New species and revisionary notes on scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) associated with neotropical army ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Advances in knowledge of the host preferences of myrmecophilous Phoridae associated with Neotropical army ants (Ecitoninae) have been impeded by the limits of taxonomic knowledge. Recent reviews, of which species of scuttle fly have been recorded with which species of ants, revise and update the pioneering paper by Rettenmeyer & Akre (1968) for which the Phoridae had been identified by the late Thomas Borgmeier. In this paper we report on the results of a re-examination of many of the scuttle fly specimens that had been identified by Borgmeier. This further amends some identifications and proposes new synonyms not previously recognized because of errors in original descriptions. Previously misidentified specimens include a female Apocephalus from Brazil, which is probably an undescribed species but is too badly faded to merit description, and Cremersia bifidcauda Disney n. sp. from Panama. It is reported that the existing keys to the species of Diocophora incorporate errors. In particular specimens previously assigned to D. appretiata are re-identified as a set of sibling species. The species incorrectly attributed to this species by Borgmeier is named D. multichaeta Disney n. sp. The rest will be included in a paper in preparation. The type series of Ecitophora pilosula is mixed, as it includes some E. comes. E. collegiana is synonymised with E. comes. Ecitomyia setifrons, a new combination, is transferred from Ecituncula. Ecituncula glandularis is rescued from synonymy, its male is described for the first time, and both sexes are distinguished from its sibling species E. inquirenda. A lectotype has been designated for the latter species. A revised key to the females of Ecitophora is provided. Some males of Acontistoptera, Ecitomyia, Ecitophora, and Ecituncula are discussed. Ecitophora fuscipalpis is recognised as the first, hitherto unrecognised, male of the genus Thalloptera and T schwarzmaieri is then synonymised with it, to give the new combination, T. fuscipalpis. T brevisetorum is synonymised with T quadriglumis. The genus Lepidophoromyia is synonymised with Thalloptera, with the resulting transfer of the type species to give the new combination T zikani. Megaselia barroensis Disney n. sp., from Panama, and M. rettenmeyeri Disney n. sp., from the U.S.A., are described. A sibling species of Xanionotum hystrix is recogniscd, and named X. nechystrix Disney n. sp., and specimens collected by CWR and attributed to X. scopifer Borgmeier by Borgmeier are re-assigned to X. smithii Brues. The species Lepidophoromyia microptera is transferred to a newly recognised genus, Xenophoromyia Disney n. gen., to give the new combination Xenophoromyia microptera.