User:Phoridae/Aenigmatias: Difference between revisions
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{{Italic title}}{{Taxobox |
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| name = ''Aenigmatias'' |
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| image = Melaloncha punctifrons.jpg |
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| image_caption = Female ''[[Melaloncha punctifrons]]'' |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a |
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| classis = [[Insect]]a |
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| ordo = [[Fly|Diptera]] |
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| familia = [[Phoridae]] |
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| subfamilia = [[Aenigmatiinae]] |
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| genus = '''''Aenigmatias''''' |
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| genus_authority = [[Meinert]], 1890 |
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| type_species = ''[[Aenigmatias blattoides Meinert, 1890 = Platyphora lubbocki Verrall, 1877]]'' |
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}} |
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'''''Melaloncha''''' is a genus of phorid flies ([[Fly|Diptera]]: [[Phoridae]]) commonly referred to as "bee-killing flies". They are found almost exclusively in the Neotropical region, although there is one record from extreme southern [[Texas]], [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20m?r=0.2&la=0&lo=-60&kind=Melaloncha |title=Discover Life map of ''Melaloncha'' |accessdate=June 15, 2010}}</ref> They are small flies, usually about {{convert|2|-|3|mm|2}} in length. No true fossils are known, although there are some specimens in Colombian [[copal]], of unknown (but likely relatively recent) age. |
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==Life history== |
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[[File:MelaAttack.jpg|thumb|alt=female fly attacking bee|Female ''M. acoma'' attacking host stingless bee|left]] |
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Species of ''Melaloncha'' are parasitoids of bees, especially [[stingless bee]]s (Meliponini), but also introduced [[European honey bee]]s (''Apis mellifera''), [[bumblebee]]s (''Bombus''), and [[Halictidae|halictid]] bees (''[[Megalopta]]'').<ref>{{cite journal |author=Brian V. Brown |year=2004 |title=Revision of the subgenus ''Udamochiras'' of ''Melaloncha'' bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae: Metopininae) |journal=[[Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society]] |volume=140 |pages=1-42 |url=http://www.phorid.net/publications/publications_files/udamo_paper.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]] |doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00086.x}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Brian V. Brown |year=2004 |title=Revision of the ''Melaloncha'' ''cingulata''-group of bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae) |journal=[[Annals of the Entomological Society of America]] |volume=97 |pages=386-392 |doi=10.1603/0013-8746(2004)097[0386:ROTMCO]2.0.CO;2}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Brian V. Brown & Giar-Ann Kung |year=2006 |title=Revision of the ''Melaloncha ungulata''-group of bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae) |journal=[[Contributions in Science]] |volume=507 |pages=1–31 |url=http://www.phorid.net/publications/publications_files/MelaUng-gpSmall.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Brian V. Brown |year=2005 |title=Revision of the ''Melaloncha'' ''furcata''-group of bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae) |journal=[[Insect Systematics and Evolution]] |volume=36 |pages=241-258 |url=http://www.phorid.net/publications/publications_files/Insect%2036.3_241-258.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]] |doi=}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Brian V. Brown |year=2006 |title=Revision of the untreated taxa of ''Melaloncha'' s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae) |journal=[[Zootaxa]] |volume=1280 |pages=1–68 |url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2006f/z01280p068f.pdf |format=abstract: [[Portable Document Format|PDF]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Giar-Ann Kung |year=2008 |title=Two new species of the ''Melaloncha ungulata'' group of bee-killing flies |journal=[[Sociobiology (journal)|Sociobiology]] |volume=51 |pages=491-496}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Brian V. Brown |year=2009 |title=Three new species of parasitoid Phoridae (Diptera) from the Neotropical Region |journal=[[Sociobiology (journal)|Sociobiology]] |volume=54 |pages=715-722 |url=http://homepage.mac.com/briankoehler/BrianKoehlerArts/News/Three%20New%20Parasitoids%202009.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]}}</ref> Some attack their hosts while flying, darting down to lay their eggs; others land, curl their ovipositor under their bodies and rush their hosts on foot (as in ''M. acoma'', see photo); a few carefully land on their host and stealthily inject their egg. |
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The flies can be attracted by spraying a mixture of honey and water on undergrowth to attract an aggregation of host bees. Frequently, they are found on palm tree flowers (again, with host bees), and sometimes they are encountered around bee nests. |
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==Taxonomy== |
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The type species of the genus is ''[[Melaloncha pulchella]]'' Brues, a species from [[Bolivia]]. The [[holotype]] specimen was lost in a fire at the [[Hungarian National Museum]]. About 170 species are known, but many more exist, and the final total for the genus is likely to be 200–300.<ref name="Gonzalez">{{cite journal |author=Lisa Gonzalez & Brian V. Brown |year=2004 |title=New species and records of ''Melaloncha'' (''Udamochiras'') bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae) |journal=[[Zootaxa]] |volume=730 |pages=1–14 |url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2004f/zt00730.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]] <!--|url=http://www.phorid.net/publications/publications_files/z00730p.pdf-->}}</ref> ''Melaloncha'' is organized into two subgenera, ''Udamochiras'' (51 species) and ''Melaloncha'' (117 species). |
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==Economic importance== |
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The parasitization of honey bees causes premature mortality of worker bees and is a drain on the colony. The effects of ''Melaloncha'' parasitism on commercial [[beekeeping]] and the scale of financial losses due to these flies has not been studied. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [http://www.phorid.net//melaloncha/melaloncha_index.htm Systematics of ''Melaloncha'' page] |
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* [http://www. |
* [http://www.morphbank.net Morphbank] |
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[[Category:Flies]] |
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<!--- Categories ---> |
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Revision as of 20:41, 22 August 2010
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Aenigmatias new article content ...
| Aenigmatias | |
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| Female Melaloncha punctifrons | |
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| Genus: | Aenigmatias Meinert, 1890
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| Type species | |
| Aenigmatias blattoides Meinert, 1890 = Platyphora lubbocki Verrall, 1877 | |
Melaloncha is a genus of phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae) commonly referred to as "bee-killing flies". They are found almost exclusively in the Neotropical region, although there is one record from extreme southern Texas, United States.[1] They are small flies, usually about 2–3 millimetres (0.08–0.12 in) in length. No true fossils are known, although there are some specimens in Colombian copal, of unknown (but likely relatively recent) age.
Life history
Species of Melaloncha are parasitoids of bees, especially stingless bees (Meliponini), but also introduced European honey bees (Apis mellifera), bumblebees (Bombus), and halictid bees (Megalopta).[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Some attack their hosts while flying, darting down to lay their eggs; others land, curl their ovipositor under their bodies and rush their hosts on foot (as in M. acoma, see photo); a few carefully land on their host and stealthily inject their egg.
The flies can be attracted by spraying a mixture of honey and water on undergrowth to attract an aggregation of host bees. Frequently, they are found on palm tree flowers (again, with host bees), and sometimes they are encountered around bee nests.
Taxonomy
The type species of the genus is Melaloncha pulchella Brues, a species from Bolivia. The holotype specimen was lost in a fire at the Hungarian National Museum. About 170 species are known, but many more exist, and the final total for the genus is likely to be 200–300.[9] Melaloncha is organized into two subgenera, Udamochiras (51 species) and Melaloncha (117 species).
Economic importance
The parasitization of honey bees causes premature mortality of worker bees and is a drain on the colony. The effects of Melaloncha parasitism on commercial beekeeping and the scale of financial losses due to these flies has not been studied.
References
- ^ "Discover Life map of Melaloncha". Retrieved June 15, 2010.
- ^ Brian V. Brown (2004). "Revision of the subgenus Udamochiras of Melaloncha bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae: Metopininae)" (PDF). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 140: 1–42. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00086.x.
- ^ Brian V. Brown (2004). "Revision of the Melaloncha cingulata-group of bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 97: 386–392. doi:10.1603/0013-8746(2004)097[0386:ROTMCO]2.0.CO;2.
- ^ Brian V. Brown & Giar-Ann Kung (2006). "Revision of the Melaloncha ungulata-group of bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae)" (PDF). Contributions in Science. 507: 1–31.
- ^ Brian V. Brown (2005). "Revision of the Melaloncha furcata-group of bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae)" (PDF). Insect Systematics and Evolution. 36: 241–258.
- ^ Brian V. Brown (2006). "Revision of the untreated taxa of Melaloncha s. s. bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae)" (abstract: PDF). Zootaxa. 1280: 1–68.
- ^ Giar-Ann Kung (2008). "Two new species of the Melaloncha ungulata group of bee-killing flies". Sociobiology. 51: 491–496.
- ^ Brian V. Brown (2009). "Three new species of parasitoid Phoridae (Diptera) from the Neotropical Region" (PDF). Sociobiology. 54: 715–722.
- ^ Lisa Gonzalez & Brian V. Brown (2004). "New species and records of Melaloncha (Udamochiras) bee-killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 730: 1–14.