Myriophora spicaphora, 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 : 46

Myriophora spicaphora sp. nov.

(Figs 8.3, 14.3, 20.2)

Diagnosis. Female. Myriophora spicaphora is easily recognized by the ventrally pointed, sharp projection at the apex of the oviscape sternite (Fig. 20.2).

Description. Female (Fig. 8.3). Body length 2.14–2.28 mm. Head: Frons yellow, with 1 pair of supra-antennal setae; supra-antennals originate even with 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 few setulae. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow. Wing length 2.03–2.10 mm (Fig. 14.3); costal vein normal; costal length 1.23–1.30 mm; mean costal ratio 0.60. Knob of halter brown. Abdomen: Tergites 1 and 2 contrasting, yellow anteriorly, brown posteriorly; tergite 2 with strong, distinct setae on lateral margin. Tergite 5 contrasting, yellow anteriorly, brown posteriorly; posterior setae on tergite 5 short. Tergite 6 greatly narrowed posteriorly; posterodorsal setae on segment 6 equal in length to posteroventral setae. Venter of abdomen with dense, short setae. Oviscape (Fig. 20.2) sclerites reddish-brown; membrane brown; strongly laterally compressed; sclerites shallow, mostly restricted to dorsal and ventral margins; sternite ending apically in ventrally projecting spike.

Distribution. Colombia and Ecuador.

Host. Collected on unidentified injured millipedes.

Etymology. A noun from Latin meaning "spike bearer" referring to the sharp, ventrally pointed spike at the tip of the oviscape sternite.

Holotype. ♀, COLOMBIA: Amazonas: Amacayacu NP, Matamata Station, 3.82°S, 70.26°W, 150m, 1.ix.1997, B. Brown, G. Kung, injured millipede [ LACM ENT 093847] ( IAVH).

Paratypes. 2♀, same as holotype, [ LACM ENT 0 93854, 093848], 1♀, 30.viii.1997, B. Brown, G. Kung, injured millipede [ LACM ENT 102043]. ECUADOR: Sucumbios: Sacha Lodge, 0.5°S, 76.5°W, 270m, 2♀, 14– 24.iii.1994, P. Hibbs, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 036395], 1♀, 31.x–10.xi.1994, P. Hibbs, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 049929], 1♀, 4–14.v.1994, P. Hibbs, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 020728].