Atherigona (Atherigona) theodori Hennig, 1963

Dawah, Hassan A., Abdullah, Mohammed A. & Deeming, John C., 2020, The Muscidae (Diptera) of Saudi Arabia, descriptions of two new species, new records and updated list of species, Zootaxa 4869 (1), pp. 1-54 : 28

Atherigona (Atherigona) theodori Hennig, 1963 ( Fig. 39 )

Atherigona (Atherigona) theodori Hennig, 1963: 2 as a variety of laevigata Loew.

Specimens examined. 1m, Jazan, Abu Aresh, Al-Mahdag Village , 1.ii.–3.iv.2011, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah ( NMWC) ; 1f, Najran, Al-Shurfa, Saleh Maqbol Farm , 17.ix.2014, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah ( CERS) ; 2m, Asir, Abha, Madenate Al-Ameer Sultan, Hay Al-Sad , 25.ii.–25.v.2002, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah ( NMWC) ; 1f, Asir, Maraba, Al-Hudaithy Fruit Farm , 1–30.v.2004, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah ( NMWC) ; 2m, 3f, Asir, Keratha, Al-Ethrebany Fruit Farm , 15.v.–11.vi.2006, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah ( NMWC; CERS) ; 8m, 47f, Al-Dawaseer, Al-Joba village , 1.iii.–30.iv.2005, Malaise trap, H.A. Dawah and M.A. Abdullah ( NMWC; CERS) .

Distribution. This species was previously recorded from Saudi Arabia by Pont (1991); Dawah & Abdullah 2009). It was described from Egypt. In the Middle East it it has been recorded from Egypt, Palestine, Oman, and Yemen ( Pont 1991; Deeming 2000; 2008).

Taxonomic remarks. A. (Atherigona) theodori is very closely related to A. (Atherigona) laevigata but the former flourishes in drier conditions while the latter prefers damp situations (Deemimg 2000: 286).

Figures

FIGURE. 37–41. Muscidae species habitus: 37) Atherigona (Atherigona) reversura Villeneuve, 1936, Male; 38) Atherigona (Atherigona) soccata Rondani, 1871, Male; 39) Atherigona (Atherigona) theodori Hennig, Female; 40) Atherigona (Atherigona) varia (Meigen, 1826), Male; 41) Atherigona (Acritochaeta) afrotropicalis Deeming sp.n., Male.