Myriophora pectinata, 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 : 40

Myriophora pectinata sp. nov.

(Figs 7.1, 13.4, 19.3, 24.5)

Diagnosis. Female. Myriophora pectinata is among the most easily recognized Myriophora due to the near complete absence of setae on the abdomen and the distinct setal comb on the posterior margin of T5 (Fig. 7.1). T6 is extremely reduced, and the labellar lobes are swollen.

Description. Female (Fig. 7.1). Body length 2.45–2.52 mm. Head: Frons yellow, with 2 pairs of supraantennal setae; length of lower supra-antennal setae greater than 1/2 length of upper pair; upper supra-antennals originate above lower interfrontal setae. First flagellomere yellow, rounded under arista. Palpus yellow, normal sized. Labrum normal sized. Labellum swollen. Thorax: Scutum yellow. Scutellum yellow. Anterior scutellar setae less than 1/2 the length of posterior pair. Pleuron yellow; anepisternum with setulae and one large seta. Forefemur yellow. Midfemur yellow. Hind femur yellow. Wing length 2.31–2.52 mm (Fig. 13.4); costal vein normal; costal length 1.37–1.51 mm; mean costal ratio 0.59. Knob of halter dusky yellow. Abdomen: Tergites 1 and 2 light brown; tergite 2 without strong, distinct setae on lateral margin. Tergite 5 light brown; posterior setae on tergite 5 long. 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. 19.3) sclerites light brown; membrane lightly colored with conspicuous brown striations directed obliquely in basal half and parallel to sclerites in apical half; weakly laterally compressed; nearly bare with only minute, sparse setulae.

Distribution. Known from Sacha Lodge, Ecuador.

Host. Unknown.

Etymology. An adjective from Latin meaning "combed" referring to the setal combs on the posterior of the abdomen.

Holotype. ♀, ECUADOR: Sucumbios: Sacha Lodge, 0.5°S, 76.5°W, 270m, 3–13.vii.1994, P. Hibbs, Malaise trap [ LACM ENT 042289].

Paratypes. 1♀, same as holotype, 10–20.ix.1994, [ LACM ENT 020597]; 1♀, 14–24.v.1994, [ LACM ENT 006975].