Atherigona rubricornis 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 : 896-897

Atherigona rubricornis Stein, 1913

Fig. 45 Atherigona rubricornis Stein, 1913: 531 ; van Emden 1940: 101, figs. 15, 51; Deeming 1971: 157, figs 47,

48 ( A. tritici Pont & Deeming figured); Deeming 1979: 39, figs 19 (female tergite 8); Pont &

Deeming 2001: 298, figs 1–4.

Diagnosis: This species can be distinguished from other species with a partially yellow frontal vitta by the trifoliate process with median piece entirely linear in posterior view. The species is very similar to A. tritici Pont & Deeming, 2001 (with A. tritici previously regarded as a form of A. rubricornis ) with the main difference being the shape of the median piece which is dilated at its apex.

Type material examined: Syntype ♂: [ ZIMBABWE]: ‘Salisbury [Harare], Mashonaland, G.A.K. Marshall’ ( ZMHB) .

Other material examined: BOTSWANA: 1♂ Tlokweng, Sorghum field, 6–13.iii.1990, J.M. Mashonja, Malaise trap ( NMSA) ; 1♂ Tsessebe, Bechuanaland , i.1956, F. Zumpt ( NHMUK) . SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 1♂ Aliwal North , 30°42'S 26°43'E, iii.1979, C.D. Eardley, C. Kok & S.J. van Tonder, Malaise trap ( SANC) ; 1♂ Grahamstown (plot 5280), Three Chimneys farm, 33°18.542'S 26°29.846'E, 2–13.iii.2008, A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, Malaise trap ( AMGS) ; Free State: 1♂ 42 km SW of Winburg, 28°45'S 26°45'E, 1500 m, Grassland & bushes, 20.iii.1991, J.G.H. Londt & A.E. Whittington ( NMSA) ; 7♂ Adullam Farm nr. Clarens , 28°32'S 28°28'E, 20–26.ii.1980, S.J. van Tonder, C. Kok & W.A. Harrop, Malaise trap ( SANC) ; 2♂ Adullam Farm nr. Clarens , 28°32'S 28°28'E, 20–26.ii.1980, C. Kok, Malaise trap ( SANC) ; 6♂ Brandfort, Florisbad Research Station , 28°46.039'S 26°04.234'E, Acacia Savanna , 4–6.iv.2009, A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, Malaise trap ( BMSA (D) 05592, 05591, 05516, 05521, 05581, 05570) ; 4♂ Brandfort, Soetdoring Nature Reserve, Kruger’s Drift , 28°51.303'S 26°02.302'E, Acacia Savanna , 5–6.iv.2009, A.H. & M.K. Kirk-Spriggs, Malaise trap ( BMSA (D) 5455, 5431, 5477, 5482); KwaZulu­Natal : 1♂ 20 mi. N Jozini , 750 ft [229 m]., dry hillside, 28.xi.1971, M.E. Irwin & B.J. Irwin ( NMSA) ; 1♂ Ferncliff Nature Reserve , 29°33.2'S 30°20.5'E, 855 m, 5.xii.2004, M.B. Mostovski, light trap ( NMSA) ; 1♂ Hilton Road , 13.xii.1963, B.R. Stuckenberg ( NMSA) ; 3♂ Himeville , 3–5.iii.2004, M.B. Mostovski, light trap ( NMSA) ; 1♂ Howick , 29°28'S 30°13'E, 1060 m, 9.iv.1993, A.E. Whittington, Mercury blended light ( NMSA) ; 1♂ Ndumo Game Reserve , main road, 26°54.288'S 32°17.974'E, Sand and broad-leafed deciduous forest, 4–8. xii.2009, A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, Malaise trap ( BMSA (D) 17559) ; 1♂ Pietermaritzburg, Hilton , garden, 13–23. xi.2003, M.B. Mostovski, Malaise trap ( NMSA) ; 2♂ 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) ; 3♂ Royal Natal National Park , 7–11.iv.1951, Brinck & Rudebeck, insect trap ( MZLU) ; 1♂ 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) 19723) ; 2♂ St. Lucia Nature Reserve, Coastal bush & forest, 18–20.xii.1981, J.G.H. Londt & B.R. Stuckenberg ( NMSA) ; Limpopo: 1♂ 23 mi. NW of Naboomspruit , 20.ii.1949 ( NHMUK) ; 1♂ Nylsvley Nature Reserve , 24°39'S 28°42'E, 10–11.xii.1979, C.D. Eardley, C.G. Moolman & W.A. Harrop, Malaise trap ( SANC) ; Mpumalanga: 1♂ 8 km NW Baberton on Badplaas Rd., Bushveld long grass, 6–8.iv.1985, J.G.H. Londt ( NMSA) ; 1♂ Baberton , 13.xii.1910, A.J.T. Janse ( NMSA) ; 1♂ Loskopdam Nature Reserve area, Bushveld nr. River , 24.i.1978, J.G.H. Londt ( NMSA) ; North West Province: 1♂ S.A. Lombaard Nature Reserve, 27°36'05"S 25°28'51"E, 1230 m, Rhus , Acacia savanna , 11.iii.2003, J.G.H. Londt, Malaise and light traps ( NMSA) ; Western Cape: 1♂ Malgas , 34°20'S 20°30'E, 40 m, 11–13.x.1994, R. Danielsson ( MZLU) .

Distribution: Botswana, Chad, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Figures

Figs 37–45. Atherigona spp.: trifoliate process and hypopygial prominence of (37) A. naqvii Steyskal; (38) A. ruficornis Stein; (39) A. flaviheteropalpata sp. n.; (40) A. latibasilaris sp. n.; (41) A. mitrata Séguy; (42) A. bedfordi van Emden; (43) A. ochracea Deeming; (44) A. theodori Hennig; (45) A. rubricornis Stein. Not to scale.