Melaloncha prostata, 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 : 40-41

Melaloncha prostata new species

Fig. 27

Recognition. This species differs from the others in the M. stylata group by the narrow, strongly projecting dorsal and ventral lobes of the ovipositor.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 2.0 mm. Frons yellow, bare of setulae except few along eye margin; ocellar triangle black. Frons 0.38 head width. Medial furrow absent. Ocular and genal setae light brown. Flagellomere 1 white basally, yellow apically; aristomeres 1–2 yellow, 3 brown. Palpus and palpal setulae yellow. Scutum yellowish­brown, with dark brown posterior band. Scutellum dark brown, with anterolateral black round spots. Pleuron yellow, except basalare dark brown. Legs yellow. Combined length of foretarsomeres 0.7 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Costa 0.49 wing length. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites yellow anteriorly, black posteriorly. Ovipositor yellow at base, mostly black; elongate, narrow; dorsal lobe narrow, projecting, laterally flattened; ventral lobe narrow; dorsal lobe with short setae, ventral lobe with longer, thicker setae.

Host. Unknown.

Geographical distribution. Northeastern Mexico.

Derivation of specific epithet. Latin prostatus for stand out or project, referring to the elongate dorsal lobe of the ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, MEXICO: Tamaulipas: 6 mi W Gomez Farias , 14.iii.1986, R. Jones, R. Trevino, ex. composite flowers, 800 m [ LACM ENT 111373 ] ( TAMU).

Figures

FIGURES 25–31. Melaloncha spp., female, ovipositor. Figs. 25–29. Left lateral. Figs. 30–31. Dorsal.