Melaloncha umbra, Brown, 2006

Brown, Brian V., 2006, Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 1280 (1), pp. 1-68 : 36

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.1280.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:55F01BD6-4319-49C1-AA45-AAF0B27AEF15

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5072673

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03870D30-FFB4-632B-7313-0434FDF24472

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Melaloncha umbra
status

sp. nov.

Melaloncha umbra View in CoL new species

Fig. 24 View FIGURES 13–24

Recognition. This species is distinguished by its relatively long foretarsus, black scutum, and short, straight ovipositor.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 2.3 mm. Frons orange, evenly setulose; ocellar triangle black. Frons 0.34 head width. Medial furrow absent. Ocular and genal setae black. Flagellomere 1 orange­yellow, arista brown. Palpus white; palpal setulae black. Scutum and scutellum black. Pleuron dark brown to black. Legs yellowishbrown, except apex of hind femur with large dark brown spot. Combined length of foretarsomeres 1.1 length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws recurved, with large basal lobe. Costa 0.47 wing length. Halter yellow. Abdominal tergites black, with silver pollinosity anteriorly. Venter of abdomen gray. Ovipositor black; relatively short, straight, flattened dorsally, relatively broad in dorsal view, with pointed apex in dorsal view; with relatively long lateral setae dorsally; long lateral setae visible in dorsal view.

Host. Unknown. The single specimen was attracted to a mixed aggregation of bees.

Geographical distribution. Bolivia.

Derivation of specific epithet. Latin for shade or shadow, referring to the darkcolored scutum.

Holotype. ♀, BOLIVIA: La Paz: 40 km N Caranavi, Cumbre Alto Beni, 15.83°S, 67.56°W, 16.iv.2003, B. Brown, S. Marcotte, E. Zumbado, honey spray, 1600 m [ LACM ENT 181244 View Materials ] ( CBFC). GoogleMaps

LACM

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Diptera

Family

Phoridae

Genus

Melaloncha

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