Myriophora wellsorum, 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 : 49

Myriophora wellsorum sp. nov.

(Figs 8.9, 14.9, 20.7, 22.6, 22.8, 24.9)

Diagnosis. Female. Myriophora wellsorum and M. parva are distinct in having a bare anepisternum and two brown spots on abdominal T3, but M. wellsorum is distinguished by the larger body size and the abdominal tergite color that is yellow on the anterior margins and fading to brown posteriorly (Fig. 22.6).

Description. Female (Fig. 8.9). Body length 2.03–2.70 mm. Head: Frons yellow, 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 dusky yellow. Scutellum dusky yellow. Anterior scutellar setae near equal in length to posterior pair. Pleuron yellow; anepisternum bare. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow. Wing length 1.75–2.45 mm (Fig. 14.9); costal vein normal; costal length 1.09–1.51 mm; mean costal ratio 0.60. Knob of halter light brown. Abdomen: Tergites 1 and 2 contrasting, yellow anteriorly, brown posteriorly; tergite 2 with strong, distinct setae on lateral margin. Tergite 5 contrasting, yellow anteriorly, brown posteriorly; 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. 20.7) sclerites light brown; membrane light brown; strongly laterally compressed; division between membrane and sclerites clearly defined; sternite about 2/3 of the length of the tergite.

Distribution. Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama.

Host. Collected on injured Aphelidesmidae and other unidentified Polydesmida .

Etymology. Named in recognition of Rick and Linda Wells for their support of Hash's work, including support for fieldwork in Costa Rica that led to understanding more about the biology of this species.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Soltis Center, 10.383°N, 84.618°W, 468m, 10.viii.2011, J. Hash, injured millipede [ LACM ENT 307293].

Paratypes. 10♀, same as holotype, [ LACM ENT 307294–307303].

Other material examined. COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Palma Road 142, 10.504°N, 84.703°W, 492m, 4♀, 11.viii.2011, J. Hash, injured millipede, Valle Azul, 10.322°N, 84.559°W, 368m, 1♀, 12.viii.2011, J. Hash, injured millipede; Guanacaste: Santa Rosa National Park, 10.95°N, 85.62°W, 300m, 1♀, 18.x–8.xi.1986, I. Gauld, D. Janzen, Malaise trap BH-11- O, 2♀, 18.x–8.xi.1986, I. Gauld, D. Janzen, Malaise trap H-3- O; Puntarenas: 3km SW Rincon, 8.68°N, 83.48°W, 10m, 1♀, iii.1989, P. Hanson, Malaise trap. ECUADOR: Los Rios: Rio Palenque Science Center, 0.6°S, 79.35°W, 180m, 1♀, 2–31.iii.1996, P. Hibbs, Malaise trap, 3♀, 29.iv–5.v.1987, B. Brown, L. Coote, Malaise trap; Napo: Yasuni Biological Research Station,.67°S, 76.39°W, 220m, 1♀, 22–26.v.1996, Brown, Hibbs, Cantley, Malaise trap, Cephalotes site; Sucumbios: Sacha Lodge, 0.5°S, 76.5°W, 270m, 3♀, 4– 14.iii.1994, P. Hibbs, Malaise trap. PANAMA: Canal Zone: Barro Colorado Island, 9.17°N, 79.83°W, 1♀, 30.iii– 6.iv.1994, J. Pickering, Malaise trap #2417.