Melaloncha sinuosa, Brown, 2004

Brown, Brian V., 2004, Revision of the subgenus Udamochiras of Melaloncha beekilling flies (Diptera: Phoridae: Metopininae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 140 (1), pp. 1-42 : 36

MELALONCHA SINUOSA SP. NOV. ( FIG. 94 )

Recognition. This species can be recognized easily by the sinuous outline of the ovipositor in lateral view ( Fig. 94 ).

Description. Body length 2.3 mm. Frons black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Frons 0.3 head width; with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, with small punctures and small, black setulae restricted to lateral one-third. Median furrow faint, but present. Frontal setae normal; arrangement of frontal setae unmodified, with ventral interfrontal setae near venter of frons. Dorsal interfrontal setae present, 0.5 length of postocellar setae, approximately 0.4 distance from ventral ocellus to dorsal fronto-orbital setae. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowish-brown, slightly expanded. Combined length of fore tarsomeres approximately 0.8 tibial length. Fore tarsomere 1 approximately twice as long as tarsomere 2. Fore tarsomere 5 relatively narrow. Pulvilli of fore leg large. Tarsal claws of all legs small, finely bifurcate at apex. Mid and hind leg yellowish-brown. Costa 0.49 wing length. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor laterally compressed in apical one-half, sinuous in lateral view, curved ventrally in apical one-third. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor numerous, thin. Ventrally, ovipositor with longer, thicker setae in basal one-half and shorter, thinner setae in apical one-half. Surface of ovipositor with faint, somewhat longitudinally directed sculpturing.

Geographical distribution. Amazonian Brazil.

Etymology. Latin adjective for winding, referring to the sinuous shape of the ovipositor in lateral view.

Holotype. ♀, BRAZIL: Amazonas : 60 km N Manaus, Reserva Campina, 2.5∞S, 60.0∞W, 8–19.vi.1992, J. Vidal [ LACM ENT 035996 ] ( INPA).

Figures

Figures 87–97. Melaloncha spp., ovipositors. Fig. 87, dorsal and left lateral. Figs 88–91, dorsal. Figs 92–97, left lateral.