Myriophora alexandrae, 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 : 8

Myriophora alexandrae sp. nov.

(Figs 1.2, 9.2, 15.2)

Diagnosis. Female. This species has an elongated, tube-like oviscape with membrane striations that turn approximately 90° from the proximal to distal end (Fig. 15.2), similar to M. communis . It differs from M. communis in having brown body color (Fig. 1.2), a shorter oviscape sternite, and wings that are as long as the body (avg. WL/ BL 1.04). During preservation, the oviscape often dramatically curls anteriorly from its natural position.

Description. Female (Fig. 1.2). Body length 1.54–1.93 mm. Head: Frons dark brown, with 2 pairs of supraantennal setae; length of lower supra-antennal setae less than 1/2 the length of upper pair; upper supra-antennals originate even with lower interfrontal setae. First flagellomere brown, rounded under arista. Palpus yellow, slightly inflated. Labrum small, weakly developed. Labellum normal sized. Thorax: Scutum brown. Scutellum brown. Anterior scutellar setae near equal in length to posterior pair. Pleuron light brown; anepisternum with setulae and one large seta. Forefemur light brown. Midfemur light brown. Hind femur light brown. Wing length 1.4–1.96 mm (Fig. 9.2); costal vein normal; costal length 0.7–0.95 mm; mean costal ratio 0.48. Knob of halter 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 rectangular to slightly narrowing posteriorly; posterodorsal setae on segment 6 shorter than posteroventral setae. Venter of abdomen with sparse short setae. Oviscape (Fig. 15.2) weakly laterally compressed, thin, elongated and slightly curved anteriorly; tergite much longer than sternite; sclerites dark brown; membrane brown.

Distribution. Southwestern United States.

Host. Hiltonius sp. ( Spirobolidae ) and unidentified Atopetholidae (Spirobolida) .

Etymology. Named after Hash's wife, Christa Alexandra Hash, for her support of his research over the years and for help collecting specimens of this species and its host data.

Holotype. ♀ USA: California: Walker Ranch, Placerita Canyon, 34.38°N, 118.44°W, 2–16.x.1998, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 133887].

Paratypes. 6♀, same as holotype [ LACM ENT 133918, 133914, 133876, 133873, 133857, 133897].

Other material examined. USA: Arizona: 18.5 km W Portal Basin Trail, 1♀, 8–10.vii.1987, B. Brown, Malaise trap, Ash Canyon, 0.5mi W Hwy 92, 31.39°N, 110.24°W, 1550m, 3♀, 1–11.xi.1993, N. McFarland, Malaise trap, 1♀, 13–22.ix.1993, N. McFarland, Malaise trap, 1♀, 24.ix–5.x.1993, N. McFarland, Malaise trap, Basin Trail, 18.5km W Portal, 31.89°N, 109.23°W, 1950m, 2♀, 7–10.vi.1986, B.V. Brown, Malaise trap, Patagonia, 31.53°N, 110.77°W, 1♀, 19.xi.1994, B. Brown, E. Wilk, Malaise trap, 1♀, 26.xi.1993, B. Brown, E. Wilk, Malaise trap, Peppersauce Campground, 32.54°N, 110.71°W, 1433m, 15♀, J. O'Hara, Malaise trap, Ramsey Canyon, 12.5km S Sierra Vista, 31.43°N, 110.31°W, 1700m, 3♀, 9.vii.1987, B.V. Brown, Malaise trap; California: 1.5km E Tuolumne, 37.95°N, 120.2°W, 750m, 1♀, 15–26.vi.1986, T. G. Spanton, FIT, 25km W Redding, 40.57°N, 122.72°W, 1♀, 27–30.vi.1986, B. Brown,T. Spanton, Malaise trap, 6km NE Tuolumne, River Ranch Campground, 37.99°N, 120.17°W, 750m, 1♀, 22–26.vi.1986, B.V. Brown, Malaise trap, Charmlee Park, 34.05°N, 118.88°W, 396m, 2♀, 6–13.vii.1996, B.V. Brown, Malaise trap, Topanga Canyon, 34.08°N, 118.59°W, 2♀, 1.xi–17.xii.1994, B. Brown, G. Hendler, Malaise trap, 1♀, 22.iii–11.iv.1995, B. Brown, G. Hendler, Malaise trap, 2♀, 7–24.iii.1994, B. Brown, G. Hendler, Malaise trap, Walker Ranch, Placerita Canyon, 34.38°N, 118.44°W, 1♀, 16–28.x.1998, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap, 5♀, 20.vi–21.vii.1999, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap, 1♀, 20.vi.1999, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap, 1♀, 29.ix.1998, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap, 3♀, 7.i.2000, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap, 5♀, 7.x.1999, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap; New Mexico: 2.4km W Luna, 33.82°N, 108.98°W, 2300m, 10♀, 7–8.vii.1987, B.V. Brown, yellow pan traps, Cherry Creek, 32.91°N, 108.22°W, 2250m, 1♀, 16.ix.1994, J. O'Hara, Malaise trap.