Abstract
BackgroundThe genus Melaloncha is a large group of species of parasitoid phorid flies that attack Hymenoptera, mostly stingless bees (Meliponinae, Apidae) in the Neotropical Region.New informationTwo new Brazilian species, Melaloncha (Melaloncha) peacockorum sp. n. and Melaloncha (Udamochiras) nielsi sp. n., are described and their identification clarified.
Highlights
Bee-killing flies of the genus Melaloncha are small (1.5-4.5 mm) fast, agile parasitoids, mostly of stingless bees, bumble bees, and honey bees, but with records from orchid bees, sweat bees, and vespid wasps (Ament et al 2013, Brown 2006, Lucia et al 2013, Lutz and Brown 2013, Ramírez 1982, Wcislo et al 2004, Brown 2001)
Specimens were borrowed from the collections of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil (INPA) and the Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Thick, posterior scutellar setae missing from specimen
Summary
Bee-killing flies of the genus Melaloncha are small (1.5-4.5 mm) fast, agile parasitoids, mostly of stingless bees, bumble bees, and honey bees, but with records from orchid bees, sweat bees, and vespid wasps (Ament et al 2013, Brown 2006, Lucia et al 2013, Lutz and Brown 2013, Ramírez 1982, Wcislo et al 2004, Brown 2001). Country: Brazil; stateProvince: SP; locality: Reserva Biológica Boracéia; verbatimLatitude: 23°39'S; verbatimLongitude: 45°53'W; verbatimCoordinateSystem: degrees minutes; samplingProtocol: Shannon trap; eventDate: 2009-11-20/25; verbatimEventDate: 20-25 November 2009; sex: female; lifeStage: adult; catalogNumber: LACM ENT 335990; recordedBy: Amorim, Ribeiro, Berbert; type: PhysicalObject; institutionCode: LACM; collectionCode: ENT; ownerInstitutionCode: MZSP; basisOfRecord: PreservedSpecimen Except ocellar triangle black; sculpturing finely reticulate with numerous punctures, most bearing setae. Thick, posterior scutellar setae missing from specimen.
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