Melaloncha vargasi, 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 : 21-22

MELALONCHA VARGASI SP. NOV. ( FIGS 50, 55 )

Recognition. This species differs most notably from the similar M. spatula by the parallel-sided ovipositor in dorsal view.

Description. Body length 2.5–2.9 mm. Frons orange, except vertex and ocellar region, which are black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Mean frontal width 0.3 head width; range 0.28–0.31. Frons with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, punctate, with small, black setulae. Median furrow faint, but present. 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, approximately 0.4 distance from ventral ocellus to dorsal frontoorbital setae. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowishbrown, except tarsomeres 4 and 5 dark brown, tarsomeres slightly expanded. 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. Mean costal length 0.55 wing length; range 0.53–0.57. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor elongate, parallel-sided, dorsoventrally flattened at apex; ventrally with small swelling at mid-length, slightly deflected ventrally at apex. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor thin, short, relatively numerous. Ventrally, ovipositor with short, fine, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, somewhat longitudinally directed sculpturing. Intersegment 7–8 broadly triangular.

Host. The specimens from TYC were collected at an aggregation of bees, dominated by the most likely host Partamona cf. cupeira Smith (sensu Roubik, 1992). Also present were much smaller Plebia spp. and Apis mellifera . The specimen from La Selva was also collected in an aggregation of different species of bees, but was seen attacking Trigona amalthea silvestriana Vachal.

Geographical distribution. Lowland Costa Rica.

Etymology. Named after José Rogelio Vargas, who encouraged collecting and research at TYC.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: 5.5 km SW Rincon , TYC, 8.70∞N, 83.51∞W, 11.viii.2001, B. Brown, V. Berezovskiy, E. Zumbado, honey sprayed leaves [ LACM ENT 089484 ]( INBC).

Paratypes. COSTA RICA: Heredia: La Selva Biological Station , 10.43∞N, 84.02∞W, 1♀, 15.iii.1994, ALAS, Malaise trap M/01/376 ( INBC), 1♀ [abdomen only; rest of body used for molecular analysis], 16.ii.2002, B. Brown, attacking bees Trigona amalthea silvestriana (LACM) ; Puntarenas: 5.5 km SW Rincon , TYC, 8.70∞N, 83.51∞W, 1♀, 11.viii.2001, B. Brown, V. Berezovskiy, E. Zumbado, honey sprayed leaves ( LACM) .

Figures

Figures 48–55. Melaloncha spp., ovipositors. Figs 48–50: dorsal. Figs 51–55: left lateral.