Melaloncha gonzalezae, 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 : 52-53

Melaloncha gonzalezae new species

Fig. 42

Recognition. This species is easily recognized by the yellow body color and the setose lower lobe of the ovipositor.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 1.5–2.0 mm. Frons yellow; bare of setulae except few along eye margin and, in many specimens, dorsally­directed pair in location of supra­antennal setae (particularly well developed in holotype); ocellar triangle darkened. Mean frontal width 0.44 head width, range 0.41–0.49. Medial furrow absent. Ocular and genal setae light brown. Flagellomere 1 basally white, mostly yellow; aristomeres 1–2 and base of 3 yellow; rest of 3 brown. Palpus white; palpal setulae black. Scutum yellowish­brown, in some specimens with posterolateral dark brown spot. Scutellum yellowish­brown, with anterorlateral round black spot. Pleuron yellowishbrown, except basalare dark brown. Legs yellowish­brown. Combined length of foretarsomeres equal in length to foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Mean costal length 0.49 wing length, range 0.48–0.50. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites yellow anteriorly, black posteriorly. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor yellow at base, mostly black; slightly ventrally curved, tubular, with longer ventral lobe than dorsal lobe; with scattered setae of medium length, except denser on ventral lobe

Host. One specimen was captured attacking a worker of Plebeia sp.

Geographical distribution. Argentina.

Derivation of specific epithet. Named for Lisa Gonzalez, who has collected many Melaloncha specimens.

Holotype. ♀, ARGENTINA: Misiones : Reserva Vida Silvestre Urugua­í, 25.97°S, 54.11°W, 17.xii.2003, L. Gonzalez, G. Kung, honey spray, 400 m [ LACM ENT 187870 ] ( MACN).

Paratypes. ARGENTINA: Misiones : Reserva Vida Silvestre Urugua­í, 25.97°S, 54.11°W, 3♀, 9.xii.2003, 5♀, 10.xii.2003, 29♀, 11.xii.2003, 12♀, 15.xii.2003, 30♀, 17.xii.2003, 40♀, 18.xii.2003, 1♀, 21.xii.2003, 19♀, 27.xii.2003, 1♀, 28.xii.2003, B. Brown, L. Gonzalez, G. Kung, honey spray, bee screen, around bees on organic waste, 400 m ( CNCI, EMUS, LACM, MACN, MCZC, MZSP, SEMC, USNM, ZMUK) .

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.