Myriophora communis, 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 : 17-18

Myriophora communis sp. nov.

(Figs 2.7, 10.3, 16.2)

Diagnosis. Female. Myriophora communis is recognized by the very elongate, thin, tube-like oviscape (Fig. 16.2). It is distinguished from the similar species M. inaequalisetarum by the longer anterior scutellar setae and M. alexandrae by the thinner oviscape sclerites, lighter body color, and the presence of a brown spot on the hind femur.

Description. Female (Fig. 2.7). Body length 1.65–2.35 mm. Head: Frons dusky yellow, 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 yellow-brown, rounded under arista. Palpus yellow, slightly inflated. Labrum normal sized. Labellum normal sized. Thorax: Scutum dusky yellow. Scutellum dusky yellow. Anterior scutellar setae about 3/4 the length of posterior pair. Pleuron yellow; anepisternum with setulae and one large seta. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow with brown patch distally on anterior surface. Wing length 1.44–2.07 mm (Fig. 10.3); costal vein normal; costal length 0.81–1.12 mm; costal ratio 0.55. Knob of halter light 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 greatly narrowed posteriorly; posterodorsal setae on segment 6 equal in length to posteroventral setae. Venter of abdomen with sparse short setae. Oviscape (Fig. 16.2) weakly laterally compressed, sclerites brown, very thin; membrane light brown with wide striations basally becoming compressed apically.

Distribution. Texas, USA to Panama.

Host. Myriophora communis has been collected on and reared from several spirobolidan millipedes.

Etymology. An adjective from Latin meaning "common" referring the widespread distribution of this species in the Central America and the high density at which it can be found.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Alajuela: Soltis Center, 10.383°N, 84.618°W, 468m, 11.viii.2011, J. Hash, injured millipede [ LACM ENT 307182].

Paratypes. 6♀, same as holotype [ LACM ENT 307183–6, 307188–9,], 3♀, same as holotype, 12.viii.2011 [307190–2].

Other material examined. COSTA RICA: Cartago: 4km NE Cañon, Genesis II, 9.71°N, 83.91°W, 2350m, 2♀, xi–xii.1995, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, La Cangreja, 9.80°N, 83.97°W, 1950m, 1♀, vi–vii.1992, P. Hanson, Malaise trap; Heredia: 11km SE La Virgen, 10.33°N, 84.07°W, 500m, 1♀, 8.iv.2003, ALAS, Malaise trap 05/M/ 18/078, La Selva Biological Station, 10.43°N, 84.02°W, 40m, 1♀, 1.ix.1993, ALAS, Malaise trap M/09/199, Refugio 2000m, near Varablanca, 10.18°N, 84.11°W, 2000m, 1♀, 9.iv.2002, ALAS, Berlese 20/B/ AS /075; Puntarenas: 24km W Piedras Blancas, 8.7593°N, 83.3861°W, 200m, 1♀, iii–iv.1989, P. Hanson, I. Gauld, Malaise trap, 3km SW Rincon, 8.68°N, 83.48°W, 10m, 4♀, iii.1989, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, 1♀, vi–viii.1989, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, 11♀, vii–ix.1990, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, 5km SW Rincon, Tropical Youth Center, 8.70°N, 83.51°W, 40m, 1♀, 2.vi.1998, B.V. Brown, injured millipede, 1♀, 2.vi.1998, B.V. Brown, injured Odontomachus laticeps, 1♀, 3.vi.1998, B.V. Brown, dead millipede, 1♀, 31.v–7.vi.1998, B. Brown, V. Berezovskiy, Malaise trap #1, 1♀, 31.v–7.vi.1998, B. Brown, V. Berezovskiy, Malaise trap #4, Coopemarti, 8km S puente de Rio Rincon, 8.63°N, 83.47°W, 30m, 1♀, ii.1991, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, Monteverde, 10.33°N, 84.79°W, 1700m, 1♀, 28.v– 1.vi.1988, B.V. Brown, Malaise trap; San José: 26km N San Isidro, 9.50°N, 83.72°W, 2100m, 1♀, xi.1992 – i.1993, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, Ciudad Colon, 9.92°N, 84.25°W, 800m, 1♀, xii.1989, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, Zona Protectora El Rodeo, 9.91°N, 84.28°W, 1000m, 1♀, 7.viii.2001, B.V. Brown, injured millipede, Zurquí de Moravia, 10.05°N, 84.02°W, 1600m, 3♀, 1–15.vi.1993, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, 1♀, iii.1991, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, 1♀, ix–x.1990, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, 1♀, x–xii.1990, P. Hanson, Malaise trap. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: La Vega: P.N. Armando Bermudez, 1000m, 1♀, 12–22.i.1989, L. Masner, Malaise trap; Pedernales: Las Abejas, 38km NNW Cabo Rojo, 18.15°N, 71.63°W, 1250m, 1♀, 17.i.1989, L. Masner. GUATEMALA: Zacapa: San Lorenzo, 14.53°N, 89.68°W, 2300m, 2♀, 13–17.xi.1986, M. Sharkey, Malaise trap. MEXICO: Tamaulipas: Estación Los Cedros, Gómez Farías, 23.05°N, 99.15°W, 340m, 1♀, 1.iv.2002, A. Cordoba-Torres, Malaise trap. NICARAGUA: Zelaya: Rapidos Waula Kombas, Rio Waspuk, 14.35°N, 84.6°W, 75m, 1♀, ix.1996, J. Maes, J. Hernandez, Malaise trap. PANAMA: Canal Zone: Barro Colorado Island, 9.17°N, 79.83°W, 1♀, 15–22.xii.1993, J. Pickering, Malaise trap #2360, 1♀, 18–25.xi.1992, J. Pickering, Malaise trap #727, 1♀, 23.iv–9.v.1993, J. Pickering, Malaise trap #964, 1♀, 30.iii–6.iv.1994, J. Pickering, Malaise trap #2417. USA: Texas: 9 mi E Hemphill, 31.33°N, 93.84°W, 1♀, 2–13.vii.1989, R. Anderson, E. Morris, Malaise trap.