Milichiella melaleuca
Description
Description according to original description: Male coloration and vestiture: basoflagellomere black; thorax black, wing white, halter black, legs black; abdomen with T2-5 silvery microtomentose.
Morphology. Wing with vein R4+5 and M1 converging.
Morphology. Wing with vein R4+5 and M1 converging.
Diagnosis
Differs from most congeners in the combination of white wing, black legs, and male T2-5 silvery microtomentose.
Discussion
Type not in ZMHU or MCZ, probably lost. Species not identifyable from description, therefore nomen dubium. Possibly senior synonym of M. argentiventris Hendel, based on white wings. Not synonymous to M. argentea because of different wing color, see remarks under that species.
Distribution
Africa: South Tropical Africa (Zimbabwe introduced: presence questionable); Southern Africa (Cape Provinces present, Free State present, KwaZulu-Natal present, Northern Provinces present)
Citation
South Africa (Bezzi, M. 1908: Ditteri Eritrei raccolti dal Dott. Andreini e dal Prof. Tellini. Parte Seconda (1). – Boll. Soc. ent. ital. 39(1907): 3-199: 193 (as Milichia melaleuca))
Milichiella argentea: Sabrosky 1980: 75. Family Milichiidae, pp. 686-689. – In: Crosskey, Cogan, Freeman, Pont, Smith & Oldroyd, Catalogue of the Diptera of the Afrotropical Region, 1437pp: ] (as Milichiella argentea)1
Afrotropical catalog
as a synonym of M. argentea Fabr. (Becker 1907: Die Dipteren-Gruppe Milichiinae. – Annls hist.-nat. Mus. natn. hung. 5: 507-550: 512, 536)
citation (Mik 1887: Über Dipteren. I. Drei neue österreichische Dipteren. – Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 37: 173-180,Taf.IV: 180 (as Argyrites melaleucus))
Afrotropical catalog
swarming behaviour, Zimbabwe (Cuthbertson 1936: Biological notes on some Diptera of Southern Rhodesia. – Occ. Pap. Rhod. Mus. 5: 46-63: 56 (as Milichiella tosi))