Myriophora dennisoni, 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 : 19

Myriophora dennisoni sp. nov.

(Figs 3.2, 10.6, 16.5, 21.6, 21.9, 21.14, 21.17, 21.21)

Diagnosis. Female. This species is recognized by the combination of two large anepisternal setae (Fig. 21.14), strongly, laterally flattened oviscape, with well-defined sclerites (Fig. 16.5), and the yellow pleuron (Fig. 3.2).

Description. Female (Fig. 3.2). Body length 2.07–3.05 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 light brown. Scutellum light brown. Anterior scutellar setae less than 1/2 the length of posterior pair. Pleuron yellow; anepisternum with setulae and two larger setae. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow. Wing length 1.89–3.19 mm (Fig. 10.6); costal vein normal; costal length 1.12–2.0 mm; mean costal ratio 0.62. Knob of halter light brown. Abdomen: Tergites 1 and 2 light brown; tergite 2 with strong, distinct setae on the lateral margin. Tergite 5 light 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 dense, long setae. Oviscape (Fig. 16.5) strongly laterally compressed; division between pale yellow membrane and brown sclerites clearly defined.

Distribution. Known from Costa Rica and Ecuador.

Host. Collected on Nyssodesmus python (Polydesmidae) and unidentified Polydesmida .

Etymology. Named for Hash's father, John Dennison Hash, for support of his work, including support for fieldwork in Costa Rica that led to understanding more about the biology of this species.

Holotype. ♀, ECUADOR: Esmeraldas: Bilsa Biological Station, 0.34°N, 79.71°W, 500m, 9.v.1996, Brown, Hibbs, Cantley, injured millipede [ LACM ENT 025384].

Paratypes. 14♀, same as holotype, 8.v.1996 [ LACM ENT 0 25568, 0 25695, 0 25620, 0 25687, 0 25509, 0 25588, 0 25417, 0 25436, 0 25647, 0 25643, 0 25476, 0 25674, 0 25623, 025464].

Other material examined. COSTA RICA: Las Cruces: 8.80°N, 82.97°W, 1200, 5.vi.1988, P. Hanson, Puntarenas, 1♀, Malaise trap, Brown, Hibbs, Cantley, injured millipede.