Myriophora brunneipleuron, 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 : 17

Myriophora brunneipleuron sp. nov.

(Fig. 2.6)

Diagnosis. Female. This species is distinguished from other species of Myriophora that have only setulae on the anepisternum (e.g. 21.12) by the combination of solidly brown body color, contrasting yellow halter, and pale oviscape membrane with contrasting brown striations (Fig. 2.6).

Description. Female (Fig. 2.6). Body length 2.28 mm. Head: Frons brown, with 2 pairs of supra-antennal setae; length of lower supra-antennal setae greater than 1/2 the length of upper pair; upper supra-antennal setae originate above lower interfrontal setae. First flagellomere yellow-brown, rounded under arista. Palpus yellow, normal sized. Labrum prominent, enlarged. Labellum normal sized. Thorax: Scutum brown. Scutellum brown. Anterior scutellar setae greater in length than posterior pair. Pleuron light brown; anepisternum with many setulae. Forefemur dusky yellow. Midfemur dusky yellow. Hind femur dusky yellow. Wing length 2.24 mm; costal vein normal; costal length 1.09 mm; costal ratio 0.49. 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 greatly narrowed posteriorly; posterodorsal setae on segment 6 of equal length to posteroventral setae. Venter of abdomen with sparse short setae. Oviscape strongly laterally compressed; sclerites brown and mainly restricted to ventral and dorsal margins; tergite roughly uniform width from base to apex; membrane lightly colored with conspicuous brown striations.

Distribution. Known from one specimen from North Carolina, USA.

Host. Unknown.

Etymology. A noun from Latin for "brown pleuron" referring to the solidly brown pleuron.

Holotype. ♀, USA: North Carolina: Black Mountain Gap, 35.68°N, 82.27°W, 1–3.vi.1988, E. R. Fuller, yellow pan traps [ LACM ENT 307274].