Melaloncha mexicana, BORGMEIER, 1971

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 : 18-19

MELALONCHA MEXICANA BORGMEIER ( FIG. 46 )

Melaloncha mexicana Borgmeier, 1971: 131–132 , figs 169-171.

Holotype: ♀, MEXICO: Nayarit: 8 miles NW Acaponeta , 25.xi.1948, H. B. Leech (examined; MZSP).

Recognition. This species differs from M. hamata , the only other species with ventral hooks, by the more smoothly ventrally curved dorsal lobe of the ovipositor and by the more scattered ventral setae of the ovipositor ( Fig. 46 ).

Description. Body length 3.3 mm. Frons orange, except ocellar triangle black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Mean frontal width 0.26 head width. Frons with fine reticulate sculpturing, slightly shiny, slightly punctate (punctures shallow, nearly invisible), with small dark setulae. Median furrow present. Frontal setae normal; arrangement of frontal setae unmodified, with ventral interfrontal setae near venter of frons. Dorsal interfrontal setae present, 0.4 length of postocellar setae, approximately one-half distance between level of ventral ocellus and dorsal fronto-orbital setae. Palpus with two apical, medium-sized black setae in addition to usual short yellow setae. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowish-brown, slightly expanded. Combined length of fore tarsomeres approximately 0.7 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 finely bifurcate at apex. Mid and hind leg yellowish-brown. Mean costal length 0.53 wing length. Wing vein R 2+3 present. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor slightly dorsoventrally flattened; consisting of lightly sclerotized, longer dorsal lobe that curves ventrally at apex and ventral pair of heavily sclerotized, ventrally curved hooks, slightly deflected ventrally at apex. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor large, relatively fine, widely spaced. Ventrally, ovipositor with several long, thick setae along length. Surface of ovipositor with faint, irregular, reticulate sculpturing.

Geographical distribution. Mexico.

Figures

Figures 44–47. M. mexicana-subgroup, ovipositors. Fig. 44, dorsal. Figs 45–47, left lateral. 47, right inset, details of ovipositor apex.