Myriophora spicaticonus, 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 : 46-47

Myriophora spicaticonus sp. nov.

(Figs 8.4, 14.4, 20.3)

Diagnosis. Female. Myriophora spicaticonus is most similar M. pabloi and M. plana in the cone-shaped oviscape structure, with dull sclerites but differs in having more dense oviscape setation (Fig. 20.3) and lacking large setae apart from the setulae on the anepisternum.

Description. Female (Fig. 8.4). Body length 2.35–2.70 mm. Head: Frons yellow-brown, with 2 pairs of supraantennal setae; length of lower supra-antennal setae less than 1/2 of the length of upper pair; upper supra-antennals originate even with lower interfrontal setae. First flagellomere yellow-brown, rounded 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 with many setulae. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow. Wing length 2.59–2.91 mm (Fig. 14.4); costal vein normal; costal length 1.58–1.65 mm; mean costal ratio 0.59. Knob of halter brown. 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 rectangular to slightly narrowing posteriorly; posterodorsal setae on segment 6 equal in length to posteroventral setae. Venter of abdomen with dense, short setae. Oviscape (Fig. 20.3) sclerites brown; membrane light brown with darker striations; weakly laterally compressed and tapering toward apex; setulae conspicuous and easily viewed under stereoscope.

Distribution. Known from one mid-elevation (1500m) sites in Costa Rica.

Host. Unknown but has been collected over Eciton burchelli raids.

Etymology. A noun meaning "spiked cone" referring the appearance of the oviscape.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: Las Alturas, 8.95°N, 82.83°W, 1500m, iii–v.1995, P. Hanson, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 126718].

Paratypes. ♀, COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: Monteverde, 10.32°N, 84.8°W, 1500m, 3.vi.1988, B.V. Brown, swarm raid front Eciton burchelli [ LACM ENT 307205].