Atherigona divergens Stein, 1913

Muller, B. S., 2015, Illustrated key and systematics of male South African Atherigona s. str. (Diptera: Muscidae), African Invertebrates 56 (3), pp. 845-845 : 868

Atherigona divergens Stein, 1913

Fig. 1

Atherigona divergens Stein, 1913: 532 ; Deeming 1971: 183.

Atherigona hancocki van Emden, 1940: 113 , syn n.

Diagnosis: This species is easily distinguishable from others by its projecting and knob-shaped proepisternum with 4 equally developed and strong setae, and its very complex and uniquely shaped quinquefoliate “trifoliate process” ( Fig. 1 ).

Type material examined:

Holotype ♂ of A. divergens : SOUTH AFRICA : KwaZulu­Natal: ‘Durban, F. Muir’ (ZMHB).

Holotype ♂ of A. hancocki : UGANDA: Kampala G.L.R. Hancock 18.iv.1926. Van Emden 1940 ( MRAC) . Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA : KwaZulu­Natal: 1♂ Drakensberg Garden Caravan Park , 29°45'S 29°15'E, ca. 1750 m, On Cassine flowers, 6–11.i.1988, J.G.H. Londt ( NMSA) ; 5♂ Empangeni , 28°38'S 31°42'E, 5–15.i.1990, P.E. Reavell, Malaise trap ( NMSA) ; 1♂ Port Edward , 31°03'S 30°13'E, 9.iv.1997, K.R. Cradock, Malaise trap ( NMSA) ; 1♂ Royal Natal National Park , 28°41.362'S 28°56.327'E, 1425 m, stream, y-wood, 10–13.xii.2004, M.B. Mostovski, Malaise trap ( NMSA) ; 4♂ Royal Natal National Park , Thendele, 28°42.378'S 28°56.083'E, 1600 m, Leucosedes [ Leucosidea ] dominated scrub, 15–17.ii.2010, A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, Malaise trap ( BMSA (D) 19729, 19592, 19742, 19797) .

Distribution: as A. divergens : South Africa; as A. hancocki : Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda.

Discussion: A. hancocki van Emden has since its initial description been one of the stranger species within the subgenus, with it being the only species with a quinquefoliate “trifoliate process”. One could be excused for thinking it impossible that it could actually become a junior synonym. A. divergens Stein is currently housed in the ZMHB, after being thought lost together with numerous other Atherigona types until its “rediscovery” in the early 2000s. A. divergens has a relatively incomplete description (as do most species described at that time), but I was fortunate enough to have been able to examine both A. divergens and A. hancocki , and was able to compare the holotype of A. divergens to the original description of A. hancocki , as well as the holotype, and it is identical to many of the diagnostic features of A. hancocki , viz. the proepisternum knob-shaped with four equally developed and strong setae; the hypopygial prominence absent; the frontal plates infuscated and glossy; the frontal vitta dull infuscated. Unfortunately the trifoliate process of A. divergens is missing so that cannot be compared. From the combination of characters (many considered unique to A. hancocki ), Atherigona hancocki is hereby designated as a junior synonym of Atherigona divergens .

Figures

Figs 1–9. Atherigona spp.: trifoliate process and hypopygial prominence of (1) A. divergens Stein; (2) A. tetrastigma Paterson; (3) A. parviclivis sp. n.; (4) A. parvihumilata sp. n.; (5) A. angulata Deeming; (6) A. pulla (Wiedemann); (7) A. laevigata (Loew); (8) A. bimaculata Stein; (9) A. univitatta Deeming & Overman. Not to scale.