Melaloncha punctifrons Borgmeier, 1934 , p. 171
Borgmeier & Prado, 1975 , p. 54
Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae)
Brown, Brian V.
Zootaxa
2006
2006-08-03
1280
1
1
68
3Z4CR
Borgmeier
Borgmeier
1934
[264,697,1262,1288]
Insecta
Phoridae
Melaloncha
Animalia
Diptera
14
15
Arthropoda
species
punctifrons
Figs. 2–4
Melaloncha punctifrons Borgmeier, 1934, p. 171, figs. 1, 11, plate 3 fig. 2 ( ♂; Mapiri, Lorenzapata, Bolivia). Borgmeier & Prado, 1975, p. 54( ♀; Vilhena, Rondônia, Brazil).
Holotype. ♀, BOLIVIA: Mapiri, Lorenzapata, 10.v.1903(not examined; Dresden). Recognition.The punctate frons lacking most frontal setae, plus the elongate ovipositor, makes this species easy to distinguish. Males, described here for the first time, also lack most frontal setae.
Description.Female. Body length 1.3–1.7 mm. Frons pale yellowishbrown, evenly setulose and punctate; ocellar triangle with dark coloration encircling each ocellus. Interfrontal and frontoorbital setae absent; only postocellar, inner and outer vertical setae present. Mean frontal width 0.37 head width, range 0.35–0.39. Ocular and genal setae yellow. Flagellomere 1 basally white, mostly yellow; aristomeres 1–2 yellow, aristomere 3 brown. Palpus yellow; palpal setulae yellow to dark brown, apical seta black. Scutum yellow to light brown. Scutellum light brown. Pleuron yellow to white, except basalare dark brown. Legs yellow to yellowishbrown (some specimens are darker in overall body color). Combined length of foretarsomeres approximately 1.1 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws unmodified, without basal lobe. Mean costal length 0.55 wing length, range 0.52–0.58. Halter yellow to brown. Abdominal tergites vary in color from mostly yellow with small, dark brown, posterior spots to mostly dark brown with small anterior yellow markings. Venter of abdomen white. Ovipositor dark brown to black; greatly elongate, tubular, narrow; with scattered short setae. Male. Frons yellow, except ocellar triangle with band of black. Flagellomere 1 basally white, mostly yellow; aristomeres 1–2 yellow, aristomere 3 brown. Postocular setae brown, genal setae brown to black. Palpus yellow; palpal setulae black. Scutum yellowishbrown. Pleuron yellowishbrown to white, except basalare dark brown. Legs yellowishbrown. Abdominal tergites vary as do those of female. Venter of abdomen white. Cercus yellow. Epandrium with long, dense setae.
Host.Unknown. Geographical distribution. Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama. In addition to the specimens listed below, Borgmeier & Prado (1975)recorded this species from Rondonia, Brazil, and I saw several further specimens in the MPEG collection from the Brazilian states of Acre, Amapa, and Pará. It is interesting that many of the MPEG specimens were collected from Malaise traps suspended in the forest canopy.
Material examined. BRAZIL: Pará: Serra Norte, Managanes, 1♂, 19–22.viii.1984, armadilha suspensa 20 m( MPEG), V’gia – MATA, 1♀, 9.xii.1988, armadilha suspensa 15 m, I. S. Gorayeb, ( MPEG). COLOMBIA: Amazonas: PNN Amacayacu, Mocagua, 3.82°S, 70.26°W, 1♀, 7–14.viii.2000, A. Parente, Malaise trap, CAP 677, 150 m( UNCB); Caquetá: PNN Chiribiquete, Rio Mesay, 0.23°N, 72.93°W, 1♀, 25.i.2000, E. González, FIT, 300 m( UNCB); Vallede Cauca: PN Farallones de Cali, Alto Anchicaya, 3.43°N, 76.80°W, 1♀, 18.vii–1.viii.2000, S.Sarria, Malaise trap, CAP 1101, 730 m( LACM). COSTA RICA: Alajuela: 20 kmS Upala, 1♂, 15.vii.1990, F. D. Parker( EMUS); Guanacaste: Estación Pitilla, 9 kmS Santa Cecilia, 1♂, x.1994, P. Ríos, 700 m, #3294 ( INBC); Heredia: Chilamate, 10.45°N, 84.08°W, 1♂, 1♀, vii–x.1990, P. Hanson, Malaise trap( LACM), La Selva Biological Station, 10.43°N, 84.02°W, 1♂, 2♀, 3.iii.1993, ALAS, Malaise trapM/01/16, M/12/027, 1♀, 14.vi.1993, ALAS, Malaise trapM/12/134, 1♀, 10.viii.1995, ALAS, Malaise trapM/12/421 ( INBC, LACM), 11 kmSE La Virgen, 10.33°N, 84.07°W, 1♀, 23.ii.2003, ALAS, 05/M/13/013, 500 m( INBC). PANAMA: Darien: Cruce de Mono, 7.92°N, 77.62°W, 1♀, 6.ii–4.iii.1993, R. Cambra, J. Coronado, Malaise trap( LACM).
[264,1239,1470,1497]
1903-05-10
Bolivia
Mapiri
Lorenzapata
14
15
1
1
holotype
1984-08-19
1984-08-22
1984-08-19
MPEG
Brazil
20
Managanes
Serra Norte
15
16
1
1
Para
1988-12-09
MPEG
Gorayeb
Brazil
15
15
16
1
1
Para
2000-08-07
2000-08-14
2000-08-07
UNCB
A. Parente
Colombia
Amazonas
677150
-3.82
Mocagua
784
-70.26
Amacayacu
15
16
1
1
Para
2000-01-25
UNCB
E. Gonzalez
Colombia
300
0.23
Rio Mesay
785
-72.93
Chiribiquete
15
16
1
1
Caqueta
[533,633,1244,1270]
Colombia
Valle
15
16
1
Caqueta
2000-07-18
2000-08-01
2000-07-18
LACM
S. Sarria
Colombia
1101730
3.43
Alto Anchicaya
784
-76.8
Farallones de Cali
15
16
1
1
Cauca
[264,1317,1323,1350]
1990-07-15
EMUS
F. D. Parker
Costa Rica
20 km S Upala
15
16
1
1
Alajuela
1994-10
INBC
Rios
Costa Rica
700
Estacion Pitilla
15
16
1
1
Guanacaste
1990-07
1990-10-31
1990-07
LACM
P. Hanson
Costa Rica
10.45
Chilamate
779
-84.08
15
16
2
1
1
Heredia
1993-03-03
1995-08-10
1993-03-03
INBC, LACM
Costa Rica
10.43
La Selva Biological Station
779
-84.02
15
16
5
4
1
Heredia
2003-02-23
INBC
Costa Rica
500
10.33
La Virgen
779
-84.07
15
16
1
1
Heredia
1993-02-06
1993-03-04
1993-02-06
LACM
R. Cambra & J. Coronado
Panama
7.92
Cruce de Mono
781
-77.62
15
16
1
1
Darien