Myriophora alexandrae
| Myriophora alexandrae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Phoridae |
| Genus: | Myriophora |
| Species: | M. alexandrae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Myriophora alexandrae Hash & Brown, 2015[1]
| |
Myriophora alexandrae is a parasitic insect from the genus Myriophora. Myriophora are flies that kill their definitive host, millipedes.
Geographic distribution[edit]
This is a "new world" parasite that has been found in the Southwestern part of the United States, and Central America specifically, Costa Rica
Attraction to host's natural defense[edit]
Myriophora are initially attracted to the chemical toxin released by their host that is used to keep predators away. However, this same toxin is what attracts the Myriophora. Specifically, the flies are more attracted when 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone is combined with another chemical 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone.[2]
Morphology[edit]
An adult female body length ranges form 1.54-1.93 mm. Each adult has one ovipositor located on the posterior end of the parasite that is a needle like shape. It has two wings and each wing ranges from 1.4-1.96mm in length. The top half of the parasite is brown and the bottom half is white.[3]
Life cycle[edit]
When an adult female Myriophora locates a millipede, it uses its ovipositor to penetrate the millipede in an unprotected areas (e.g. base of the antennae, between body segments, and the unprotected underbelly) of the millipede. An egg is delivered through the ovipositor and hatches inside of the millipede. Once the egg hatches, the maggot ingests the insides of the millipede a process that takes approximately five days. Once the millipede is fully consumed, all that will be left is the hind-gut and the exuvia. The Myriophora maggot then metamorphoses into an adult fly.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ 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): 1–79. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4035.1.1. PMID 26624462.
- ^ a b Leung, Tommy (2017-07-27). "Parasite of the Day: Myriophora alexandrae". Parasite of the Day. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
- ^ Hash, John M.; Millar, Jocelyn G.; Heraty, John M.; Harwood, James F.; Brown, Brian V. (February 2017). "Millipede Defensive Compounds Are a Double-Edged Sword: Natural History of the Millipede-Parasitic Genus Myriophora Brown (Diptera: Phoridae)". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 43 (2): 198–206. doi:10.1007/s10886-016-0815-7. ISSN 1573-1561. PMID 28078624. S2CID 578700.