Myriophora alienipennis, 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 : 9

Myriophora alienipennis sp. nov.

(Figs 1.3, 9.3, 15.3, 21.1, 21.12)

Diagnosis. Female. This species is recognized by the combination the thickened costal vein, short A1 + CuA2 vein that ends before reaching the wing margin (Fig. 9.3), the dark brown abdominal tergites, and the trapezoidal-shaped abdominal tergite 6.

Description. Female (Fig. 1.3). Body length 2.1–2.6 mm. Head: Frons dusky yellow, with 1 pair of supraantennal setae; supra-antennals originate above lower interfrontal setae. First flagellomere yellow, slightly pointed under arista. Palpus yellow, normal sized. Labrum prominent, enlarged. Labellum normal sized. Thorax: Scutum dusky yellow. Scutellum dusky yellow. Anterior scutellar setae about 3/4 of the length of posterior pair. Pleuron yellow; anepisternum with a few setulae. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow. Wing length 2.03–2.63 mm (Fig. 9.3); costal vein inflated; costal length 1.44–1.96 mm; mean costal ratio 0.74. Knob of halter brown. Abdomen: Tergites 1 and 2 dark brown; tergite 2 without strong, distinct setae on lateral margin. Tergite 5 dark brown; posterior setae on tergite 5 short. Tergite 6 greatly narrowed posteriorly; posterodorsal setae on segment 6 shorter than posteroventral setae. Venter of abdomen with sparse, long setae. Oviscape (Fig. 15.3) weakly laterally compressed, with conspicuous setae apically on membrane and sclerites; division between membrane and sclerites clearly defined; sclerites light brown; membrane dusky yellow with distinct, brown striations.

Distribution. Known from Amazonas, Colombia.

Host. Collected on unidentified injured millipedes.

Etymology. A noun from Latin meaning "strange wing" referring to the odd wing venation exhibited by this species.

Holotype. ♀, COLOMBIA: Amazonas: Amacayacu NP, Matamata Station, 3.82°S, 70.26°W, 150m, 30.viii.1997, B. Brown, G. Kung, injured millipede [ LACM ENT 102050] ( IAVH).

Paratypes. COLOMBIA: Amazonas: Amacayacu NP, Matamata Station, 3.82°S, 70.26°W, 150m, 1♀, 30.viii.1997, B. Brown, G. Kung, injured millipede [ LACM ENT 102059], San Martin, PNN Amacayacu, 3.77°S, 70.3°W, 1♀, 24.iii–3.iv.2000, B. Amado, CAP-83, Malaise trap #2 [ LACM ENT 129188].