A new species of Megaselia Rondani (Diptera: Phoridae) associated with a tarantula spider (Araneae: Theraphosidae)

Abstract

Megaselia cumtarantula sp. n. is described for Peru. The entire life cycle of these flies takes place on tarantulas of the species Pamphobeteus antinous Pocock. Adults, pupae and larvae were found on the prosoma and femur of the legs of adult tarantulas and only larvae were found on the opisthosoma of juvenile tarantulas. Keywords: Phoridae, Megaselia, Pamphobeteus, commensalism, Peru