A contribution to the knowledge of Namibian Atherigona Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae), with the descriptions of four new species and two new subspecies Author Deeming, John C. Department of Systematic Biology, National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales, CF 10 3 NP, United Kingdom. Author Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H. African Natural History Research Trust, Street Court, Kingsland, Leominster, Herefordshire HR 6 9 QA, United Kingdom. text Zootaxa 2024 2024-11-06 5536 4 501 535 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5536.4.1 journal article 305816 10.11646/zootaxa.5536.4.1 5a4da453-3c1a-4671-88d2-da5e7b5c3bb3 1175-5326 14239209 DE387F74-0C64-4F14-B276-A6A9EB1C3258 Atherigona ( Atherigona ) naqvii Steyskal, 1966 Atherigona naqvii Steyskal, 1966: 53 ; Deeming 1971: 160 , figs 61–66; Deeming 1975: 2 ; Pont 1991: 341 ; Deeming 2000: 285 ; Dike 2003: 220 (distribution); Deeming 2008: 718 ; Muller 2015: 886 , fig. 37; Muller & Mostovski 2018: 353 , fig. 17; Deeming 2019b: 91 . Previous records : Daan Vijoen ( Deeming 1975 ); Brandberg: Messum Valley, 21°13.29'S , 14°30.98'E ; Hungorob Valley, 21°11.40'S , 14°31.69'E ; Wasserfallfläche, 21°10.77'S , 14°32.87'E ( Deeming 2000: 285 ). Material examined : 87♂ , 63♀ , Brandberg , Mason Shelter , 21°04'39''S , 14°05'43''E , 1750 m, 05–14.iii.2002 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs & E. Marais , Malaise trap , riverbed ; 3♂ , 2♀ , Brandberg , Mason Shelter , 21°04'42''S , 14°35'33''E , 1750 m, 05–14.iii.2002 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs , light trap sample ; 4♂ , Brandberg , Wasserfallfläche , below, 21°10'43''S , 14°32'51''E , 18–22.iii.2001 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs & E. Marais , Malaise trap sample ; 1♂ , Bushmanland , CDM Camp Tsumkwe , SE1920 Cb , v.1993 , S.V. Green , pitfall traps ; 2♂ , Etosha National Park , Okaukuejo, SE 1918 Bb , 12.iv.1989 , J. Irish & E. Marais ; 1♂ , Etosha National Park , Renostervlei , 2 km E, 19°09'59''S , 14°33'12''E , 26– 27.xii.1999 , [E.] Marais , [D.J.] Mann & [D.] Newman , MMN27, Malaise trap ; 86♂ , 8♀ , Gobabis District , De Hoek 878, 21°56'26''S , 20°58'55''E , 03–06.ii.2001 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs & E. Marais , Malaise trap samples ; 9♂ , Gobabis District , Somerkoms 521, 22°01'59''S , 19°57'22''E , 06–08.ii.2001 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs , [E.] Marais & [J.] Wheeler , Malaise trap sample ; 1♀ , Grootfontein District , Dakota 424, SE1917 Ac , 13–23.xii.1993 , M. Pusch , light trap ; 9♂ , same data, except: yellow tray ; 10♂ , same data, except: Malaise trap ; 1♂ , Grootfontein District , Kupferberg , 19°39'36''S , 17°33'59''E , 20.i.1998 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs & [E.] Marais , sweeping roadside grasses & reeds ; 1♂ , Katima Mulilo District , Salambala campsite, 17°50'01''S , 24°36'09''E , 22–24.ii.2001 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs & E. Marais , Malaise trap ; 1♂ , 2♀ , Katima Mulilo District , Salambala campsite, 17°50'01''S , 24°36'09''E , 28–29.xii.2002 , A . H. & M.K. Kirk-Spriggs , hanging trap baited fish ; 1♂ , Katima Mulilo District , Salambala pan, 17°50'00''S , 24°35'58''E , 01–04.iii.2001 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs , Malaise trap sample ; 1♂ , Katima Mulilo District , Salambala pan, 17°50'00''S , 24°35'58''E , 23–27.xii.2002 , A . H. & M.K. Kirk-Spriggs , Malaise trap sample ; 5♂ , 1♀ , Katima Mulilo District , Salambala forest , 17°50'02''S , 24°36'20''E , 23–29.xii.2002 , A . H. & M.K. Kirk-Spriggs , Malaise traps ; 2♂ , 3♀ , Kaudom Game Reserve , Dussi , 10 km W of, 18°48'32''S , 20°43'57''E , 29–30.xii.1998 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs , [E.] Marais & [D.J.] Mann , Malaise traps ; 1♂ , Kaokoland , Kunene River , 17°16'S , 13°47'E , 14–17.i.1993 , E. Marais ; 3♂ , Kaokoland , Ondorusu , 17°25'S , 13°57'E , 18.i.1993 , E. Marais ; 1♂ , Khorixas District , Amkarub 269, granite hills at: 19°49'17''S , 14°39'53''E , 24–26.v.2001 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs & E. Marais , Malaise traps ; 1♀ , Mahango Game Park at: 18°10'26''S , 21°43'12''E , 01.i.1999 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs , sweeping grasses ; 260♂ , 149♀ , Mariental District , Viljoenskroon 507, 25°10'S , 19°58'E , Malaise trap , 24.i–02.ii.1998 , G. Olivier , Malaise trap ; 3♂ , same data, except: 3–9.xii. 1998 ; 6♂ , 10♀ , Mariental District , Viljoenskroon 507, 26°08'39''S , 19°57'11''E , 07–09.ii.1998 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs & [E.] Marais , Malaise trap ; 43♂ , Otjinene District , Epukiro River , 3 km N at: 21°22'26''S , 20°06'09''E , 09–11.ii.2001 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs & E. Marais , Malaise trap sample ; 18♂ , 31♀ , Okahandja District , Erichsfelde 44, 21°35'46''S , 16°56'16''E , 20–22.iii.2003 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs , Malaise traps ; 1♂ , Omaruru District , Brandberg Wes , Ugab R. nr, 20°57'39''S , 14°07'55''E , 21–24.x.1998 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs & [E.] Marais , Malaise trap sample ; 2♂ , Opuwa District , Ekuju village , Kunene River , 17°19'30''S , 13°48'56''E , 11–12.x.1999 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs , [T.] Pape & [W.] Hauwanga , Malaise trap riverine forest ; 1♂ , Opuwo District , Sesfontein Fort , 19°07'15''S , 13°37'06''E , 01–03.i.2000 , [E.] Marais , [D.J.] Mann & [D.] Newman , MMN38, sweeping ; 3♂ , Rehoboth District , Spitskop SW 500 at: 24°07'39''S , 18°24'59''E , 17.i.2000 , E. Marais & D. Mann , MMN49, donkey dung ; 1♂ , 1♀ , Rundu District , Hamoye Nat. Forest , 18°12'S , 19°43'E , 05–08.iii.1999 , E. Marais , Malaise trap ; 1♂ , 3♀ , Rundu District , Katara : Okavango River , 17°48'56''S , 18°53'38''E , 20–23.i.1998 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs & [E.] Marais , Malaise trap ; 2♂ , 2♀ , Rundu District , Katara , 1 km S of, 17°50'25''S , 18°54'26''E , 22–23.i.1998 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs & [E.] Marais , Malaise traps , primary forest ; 1♂ , 2♀ , Rundu District , Matende River , 17°54'46''S , 19°35'16''E , 20–21.i.1998 , E. Marais & A . H. Kirk-Spriggs , Malaise trap , primary woodland ; 3♂ , 1♀ , Rundu District , Mile 46 Agricultural Research Station , 18°18'22''S , 19°15'24''E , 21–24.iv.2001 , [E.] Marais , [S.] Kasch & [K.] Vohland , Acacia dominated interdune, Malaise trap , BIOTA #01.101.01.7.04 ; 2♂ , Rundu District , Mile 46, 18°18'39''S , 19°15'29''E , 25–27.iii.2003 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs , Malaise traps ; 3♀ , Rundu District , Mutompo area , 18°18'37.2''S , 19°15'36.7''E , 21–25.iv.2001 , [E.] Marais , [S.] Kasch & [K.] Vohland , Malaise trap , deciduous woods, BIOTA#02.101.01.7.04 ; 1♀ , Rundu District , Rundu ( Kavango Lodge ), 17°54'43''S , 19°45'33''E , 27–29.iii.2003 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs & W. Mey , light trap ; 4♂ , 1♀ , Rundu District , Simanya : Okavango River , 17°33'17''S , 18°32'30''E , 23–24.i.1998 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs & [E.] Marais , Malaise trap , primary woodland ; 4♂ , Namib-Naukluft Park , Namib Desert Research Station , Kuiseb River , 23°33'45''S , 15°02'38''E , 420 m, 14–26.ii.1997 , I. Kapofi & M.E. Irwin , Malaise trap sample in riparian vegetation ; 1♀ , Tsumkwe District , Aha Hills at: 19°47'36''S , 20°59'51''E , 21–25.xii.1998 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs , [E.] Marais & [D.J.] Mann , Malaise traps ; 7♂ , Tsumkwe District , Nama , 19°54'34''S , 20°44'08''E , 20–22.xii.1998 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs , [E.] Marais & [D.J.] Mann , Malaise traps ; 1♂ , Tsumkwe District , Nhoma River , 1 km E of, 19°10'00''S , 20°36'09''E , 28.xii.1998 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs , [E.] Marais & [D.J.] Mann , Malaise traps ; 1♂ , 1♀ , Tsumkwe District , Xawasha pan, 2 km W, 19°09'57''S , 20°52'55''E , 26–27.xii.1998 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs , [E.] Marais & [D.J.] Mann , hanging fruit trap ; 1♂ , Waterberg Plateau Park , B de la Bat Restcamp , 20°30'S , 17°14'E , 09–13.iv.1993 , S.V. Green , Malaise trap ; 1♂ , Windhoek [District], Koreangab Dam , SE2217 Ca , 19.xii.1973 [ State Museum staff], H16175 ; 1♂ , West Caprivi Park , B8 rest-stop at: 17°46'56''S , 24°16'31''E , 13–15.xii.1999 , [E.] Marais , [D.J.] Mann & [D.] Newman , MMN3, elephant dung ; 10♂ , West Caprivi Park , Fort Doppies , 17°49'28''S , 23°18'49''E , 20–21.x.1999 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs , [T.] Pape & [W.] Hauwanga , Malaise trap , dry woodland ; 5♂ , 1♀ , West Caprivi Park , Kwando River: Susuwe , 17°45'37''S , 23°20'55''E , 28.ix–02.x.1998 , A . H. Kirk-Spriggs , Malaise trap , dry woodland ; 1♂ , West Caprivi Park , Susuwe : Kwando River, 17°45'54''S , 23°21'10''E , 20–21.x.1999 , [ A .H.] Kirk-Spriggs , [T.] Pape & [W.] Hauwanga ; 1♂ , West Caprivi Park , Nova , 5 km N, 18°09'56''S , 21°44'31''E , 16–18.xii.1999 , [E.] Marais , [D.J.] Mann & [D.] Newman , MMN8, Malaise trap (all NMWC ) . Remarks : The first appearance of this Oriental species in the Afrotropics was from specimens reared from millet in Nigeria in the late 1960s ( Deeming 1971: 160 ). The first Namibian record was a single male collected by E. Lindner in Daan Viljoen Game Reserve near Windhoek in 1970 ( Deeming 1975 ). Of recent years it has become a prolific species widespread in the Afrotropics and is known to attack Barley, wheat and various other Poaceae ( Pont & Magpayo 1995: 86 ) . Ramachandra Rao (1924) , examined material of this species reared from wheat in Pakistan and gave it the vernacular name “ Sind wheat-stem fly”. He was further the first researcher to recognise the trifoliate process and its value in taxonomy, presenting a photograph of the highly diagnostic trifoliate process of this species. Distribution : (Afrotropical): Botswana , Burkina Faso , Ethiopia , Kenya , Madagascar , Malawi , Mali , Namibia , Nigeria , Oman , South Africa , Swaziland , United Arab Emirates and Yemen ; (Australasian): Australia ; (Oriental): India , Pakistan , Philippines and Sri Lanka ; (Palaearctic): Saudi Arabia and Canary Is. Host-plants : Arundinella metzii Hochst. ex Miq., Barley , Hordeum vulgare L., Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., Maize, Zea mays L., Pearl millet, Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone (as Alopecurus typhoides Burm. f. ) and wheat, Triticum spp. (all Poaceae ).