Myriophora simplex, 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 : 44

Myriophora simplex sp. nov.

(Figs 7.8, 13.10, 19.10)

Diagnosis. Female. Myriophora simplex is recognized by the combination of oviscape sclerites that extend greatly over the lateral face, membrane striations that are parallel throughout the oviscape (Fig. 19.10, 24.7), only a few setulae on the anepisternum, and uniformly colored hind femur.

Description. Female (Fig. 7.8). Body length 2.91–3.71 mm. Head: Frons brown, with 1 pair of supra-antennal setae; supra-antennals originate above lower interfrontal setae. First flagellomere yellow-brown, rounded under arista. Palpus yellow-brown, normal sized. Labrum prominent, enlarged. Labellum normal sized. Thorax: Scutum light brown. Scutellum light brown. Anterior scutellar setae about 3/4 of the length of posterior pair. Pleuron light brown; anepisternum with many setulae. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow (Fig. 21.21). Wing length 3.08–3.82 mm (Fig. 13.10); costal vein normal; costal length 1.93–2.63 mm; mean costal ratio 0.65. 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 greatly narrowed posteriorly; posterodorsal setae on segment 6 equal in length to posteroventral setae. Venter of abdomen with dense, long setae. Oviscape (Fig. 19.10) sclerites reddish-brown; membrane yellowish; sternite nearly as long as tergite and extending nearly halfway up lateral face.

Distribution. Known from Bolivia, Costa Rica, and Honduras.

Host. Unknown.

Etymology. An adjective from Latin for " simple" referring to the plain, nondescript features of this species.

Holotype. ♀, COSTA RICA: San José: San Antonio de Escazu (high site), 9.90°N, 84.15°W, 2000m, ix– x.1996, C. Flores, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 123462].

Paratypes. 8♀, same as holotype, [ LACM ENT 123538, 123547, 123545, 123519, 123531, 123524, 123476, 123481].

Other material examined. BOLIVIA: La Paz: Cumbre Alto Beni, 40 km N Caranavi, 15.83°S, 67.56°W, 1600m, 1♀, 14.iv.2001, B. Brown, G. Kung, Malaise traps (2), 1♀, 15–19.iv.2003, Brown, Marcotte, Zumbado, Malaise trap. COSTA RICA: Cartago: 4km NE Cañon, Genesis II, 9.71°N, 83.91°W, 2350m, 3♀, iii.1996, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, La Cangreja, 9.80°N, 83.97°W, 1950m, 1♀, vi–vii.1992, P. Hanson, Malaise trap; San José: 22.5 km N San Isidro, 9.37°N, 83.7°W, 1♀, 20–23.v.1974, J. Donahue, Malaise trap, 2km W Empalme, 9.72°N, 83.97°W, 2300m, 1♀, vii.1995, P. Hanson, Malaise trap, San Antonio de Escazu (high site), 9.90°N, 84.15°W, 2000m, 35♀, ix–x.1996, C. Flores, Malaise trap, San Gerardo, 9.55°N, 83.8°W, 2200m, 1♀, 18–21.iii.2007, M. Pollet, yellow pan traps, CR/2007/125. HONDURAS: Cortes: PN Cusuco, 5km N Buenos Aires, 15.48°N, 88.22°W, 1600m, 1♀, 2.iii.1995, R. Cordero, Malaise trap.