Myriophora kerri, Hash, John M. & Brown, Brian V., 2015

Hash, John M. & Brown, Brian V., 2015, Revision of the New World Species of the Millipede-Parasitic Genus Myriophora Brown (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 4035 (1), pp. 1-79 : 30

Myriophora kerri sp. nov.

(Figs 5.2, 11.10, 17.10)

Diagnosis. Female. Two other species, M. curvicacumen and M. dividida , have a bare anepisternum (e.g. Fig. 21.11), a weakly sclerotized midline on abdominal T6 (e.g. Fig. 21.24), and extensive fusion of membrane and sclerites in the oviscape. The oviscape of M. kerri is much more laterally compressed than M. curvicacumen and the abrupt downturn in the oviscape occurs just after mid length. The oviscape of M. kerri is much darker, more heavily sclerotized (Fig. 17.10), and more downturned than that of M. dividida , and T6 is not as deeply divided.

Description. Female (Fig. 5.2). Body length 2.42 mm. Head: Frons dusky yellow, with 1 pair of supraantennal setae; supra-antennals originate even with lower interfrontal setae. First flagellomere yellow-brown, slightly pointed under arista. Palpus yellow, normal sized. Labrum normal sized. Labellum normal sized. Thorax: Scutum dusky yellow. Scutellum dusky yellow. Pleuron yellow; anepisternum bare. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow. Wing length 1.96 mm (Fig. 11.10); costal vein normal; costal length 1.12 mm; costal ratio 0.64. Knob of halter yellow. Abdomen: Tergites 1 and 2 brown; tergite 2 with strong, distinct setae on lateral margin. Tergite 5 brown; posterior setae on tergite 5 short. Tergite 6 divided in half; posterodorsal setae on segment 6 shorter than posteroventral setae. Venter of abdomen with dense, short setae. Oviscape (Fig. 17.10) brown, strongly laterally compressed, division between membrane and sclerites obscure, with membrane striae only visible at base; oviscape downturned at near 90° angle.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from two specimens collected at Sacha Lodge, Ecuador.

Etymology. Named for Dr. Peter Kerr (formerly Hibbs), the collector the holotype of this species and many other important specimens of Myriophora.

Holotype. ♀, ECUADOR: Sucumbios: Sacha Lodge, 0.5°S, 76.5°W, 270m, 10–21.x.1994, P. Hibbs, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 039902].

Paratype. 1♀, same as holotype, [ LACM ENT 039896].