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
3Z4B5
Brown, 2006
Brown
2006
[264,548,1644,1670]
Insecta
Phoridae
Melaloncha
Animalia
Diptera
51
52
Arthropoda
species
gonzalezae
sp. nov.
Fig. 42 Recognition.This species is easily recognized by the yellow body color and the setose lower lobe of the ovipositor. Description.Female (male unknown). Body length 1.5–2.0 mm. Frons yellow; bare of setulae except few along eye margin and, in many specimens, dorsallydirected pair in location of supraantennal setae (particularly well developed in holotype); ocellar triangle darkened. Mean frontal width 0.44 head width, range 0.41–0.49. Medial furrow absent. Ocular and genal setae light brown. Flagellomere 1 basally white, mostly yellow; aristomeres 1–2 and base of 3 yellow; rest of 3 brown. Palpus white; palpal setulae black. Scutum yellowishbrown, in some specimens with posterolateral dark brown spot. Scutellum yellowishbrown, with anterorlateral round black spot. Pleuron yellowishbrown, except basalare dark brown. Legs yellowishbrown. Combined length of foretarsomeres equal in length to foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Mean costal length 0.49 wing length, range 0.48–0.50. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites yellow anteriorly, black posteriorly. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor yellow at base, mostly black; slightly ventrally curved, tubular, with longer ventral lobe than dorsal lobe; with scattered setae of medium length, except denser on ventral lobe
Host.One specimen was captured attacking a worker of Plebeiasp. Geographical distribution. Argentina. Derivation of specific epithet.Named for Lisa Gonzalez, who has collected many Melalonchaspecimens.
Holotype. ♀, ARGENTINA: Misiones: Reserva Vida Silvestre Uruguaí, 25.97°S, 54.11°W, 17.xii.2003, L. Gonzalez, G. Kung, honey spray, 400 m[ LACM ENT 187870] ( MACN). Paratypes. ARGENTINA: Misiones: Reserva Vida Silvestre Uruguaí, 25.97°S, 54.11°W, 3♀, 9.xii.2003, 5♀, 10.xii.2003, 29♀, 11.xii.2003, 12♀, 15.xii.2003, 30♀, 17.xii.2003, 40♀, 18.xii.2003, 1♀, 21.xii.2003, 19♀, 27.xii.2003, 1♀, 28.xii.2003, B. Brown, L. Gonzalez, G. Kung, honey spray, bee screen, around bees on organic waste, 400 m( CNCI, EMUS, LACM, MACN, MCZC, MZSP, SEMC, USNM, ZMUK).
2003-12-17
LACM, MACN
L. Gonzalez & G. Kung
Argentina
400
-25.97
Misiones
746
-54.11
Reserva Vida Silvestre Urugua-i
52
53
ENT 187870
1
1
holotype
2003-12-09
2003-12-28
2003-12-09
CNCI, EMUS, LACM, SEMC, USNM, ZMUK
B. Brown & L. Gonzalez & G. Kung
Argentina
400
-25.97
Misiones
746
-54.11
Reserva Vida Silvestre Urugua-i
52
53
140
140
paratype