Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae) Author Brown, Brian V. text Zootaxa 2006 2006-08-03 1280 1 1 68 https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1280.1.1 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.1280.1.1 1175­5334 5070710 55F01BD6-4319-49C1-AA45-AAF0B27AEF15 Melaloncha muricata new species Fig. 1 Recognition. This species is similar to M . punctifrons in that it has an evenly punctate frons lacking large frontal setae, but differs by the long setae on the apical one­half of the ovipositor. Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 2.7 mm . Frons yellow, evenly punctate, lacking fronto­orbital and interfrontal setae; ocellar triangle with black band linking ocelli. Frons 0.41 head width. Medial furrow absent. Ocular and genal setae black. Flagellomere 1 white basally, yellow apically. Aristomeres 1–2 light brown, 3 brown. Palpus white; palpal setulae black. Scutum and scutellum yellowish­brown, without dark markings. Pleuron yellow, except basalare black. Legs yellowish­brown. Combined length of foretarsomeres equal to length of foretibia. Foretarsal claws unmodified, without basal lobe. Costa 0.53 wing length. Halter brown. Abdominal tergites yellow anteriorly, black posteriorly; black band incomplete medially. Venter of abdomen yellow. Ovipositor basally yellow, mostly dark brown to black; rounded, narrow, relatively straight; with long straight setae on apical one­half. Host. Unknown. Geographical distribution. Costa Rica . Derivation of specific epithet. Latin muricatus for pointed or spiny, like the shells of the mollusc genus Murex L. Holotype . ♀ , COSTA RICA : Alajuela : 20 km S Upala , 16–24.vii.1991 , F. D. Parker [ LACM ENT 114125 ] ( LACM ).