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
3Z4CS
Brown, 2006
Brown
2006
[264,553,764,790]
Insecta
Phoridae
Melaloncha
Animalia
Diptera
40
41
Arthropoda
species
rasmusseni
sp. nov.
Fig. 28 Recognition.This species is distinguished by the long, curved, broad dorsal lobe and short, truncate ventral lobe of the ovipositor. Description.Female (male unknown). Body length 2.25 mm. Frons yellow, bare of setulae except few along eye margin; ocellar triangle with lines of dark color between ocelli. Frons 0.45 head width. Medial furrow absent. Ocular setae brown dorsally, yellow laterally and ventrally; genal setae yellow. Flagellomere 1 basally white, apically yellow; aristomeres 1–2 yellow, 3 dark. Palpus whitishyellow; palpal setulae yellow, sparse, fine. Scutum yellowish brown, with extremely small dark brown posterolateral spot. Scutellum yellow, with anterolateral dark round spot. Pleuron yellow, except basalare black. Legs yellowishbrown. Combined length of foretarsomeres 0.83 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Costa0.50 wing length. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites yellow anteriorly, black posteriorly. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor basally yellow, mostly black; laterally flattened; dorsal lobe elongate, curve, extremely broad in dorsal view, with long setae; ventral lobe short, truncate, with long setae posteroventrally; rest of ovipositor with only short, scattered setae, mostly dorsally.
Host.Unknown. The single specimen was attracted to a mixed aggregation of bees on honeysprayed undergrowth. Geographical distribution. Peru. Derivation of specific epithet.Named for my friend and colleague Claus Rasmussen, in thanks for his help in Peruand for his assistance with bee identification.
Holotype. ♀, PERU: San Martin: Estación“Biodiversidad”, 19 kmNE Tarapoto, 6.46°S, 76.29°W, 7.vii.2004, B. Brown, E. Corona, honey spray [ LACM ENT 206726] ( MUSM).
2004-07-07
LACM, MUSM
B. Brown & E. Corona
Peru
-6.46
Estacion
782
-76.29
40
41
ENT 206726
1
1
San Martin
holotype