Melaloncha pilidorsata, 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 : 25

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.1280.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:55F01BD6-4319-49C1-AA45-AAF0B27AEF15
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5072651
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03870D30-FF8F-6310-7313-0499FAF14610
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Melaloncha pilidorsata
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Melaloncha pilidorsata View in CoL new species

Fig. 11 View FIGURES 9–12

Recognition. This yellowish species can be recognized by the shortened foretarsal segments and the dense dorsal setae of the ovipositor. The common and widespread species M. maculata is similar in general appearance, but has tarsal claws of the apical foretarsomere with a basal lobe, narrower foretarsomeres, and the ovipositor dorsally curved (straight in M. pilidorsata ).

Description. Female (male unknown) Body length 1.5–1.8 mm. Frons yellow, bare of setulae except few along eye margin; each ocellus surrounded by black. Mean frontal width 0.46 head width, range 0.45–0.47. Medial furrow absent. Ocular and genal setae light brown. Flagellomere 1, aristomeres 1, 2 and base of 3 yellow; rest of 3 brown. Palpus white; palpal setulae brown. Scutum yellowishbrown with posterolateral dark brown spot. Scutellum yellowishbrown with anterolateral round black spot. Pleuron yellowishbrown, except basalare dark brown. Legs yellowishbrown. Combined length of foretarsomeres 0.8 length of foretibia; foretarsomeres short, flat. Foretarsal claws unmodified, without basal lobe. Mean costal length 0.49 wing length, range 0.45–0.51. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites yellow anteriorly, black posteriorly. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor yellow basally, mostly black; relatively straight, tubular, but flattened dorsally; with dense mediumlength setae dorsally.

Host. Unknown.

Geographical distribution. Peru and Bolivia.

Derivation of specific epithet. Latin pilus for hair and dorsum for back, referring to the dorsally setose ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, PERU: Madre de Dios: Tambopata Research Center , 13.14°S, 69.61°W, 22.vii.2001, B. Brown, G. Kung, honeysprayed leaves [ LACM ENT 075455 About LACM ] ( MUSM). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. BOLIVIA: La Paz: Alto Rio Beni, south of Rio Inicua , 1100 m, 2♀, 15–18.i.1976, L. E. Peña ( AMNH) . PERU: Madre de Dios: Tambopata Research Center , 13.14°S, 69.61°W, 1♀, 24.vii.2001, B. Brown, G. Kung, honeysprayed leaves ( LACM) GoogleMaps .