Myriophora infirmata, 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 : 28

Myriophora infirmata sp. nov.

(Figs 4.7, 11.7, 17.7)

Diagnosis. Female. Based on the structure of the weakly laterally compressed, tube-like oviscape with thin, flat, weakly developed sclerites (Fig. 17.7), M. infirmata is most similar to M. plana , M. pabloi , and M. spicaticonus . It can be clearly recognized by the combination of only having small setae of sub equal length on the anepisternum and the uniform width of the oviscape throughout its entire length.

Description. Female (Fig. 4.7). Body length 1.65–1.75 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, slightly inflated. Labrum prominent, enlarged. Labellum normal sized. Thorax: Scutum yellow. Scutellum yellow. Anterior scutellar setae near equal in length to posterior pair. Pleuron yellow; anepisternum with a few setulae. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow. Wing length 1.58–1.72 mm (Fig. 11.7); costal vein normal; costal length 0.88–0.98 mm; mean costal ratio 0.60. Knob of halter dusky yellow. Abdomen: Tergites 1 and 2 light brown; tergite 2 with strong, distinct setae on 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 sparse, long setae. Oviscape (Fig. 17.7) sclerites brown and weakly developed, membrane whitish with brown striations; oviscape weakly laterally compressed.

Distribution. Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

Host. Unknown. Possibly Labidus spp. ( Formicidae : Ecitoninae ), since many specimens have been collected over army ant raids. (see Natural History section above)

Etymology. An adjective from Latin for "weakened" referring to the weakly-developed oviscape.

Holotype. ♀, ECUADOR: Napo: Yasuni Biological Research Station, 0.67°S, 76.39°W, 220m, 18.v.1996, Brown et al., raid Labidus sp. [ LACM ENT 025788].

Paratypes. 6♀, same as holotype, [ LACM ENT 0 25749, 0 25878, 0 25897, 0 25907, 0 25906, 025865].

Other material examined. COLOMBIA: Amazonas: Amacayacu NP, Matamata Station, 3.82°S, 70.26°W, 150m, 2♀, 2–8.v.2000, A. Parente, CAP-682, Malaise trap; Valle de Cauca: PNN Farallones de Cali, Alto Anchicaya, 3.43°N, 76.8°W, 650m, 1♀, 13–27.ii.2001, S. Sarria, CAP-1527, Malaise trap, 1♀, 16–30.i.2001, S. Sarria, CAP-1547, Malaise trap, 1♀, 25.x–8.xi.2000, S. Sarria, Malaise trap, CAP-1109. ECUADOR: Napo: Yasuni Biological Research Station,.67°S, 76.39°W, 220m, 12♀, 18.v.1996, Brown et al., raid Labidus sp.. VENEZUELA: Lara: Yacambú, 9.68°N, 69.47°W, 1200m, 1♀, 7.v.1981, H. Townes, Malaise trap.