Melaloncha villosa, 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 : 37

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00086.x
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5491140
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1C4A482B-3E10-4F20-FF36-3F38FAEDFE43
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Melaloncha villosa
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

MELALONCHA VILLOSA View in CoL SP. NOV. ( FIGS 90, 96 View Figures 87–97 )

Recognition. The ovipositor of this species is distinctive, with its narrowed apex and the large number of medium-sized lateral setae in dorsal view ( Fig. 90 View Figures 87–97 ).

Description. Body length 3 mm. Frons orange, except vertex and ocellar region, which are black. Setal base of dorsal fronto-orbital setae black. Frons 0.21 head width; with fine reticulate sculpturing, not shiny, punctate, with small, black setulae. Median furrow absent. 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, level with ventral ocellus. Palpus with 3–4 shorter, subapical setae in addition to usual longer apical seta and short yellow setae. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowish-brown, except tarsomere 5 dark brown. Fore tarsomeres relatively narrow. Combined length of fore tarsomeres approximately 0.8 tibial length. Fore tarsomere 1 approximately twice as long as tarsomere 2. Fore tarsomere 5 slightly expanded. Pulvilli of fore leg large. Tarsal claws of all legs small, finely bifurcate at apex. Mid and hind leg yellowish-brown, with tarsomeres 4–5 and apex of tarsomere 3 of mid leg dark brown dorsally. Costa 0.51 wing length. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor relatively tubular in shape, apically narrowed, slightly deflected ventrally at apex. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor numerous, thin. Ventrally, ovipositor with short, fine, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, irregular, reticulate sculpturing.

Geographical distribution. Costa Rica.

Etymology. Latin for hairy, referring to the lateral setation of the ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: San José: 6 km N San Gerardo , 9.95∞N, 84.05∞W, viii.1993, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, 2800 m [ LACM ENT 001441 View Materials ] ( LACM).