Melaloncha stylata (Schiner)

Brown, Brian V., 2006, Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 1280 (1), pp. 1-68 : 42

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.5072687

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03870D30-FFBE-6321-7313-0434FCA846E2

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Melaloncha stylata (Schiner)
status

 

Melaloncha stylata (Schiner) View in CoL

Figs. 29, 31 View FIGURES 25–31

Phora stylata Schiner, 1868, p. 224 View in CoL .

Melaloncha stylata: Brues, 1904, p. 375 View in CoL . ­ Schmitz, 1927, p. 176.

Holotype: ♀, VENEZUELA [no other data], 1864, Lindig [ LACM ENT 210780 View Materials ] (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; examined). Note in the original description the type locality is given as Colombia, but this incorrect locality information is a problem also found with tachinid types in the Schiner collection (P. Sehnal, personal communication).

Recognition. This species can be distinguished from its close relatives by the relatively narrow dorsal process of the ovipositor, which has relatively short, thin setae.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 2.2–2.9 mm. Frons yellow, bare; ocellar triangle dark. Mean frontal width 0.45, range 0.43–0.47. Medial furrow absent. Ocular and genal setae yellow. Flagellomere 1 basally white to yellow, apically yellow; aristomeres 1–2 and base of 3 yellow, apex of 3 dark. Palpus white; palpal setulae yellow. Scutum yellowish­brown, with small dark brown posterolateral spot. Scutellum yellow, with anterolateral dark round spot. Pleuron yellow except basalare black. Legs yellow. Combined length of foretarsomeres 0.86 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Mean costa length 0.51 wing length, range 0.47–0.53. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites mostly yellow, with black posterior strip. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor yellow on basal one­fifth, apically dark brown to black; dorsal lobe narrow in dorsal view, with relatively small, sparse lateral setae; ventral lobe elongate posteroventrally, although less to than in M. kittsonae , with few long setae; rest of ovipositor with only short, scattered setae.

Host. We have observed this species attacking Partamona cupira and Apis mellifera at Las Cruces.

Geographical distribution. Costa Rica to Ecuador.

Other material examined. COSTA RICA: Guanacaste: PN Guanacaste, Estación Pitilla , 1♀, vii.1994, P. Rios, # 3140, 700 m ( INBC) ; Heredia: La Selva Biological Station , 10.43°N, 84.02°W, 1♀, 15.iii.1993, 1♀, 30.vi.1995, ALAS, Malaise trap M/10/32, M/08/ 393 ( INBC, LACM) GoogleMaps ; Puntarenas: Las Cruces , 8.79°N, 82.95°W, 1♀, 12.vi.1998, 4♀, 13.vi.1998, B. Brown, V. Berezovskiy, flowers of Syagrus coronata (LACM, MUCR) , 1♀, 17.v.2000, G. Kung, dead Syagrus coronata flowers ( LACM) GoogleMaps , 5.5 km SW Rincon, Tropical Youth Center , 8.70°N, 83.51°W, 1♀, 10.viii.2001, B. Brown, V. Berezovskiy, E. Zumbado, honey­sprayed leaves ( LACM) GoogleMaps , 1♀, 25.vii.2002, L. Gonzalez, honey sprayed undergrowth ( LACM) . ECUADOR: Pichincha: Tinalandia, E. of Santo Domingo , 3♀, 8–14.v.1988, Hanson & Bohart ( EMUS, LACM) .

LACM

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

INBC

Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio)

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Diptera

Family

Phoridae

Genus

Melaloncha

Loc

Melaloncha stylata (Schiner)

Brown, Brian V. 2006
2006
Loc

Melaloncha stylata:

Schmitz, H. 1927: 176
Brues, C. T. 1904: 375
1904
Loc

Phora stylata

Schiner, I. R. 1868: 224
1868
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