Aurisetiphora, Brown, 2022

Brown, Brian V., 2022, Two new genera of phorid flies, Macgrathphora and Aurisetiphora, from Costa Rica (Diptera: Phoridae), with recommendations for naming new genera in the family, Zootaxa 5115 (4), pp. 571-581 : 578

Aurisetiphora new genus

Type species. Aurisetiphora maggiesnowae new species.

Diagnosis. Metopininae . Body matte brown. Frontal macrosetae golden brown instead of black. Lacking dense black setulae on scutum; instead scutum with scattered golden-brown setae. Hind tibia without setal palisades or rows of setae.

This genus is differentiated from most other metopinines by the lack of dense setulae on the scutellum (as discussed in Brown 2007; Brown et al. 2015). An exception that also lacks dense dorsal scutal setae is Platydipteron balli Brown ; however, that species has a shiny black body and is strongly limuloid in body structure.

Etymology. From Latin for “gold-bristled phorid”, referring to the color of the main setae on the body.

Natural history. Unfortunately, we know nothing about these flies, other than their propensity to fly into Malaise traps.