Melanagromyza wedeliae Spencer

Melanagromyza wedeliae Spencer View in CoL

( Figs. 40–42 View FIGURES 40-42 )

Melanagromyza wedeliae Spencer, Spencer & Stegmaier, 1973: 54 View in CoL ; Spencer 1984: 8; Martinez & Étienne 2002: 40; Spencer & Steyskal 1986: 31; Spencer 1990: 313; Braun et al. 2008: 98.

Specimens examined. Costa Rica. Prov. San José. Moravia. Zurquí de Moravia, Tower path. 1600m. 26 ABR-3 MAY 2013. Proyecto ZADBI . Malaise trap #1, ZADBI-728. -84:00:57 10:02:58 #106748. INB0004392034 (1 ♂: MNCR) .

Comments. Melanagromyza wedeliae was originally described from southern Florida and later found in Colombia and Brazil. This species is characterized by having a narrow gena, orbital setulae in two rows (inner row proclinate and outer row reclinate), eye pilose in male with a patch of white hairs at level of ors and the abdomen with a metallic green reflection. The specimen from Zurquí agrees with the external characteristic of the species. The genitalia is also characteristic with the distiphallus in the form of a short and broad tubule, slightly upcurved ( Fig. 40 View FIGURES 40-42 ) and a greatly elongated hypandrial apodeme ( Fig. 42 View FIGURES 40-42 ), not previously illustrated. The ejaculatory apodeme was not described previously but it has no (or short) stalk and the blade is rounded with irregular margin ( Fig. 41 View FIGURES 40-42 )

Host plant. Wedelia paludosa DC , Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides (Kunth) (= Senecio confusus Britten ), Bidens pilosa L., Trixis vauthieri de Candolle ( Asteraceae ). Larva feeding in flower heads (Braun et al. 2008; Spencer & Stegmaier1973; Spencer 1984; Spencer 1990).

Distribution. USA (Florida), Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica *.