P. Fidalgo, yellow pan trap [ LACM ENT 055159 ] ( MACN).

Figures

FIGURES 13–24. Melaloncha spp., female, ovipositor. Figs. 13–21. Left lateral. Figs. 22–24. Dorsal.