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