Myriophora alexandrae sp. nov.

(Figs 1.2, 9.2, 15.2)

Diagnosis. Female. This species has an elongated, tube-like oviscape with membrane striations that turn approximately 90° from the proximal to distal end (Fig. 15.2), similar to M. communis. It differs from M. communis in having brown body color (Fig. 1.2), a shorter oviscape sternite, and wings that are as long as the body (avg. WL/ BL 1.04). During preservation, the oviscape often dramatically curls anteriorly from its natural position.

Description. Female (Fig. 1.2). Body length 1.54–1.93 mm. Head: Frons dark brown, 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 brown, rounded under arista. Palpus yellow, slightly inflated. Labrum small, weakly developed. Labellum normal sized. Thorax: Scutum brown. Scutellum brown. Anterior scutellar setae near equal in length to posterior pair. Pleuron light brown; anepisternum with setulae and one large seta. Forefemur light brown. Midfemur light brown. Hind femur light brown. Wing length 1.4–1.96 mm (Fig. 9.2); costal vein normal; costal length 0.7–0.95 mm; mean costal ratio 0.48. Knob of halter brown. Abdomen: Tergites 1 and 2 dark brown; tergite 2 with strong, distinct setae on lateral margin. Tergite 5 dark 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 sparse short setae. Oviscape (Fig. 15.2) weakly laterally compressed, thin, elongated and slightly curved anteriorly; tergite much longer than sternite; sclerites dark brown; membrane brown.

Distribution. Southwestern United States.

Host. Hiltonius sp. (Spirobolidae) and unidentified Atopetholidae (Spirobolida).

Etymology. Named after Hash's wife, Christa Alexandra Hash, for her support of his research over the years and for help collecting specimens of this species and its host data.

Holotype. ♀ USA: California: Walker Ranch, Placerita Canyon, 34.38°N, 118.44°W, 2–16.x.1998, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap [LACM ENT 133887].

Paratypes. 6♀, same as holotype [LACM ENT 133918, 133914, 133876, 133873, 133857, 133897].

Other material examined. USA: Arizona: 18.5 km W Portal Basin Trail, 1♀, 8–10.vii.1987, B. Brown, Malaise trap, Ash Canyon, 0.5mi W Hwy 92, 31.39°N, 110.24°W, 1550m, 3♀, 1–11.xi.1993, N. McFarland, Malaise trap, 1♀, 13–22.ix.1993, N. McFarland, Malaise trap, 1♀, 24.ix–5.x.1993, N. McFarland, Malaise trap, Basin Trail, 18.5km W Portal, 31.89°N, 109.23°W, 1950m, 2♀, 7–10.vi.1986, B.V. Brown, Malaise trap, Patagonia, 31.53°N, 110.77°W, 1♀, 19.xi.1994, B. Brown, E. Wilk, Malaise trap, 1♀, 26.xi.1993, B. Brown, E. Wilk, Malaise trap, Peppersauce Campground, 32.54°N, 110.71°W, 1433m, 15♀, J. O'Hara, Malaise trap, Ramsey Canyon, 12.5km S Sierra Vista, 31.43°N, 110.31°W, 1700m, 3♀, 9.vii.1987, B.V. Brown, Malaise trap; California: 1.5km E Tuolumne, 37.95°N, 120.2°W, 750m, 1♀, 15–26.vi.1986, T. G. Spanton, FIT, 25km W Redding, 40.57°N, 122.72°W, 1♀, 27–30.vi.1986, B. Brown,T. Spanton, Malaise trap, 6km NE Tuolumne, River Ranch Campground, 37.99°N, 120.17°W, 750m, 1♀, 22–26.vi.1986, B.V. Brown, Malaise trap, Charmlee Park, 34.05°N, 118.88°W, 396m, 2♀, 6–13.vii.1996, B.V. Brown, Malaise trap, Topanga Canyon, 34.08°N, 118.59°W, 2♀, 1.xi–17.xii.1994, B. Brown, G. Hendler, Malaise trap, 1♀, 22.iii–11.iv.1995, B. Brown, G. Hendler, Malaise trap, 2♀, 7–24.iii.1994, B. Brown, G. Hendler, Malaise trap, Walker Ranch, Placerita Canyon, 34.38°N, 118.44°W, 1♀, 16–28.x.1998, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap, 5♀, 20.vi–21.vii.1999, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap, 1♀, 20.vi.1999, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap, 1♀, 29.ix.1998, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap, 3♀, 7.i.2000, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap, 5♀, 7.x.1999, B. Brown, I. Swift, Malaise trap; New Mexico: 2.4km W Luna, 33.82°N, 108.98°W, 2300m, 10♀, 7–8.vii.1987, B.V. Brown, yellow pan traps, Cherry Creek, 32.91°N, 108.22°W, 2250m, 1♀, 16.ix.1994, J. O'Hara, Malaise trap.