Atherigona (Atherigona) simplex (Thomson)

Couri, Marcia S., Pont, Adrian C. & Daugeron, Christophe, 2010, The Muscidae (Diptera) of Vanuatu, Zootaxa 2556 (1), pp. 1-39 : 9-10

4. Atherigona (Atherigona) simplex (Thomson)

Coenosia simplex Thomson, 1869: 560 . Lectotype male, “ China ”, in NRS, des. Pont (1986: 50).

Atherigona bituberculata Malloch, 1925b: 119 . Holotype male, Pusa, India, in BMNH (syn. by Pont 1972a) (type seen by Pont 1986)

Atherigona simplex ; Pont, 1986: 50; Pont, 1989: 682.

Diagnosis. Frons brown; palpus dark brown, truncated in male and long and slender in female; scutum grey; postpronotum yellow; scutellum not pale at apex; legs yellow, apex of fore femur dark brown, fore tarsomeres and apex of fore tibia brown; hypopygial prominence bifurcate, the 2 arms situated on a knob, close together and only a little divergent ( Pont 1972a: Fig. 16a–d; Pont 1986: Figs 254, 255, 258, 259), trifoliate process pale, except at apices of lateral branches, stem slender; median piece may be slightly sinuate in profile ( Pont 1972a: Fig. 16e–j; Pont 1986: Figs 256, 257, 260, 261). Female ovipositor with sternite 6 as long as broad (Figs 262– 265) and sternite 7 variable as in Figs 264, 265 (all Figs in Pont 1986). See also Pont & Magpayo (1995).

Material examined. BMNH: Vanuatu: Malekula: Malua Bay , vi.1929, 1 ♂, L.E. Cheesman; Ounua, iii– iv.1929, 1 ♂, L.E. Cheesman ( Pont 1986: 52) .

BPBM: Vanuatu: Éfaté: beach, 23.ii.1964, 1 ♀, R. Straatman; Port Vila , 0–100 m, ii.1970, 1 ♀, N.L.H. Krauss . Epi: Vaemali , 100–150 m, 6–10 & 16–21.viii.1967 (J. & M.Sedlacek), 2 ♀ . Erromanga: Dillon Bay , 0–100 m, iii.1978, 1 ♂, N.L.H. Krauss; Nawolai, 300 m, swept, 2.iii.1964, 1 ♀, R. Straatman . Erromango: Numpon , 250 m, Malaise trap, 28.ii & 1.iii.1964, 2 ♀, R.Straatman . Espiritu Santo: SW, below Namatasopa , 250 m, 2.ix.1957, 1 ♀, J.L.Gressitt .

Comments. First recorded from Vanuatu by Pont (1986).

Distribution. Australia (NT, Qld, WA), New Caledonia ( New Caledonia), Solomon Is, Vanuatu; Oriental Region.