Melaloncha paxilla, 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 : 24

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00086.x

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1C4A482B-3E23-4F13-FF43-3914FAE5FC0A

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Melaloncha paxilla
status

sp. nov.

MELALONCHA PAXILLA View in CoL SP. NOV. ( FIGS 57, 62 View Figures 56–66 )

Recognition. This species differs from M. aprica by having a narrower ovipositor with a dorsoapical, pegshaped process ( Fig. 57 View Figures 56–66 ).

Description. Body length 2.1–2.2 mm. Frons orange, except ocellar triangle black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Mean frontal width 0.30 head width; range 0.29–0.31. Frons with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, weakly punctate, with small, pale setulae. Median furrow absent. Frontal setae normal; arrangement of frontal setae unmodified, with ventral interfrontal setae near venter of frons. Dorsal interfrontal setae present, 0.6 length of postocellar setae, slightly ventral to level of ventral ocellus. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowish-brown, slightly expanded. Combined length of fore tarsomeres approximately 0.6 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. Mean costal length 0.52 wing length; range 0.51–0.53. Tergite 6 with all but posterolateral corners orange. Tergites 2– 6 lateroventrally orange. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor slightly dorsoventrally flattened; basally broad (but slightly narrower than in M. aprica ), narrowing apically; with prominent lateral emargination; relatively straight, with dorsomedial process. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor thin, short. Ventrally, ovipositor with short, fine, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, irregular, reticulate sculpturing.

Geographical distribution. Mexico.

Etymology. Latin noun paxillus for nail or peg, referring to the small, peg-like process on the ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, MEXICO: Puebla: 3 mi NW Petlalcingo , 4.iii.1972, F. Parker, D. Miller [ LACM ENT 055909 View Materials ] ( USNM).

Paratype. MEXICO: Jalisco: Puerto Vallarta , 1♀, 25.i.1984, G. E. Bohart [Malaise trap] ( LACM) .

LACM

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

USNM

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Diptera

Family

Phoridae

Genus

Melaloncha

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