Melaloncha dibitettii, 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 : 48-49

Melaloncha dibitettii new species

Fig. 38

Recognition. This small yellow species is distinctive in its lack of the ventral frontoorbital and ventral interfrontal setae.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 1.5–1.9 mm. Frons dark yellow, bare of setulae except few along eye margin, ventral fronto­orbital and ventral interfrontal setae absent; ocellar triangle black. Mean frontal width 0.48 head width, range 0.43–0.50. Medial furrow absent. Ocular and genal setae yellow. Flagellomere 1 white basally, mostly yellow; aristomeres 1–2 and base of 3 yellow, apex of 3 brown. Palpus white; palpal setulae thin, yellow. Scutum yellowish­brown, with posterolateral dark brown spot. Scutellum yellowish­brown, with anterolateral round black spot. Pleuron yellowishbrown, except basalare black. Legs yellowish­brown. Combined length of foretarsomeres equal to length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Mean costal length 0.48 wing length, range 0.44–0.50. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites anteriorly yellow, posteriorly black. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor basally yellow, mostly black; tubular, except indented along lateral seam of dorsal and ventral lobes; slightly in apical one­third; with scattered, short setae.

Host. At Zona Protectora El Rodeo, Costa Rica, we observed this species attacking Plebeia sp. The flies generally resembled M. acoma Brown & Kung (2006) , but were first recognized by their different behavior: unlike M. acoma , which attack from a 45° angle in front (behavior described by Brown & Kung, 2006), this species attacks from the side of the bee (90° angle), apparently aiming for the posterior part of the head or anterior part of the thorax.

At Urugua­í, Argentina, we observed this species attacking Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille) and Plebeia sp.

Geographical distribution. Argentina, Costa Rica.

Derivation of specific epithet. Named for Dr. Mario Di Bitetti, who along with his wife, Daniela Rode, were extremely helpful during our visit to Misiones.

Holotype. ♀, ARGENTINA: Misiones : Reserva Vida Silvestre Urugua­í, 25.97°S, 54.11°W, 15.xii.2003, B. Brown, honey spray, 400 m [ LACM ENT 188374 ] ( MACN).

Paratypes. ARGENTINA: Misiones: Loreto , 27.32°S, 55.53°W, 1♀, i.2001, P. Fidalgo, Malaise trap ( LACM) , Parque Nacional Iguazu , 25.68°S, 54.44°W, 1♀, 2.xii.2003, B. Brown, G. Kung, bee screen ( LACM) , 2♀, 4.xii.2003, B. Brown, G. Kung, Syagrus palm flowers ( LACM, MACN) , Reserva Vida Silvestre Urugua­í , 25.97°S, 54.11°W , 6♀, 10.xii.2003, 5♀, 11.xii.2003, 11♀, 12.xii.2003, 6♀, 15.xii.2003, 10♀, 17.xii.2003, 15♀, 18.xii.2003, 3♀, 21.xii.2003, 2♀, 22.xii.2003, 5♀, 27.xii.2003, 3♀, 28.xii.2003, 6♀, 29.xii.2003, B. Brown, L. Gonzalez, G. Kung, honey spray, 400 m ( LACM, MACN, MCZC, USNM) . COSTA RICA: Guanacaste: Bagaces, Palo Verde, Cerro Guayacán , 17♀, 9.ii–10.iii.2000, I. Jiménez, Malaise trap, #55155 ( INBC) ; San José: Zona Protectora El Rodeo, 9.91°N, 84.28°W, 1♀, 1.viii.2001, B. Brown, G. Kung, attacking Plebeia bees ( LACM) , 1♀, 8.viii.2001, B. Brown, G. Kung, bee screen ( LACM) .

Figures

FIGURES 32–42. Melaloncha spp., female, ovipositor, left lateral (except Fig. 40, bottom). Figures. 39 and 40 showing intersegmental membrane and sclerite of intersegment 7–8.