Melaloncha maculata Borgmeier, 1934 , p. 176 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 3Z4BW Borgmeier Borgmeier 1934 [264,669,764,790] Insecta Phoridae Melaloncha Animalia Diptera 57 58 Arthropoda species maculata   Figs. 47, 63      Melaloncha maculata Borgmeier, 1934, p. 176, plate 3 fig. 4 ( ♀; Higuito, Costa Rica).     Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Higuito, San Mateo, [no date given], P. Schild[ LACM ENT 210968] (examined; USNM).  Recognition.Females are easily recognized by the enlarged seta extending from the posterolateral apex of tergites 4 and especially 5, as well as the dorsally curved, setose ovipositor. The male, described here for the first time, keys to  M. pulchellaBruesin the latest key to  Melalonchamales ( Borgmeier 1971b), but differs in that the pleuron is variegated brown and yellow, unlike the black thorax reported for  M. pulchella(whose specimens are all lost).   Description.Female. Body length 1.6–2.1 mm. Frons yellow, bare of small setae except along eye margin; ocellar triangle black. Mean frontal width 0.41 head width, range 0.39–0.43. Ocular and genal setae yellow to brown. Flagellomere 1 white basally, most of segment yellow; segments 1–2 of arista yellow, aristomere 3 black. Palpus white; palpal setulae brown, relatively long; apical seta black. Scutum yellowish­brown with various posterior dark markings; usually with relatively small posterolateral dark spot, or with large, dark posteromedial spot. Scutellum dark brown to light brown with round anterolateral dark spot. Pleuron yellow except basalare black. Legs yellowish­brown, except apical foretarsomere brown. Combined length of foretarsomeres approximately 0.9 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Mean costal length 0.46 wing length, range 0.44–0.47. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites yellow with black posterior strip; in some specimens tergites 4­5 black; posterolateral apex of tergites 4 and 5 with enlarged setae. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor basally yellow, but mostly black; elongate, tubular, curved dorsally; ovipositor densely setose, with especially long, dense setae dorsally. Intersegment 7–8 with distinctive, short apical segment. Male. Frons yellow; ocellar triangle black. Flagellomere 1 basally white, apically yellow. Palpus white; palpal setulae black. Postocular and genal setae black. Scutum dark brown. Pleuron with patches of brown to yellow color (see photo on website). Legs yellowish­brown except apex of hind femur dark brown; coxae strongly contrasting with darker pleuron. Abdominal tergites black, anteriorly with silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen dark gray. Extreme base of cercus brown, apically yellow. Surstylus with short setae.   Host.We have seen this species attack various  Plebeiaspp.They have a distinctive mode of attack, where females alight behind or on stationary bees, and take up a position on their wings (herein termed “piggybacking”). The fly extends her ovipositor under the bee’s wings, and inserts the tip into the abdomen, between the anteriormost tergites. Females of  M. hyalinipennishave a similar mode of attack.   Distribution.Widespread in the Neotropical Region, from Nicaraguato Braziland Bolivia.  Other material examined.  BOLIVIA: La Paz:  40 kmN Caranavi, Cumbre Alto  Beni, 15.83°S, 67.56°W, 1♀,  15.iv.2003, 1♀,  18.iv.2003, B. Brown, S. Marcotte, E. Zumbado, ( LACM),  1♀,  14.iv.2004, 3♀,  16.iv.2004, 4♀,  17.iv.2004, 4♀,  19.iv.2004, B. Brown, E. Zumbado, honey spray ( CBFC, LACM),   50 kmN Caranavi, 15.66°S, 67.44°W, 1♀,  17.iv.2004, B. Brown, honey spray, second growth forest,  1100 m( LACM).  BRAZIL: Bahia: [no other locality data], 1♀, 1930, R. Shannon( MZSP).  COLOMBIA: Cauca: Isla Gorgona, 2.97°N, 78.18°W, 1♀,  1–4.iii.2000, 2♀,  2–4.iii.2000, B. Brown, G. Kung, M. Sharkey, Malaise trap#11, Malaise trap#15 ( LACM, UNCB).  COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Alberge de Heliconia, 10.71°N, 85.04°W, 2♀,  20.vi.2000, B. Brown, attacking  Plebeiasp.( LACM);  Heredia: La Selva Biological Station, 10.43°N, 84.02°W, 1♀,  2.iii.1993, ALAS, Malaise trapM/01/016, 1♀,  13.xi.1997, ALAS, Malaise trapM/18/690 ( INBC),  2♀,  21.vii.2000, G. Kung, bee screen ( LACM);  Limón: Pacuarito, 10.11°N, 83.46°W, 1♀,  22–25.viii.1996, B. Gustafsson, T. Pape, B. Viklund, Malaise trap( LACM);  San José: Zona Protectora ElRodeo, 9.91°N, 84.28°W, 3♀,  2.viii.2001, 2♀,  3.viii.2001, 4♀,  5.viii.2001, 1♂, 1♀(in copula pair),  6.viii.2001, 9♀,  8.viii.2001, B. Brown, G. Kung, attracted to honey spray, attacking  Plebeiabees ( LACM, MCZC, MUCR, USNM),  3♀,  3–8.viii.2001, B. Brown, G. Kung, V. Berezovskiy, Malaise trap#1, 1♀,  5–8.viii.2001, B. Brown, G. Kung, V. Berezovskiy, Malaise trap#2,  1000 m( LACM).  NICARAGUA: Rio San Juan: Refugio Bartola,  16 kmESE El Castillo, 10.98°N, 84.34°W, 1♀,  22.iv–10.v.1999, L. Lapierre, Malaise trap( LACM). LACM, USNM P. Schild Costa Rica COSTA RICA 57 58 ENT 210968 1 1 holotype [641,1254,844,870] Bolivia Cumbre Alto 58 59 1 La Paz 2003-04-15 2003-04-18 2003-04-15 LACM Brown & Marcotte & E. Zumbado Bolivia -15.83 Beni 770 -67.56 58 59 2 2 Beni 2004-04-14 2004-04-19 2004-04-14 CBFC, LACM Brown & Zumbado Bolivia 58 59 12 12 Beni 2004-04-17 LACM Brown Bolivia 1100 -15.66 50 km N Caranavi 770 -67.44 58 59 1 1 Beni MZSP Shannon Brazil Bahia 58 59 1 1 Bahia 2000-03-01 2000-03-04 2000-03-01 LACM, UNCB Brown & Kung & Sharkey Colombia 2.97 Isla Gorgona 784 -78.18 58 59 3 3 Cauca 2000-06-20 LACM Brown Costa Rica 10.71 Alberge de Heliconia 778 -85.04 58 59 2 2 Alajuela 1993-03-02 1997-11-13 1993-03-02 INBC Costa Rica 10.43 La Selva Biological Station 779 -84.02 58 59 2 2 Heredia 2000-07-21 LACM Kung Costa Rica 58 59 2 2 Heredia 1996-08-22 1996-08-25 1996-08-22 LACM Gustafsson & T. Pape & B. Viklund Costa Rica 10.11 Pacuarito 779 -83.46 58 59 1 1 Limon 2001-08-02 2001-08-08 2001-08-02 LACM, MCZC, MUCR, USNM Brown & Kung Costa Rica 9.91 El 779 -84.28 58 59 20 19 1 San Jose 2001-08-03 2001-08-08 2001-08-03 LACM Brown & G. Kung & V. Berezovskiy & Kung & Berezovskiy Costa Rica 1000 58 59 4 4 San Jose 1999-04-22 1999-05-10 1999-04-22 LACM Lapierre Nicaragua 10.98 Refugio Bartola 778 -84.34 58 59 1 1 Rio San Juan