Myriophora plana, 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 : 41

Myriophora plana sp. nov.

(Figs 7.3, 13.5, 19.5)

Diagnosis. Female. Myriophora plana is one of only a few species of Myriophora that have two large anepisternal setae (e.g. Fig. 21.14). Myriophora plana is recognized by the thin oviscape sclerites that blend into the plane of the oviscape membrane (Fig. 19.5).

Description. Female (Fig. 7.3). Body length 1.40–2.28 mm. Head: Frons brown, with 1 pair of supra-antennal setae; supra-antennals originate even with lower interfrontal setae. First flagellomere yellow, slightly pointed under arista. Palpus yellow, slightly inflated. Labrum prominent, enlarged. Labellum normal sized. Thorax: Scutum light brown. Scutellum light brown. Anterior scutellar setae about 3/4 of the length of posterior pair. Pleuron dusky yellow; anepisternum with setulae and two larger setae. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow. Wing length 1.61–2.24 mm (Fig. 13.5); costal vein normal; costal length 0.91–1.23; mean costal ratio 0.57. Knob of halter dark brown. Abdomen: Tergites 1 and 2 dark brown; tergite 2 with 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. 19.5) sclerites brown; membrane brown; weakly laterally compressed; sclerites thin, dull and weakly offset from membrane.

Distribution. Known from Ecuador and Costa Rica.

Host. Unknown but specimens have been collected over Labidus praedator raids.

Etymology. An adjective from Latin meaning "flat" referring to the lack of distinction between the plane of the membrane and sclerites on the oviscape.

Holotype. ♀, ECUADOR: Esmeraldas: Bilsa Biological Station, 0.34°N, 79.71°W, 500m, 8.v.1996, Brown, Hibbs, Cantley, raid Labidus praedator [ LACM ENT 025262].

Paratypes. 7♀, same as holotype, [ LACM ENT 0 25210, 0 25283, 0 25239, 0 21167, 0 25269, 0 21165, 025196].

Other material examined. COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: Las Alturas, 8.95°N, 82.83°W, 1500m, 4♀, 13.viii.1995, B.V. Brown, over raid Labidus praedator , near Las Alturas [gravel pit], 8.95°N, 82.85°W, 1600m, 1♀, 17.viii.1995, B.V. Brown, over raid Labidus praedator .