Myriophora curvata, 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 : 18

Myriophora curvata sp. nov.

(Figs 2.8, 10.4, 16.3, 21.4, 21.11, 21.20, 21.22)

Diagnosis. Female. This species is recognized by the robust oviscape, with the strongly ventrally curved sternite (Fig. 16.3) and the long setae on the frons and abdomen (Fig. 2.8). This species is very similar to M. scopulata , but M. scopulata has a straight, rather than curved oviscape sternite.

Description. Female (Fig. 2.8). Body length 1.9–2.87 mm. Head: Frons brown, with 1 pair of supra-antennal setae; supra-antennals originate above lower interfrontal setae. First flagellomere dusky yellow, slightly pointed under arista. Palpus yellow, normal sized. Labrum normal sized. Labellum normal sized. Thorax: Scutum dusky yellow. Scutellum dusky yellow. Anterior scutellar setae near equal in length to posterior pair. Pleuron dusky yellow; anepisternum bare. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow with brown patch distally on anterior surface. Wing length 2.38–3.4 mm (Fig. 10.4); costal vein normal; costal length 1.54–2.28 mm; mean costal ratio 0.67. Knob of halter brown. Abdomen: Tergite 5 light 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 dense, long setae. Oviscape (Fig. 16.3) short, robust, weakly laterally compressed; sclerites brown, membrane brown; sternite strongly curved anteroventrally with dense setae.

Distribution. Costa Rica.

Host. Unknown.

Etymology. An adjective from Latin for "curved" referring to the strongly anteroventrally curved oviscape.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: Cartago: La Cangreja, 9.80°N, 83.97°W, 1950m, vii.1991, P. Hanson, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 035037].

Paratypes. 1♀, same as holotype, xi.1991, P. Hanson, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 038970]; COSTA RICA: San José: Zurquí de Moravia, 10.05°N, 84.02°W, 1600m, 2♀, iii.1991, P. Hanson, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 0 63788, 063914].