Melaloncha basella, 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 : 26

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00086.x
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5491126
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1C4A482B-3E2D-4F1D-FF41-3D68FD23F9F4
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Melaloncha basella
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

MELALONCHA BASELLA View in CoL SP. NOV. ( FIGS 60, 66 View Figures 56–66 )

Recognition. This species can be recognized by the group of thick lateral setae at the base of the ovipositor, visible in dorsal view ( Fig. 60 View Figures 56–66 ).

Description. Body length 4 mm. Frons orange, except vertex and ocellar region, which are black. Setal base of all setae coloured like rest of frons. Frons 0.21 head width; with fine reticulate sculpturing, not shiny, punctate, with small, black setulae. Median furrow absent. Frontal setae normal (except for presence of single supra- antennal seta on right side); arrangement of frontal setae unmodified, with ventral interfrontal setae near venter of frons. Dorsal interfrontal setae present, 0.6 length of postocellar setae, approximately 0.4 distance from ventral ocellus to dorsal fronto-orbital setae. Palpus unmodified. Ocular and genal setae flattened, yellow. Fore tarsomeres yellowish-brown, relatively narrow. Combined length of fore tarsomeres approximately 0.9 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. Costa 0.57 wing length. Wing vein R 2+3 present, but as incomplete basal remnant only. Tergite 6 of similar colour to other tergites. Tergites 2–6 lateroventrally black, with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen grey. Ovipositor elongate, narrow, relatively tubular, dorsally slightly flattened, slightly curved ventrally. In dorsal view, lateral setae of ovipositor arranged in basal group of thick setae and more apical group of thin setae. Ventrally, ovipositor with minute, sparse setae. Surface of ovipositor with faint, irregular, reticulate sculpturing.

Geographical distribution. Costa Rica.

Etymology. Latin diminutive noun for base, referring to the large setae at the base of the ovipositor.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: San José: 14 km N San Isidro , 9.37∞N, 83.70∞W, 20–23.vi.1974, J. Donahue, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 093440 About LACM ] ( LACM).