Atherigona piscatoris, Muller, 2015

Muller, B. S., 2015, Illustrated key and systematics of male South African Atherigona s. str. (Diptera: Muscidae), African Invertebrates 56 (3), pp. 845-845 : 893-895

Atherigona piscatoris sp. n.

Fig. 27

Etymology: From the Latin piscator (fisherman), which alludes to the unique shape of the apex of the trifoliate process which is shaped like a fish hook.

Diagnosis: This species keys to ( Dike 1989 a) and is very similar to A. binubila in terms of coloration and the shape of the hypopygial prominence. It differs, however, entirely from that species (and all known others) in having a uniquely shaped median piece of the trifoliate process ( Fig. 27a, b ).

Description:

Male.

Measurement s: Body length: 4.309 mm; wing: 3.12 mm; r­m crossvein ratio: 0.412.

Head: Ground colour dark. All head setae and setulae infuscated. Occiput grey dusted posteriorly with narrow median part glossy, laterally also grey dusted. Ocellar triangle grey dusted. Frontal vitta infuscated. Frontal plate grey dusted, with three pairs of proclinate frontal and two pairs of orbital setae. Parafacial golden-grey dusted, at narrowest as wide as aristal base. Scape and pedicel infuscated with ferruginous apex. Postpedicel infuscated. Arista infuscated. Palpus infuscated; apically dilated and truncated, with hyaline setulae.

Thorax: Ground colour dark. Postpronotal lobe grey dusted, lobe with three setae and 12 setulae. Pleura golden-grey dusted. Proepisternum inconspicuous. Scutum grey dusted, with three faint and barely visible 2-4 dorsocentral vittae, not extending to the scutellum; Scutellum grey dusted, apical edge yellow; one pair of basal setae, one pair of discal setae and six discal setulae, one pair of subbasal setae and one pair of apical setae, subbasal and apical pair equal.

Legs: All legs yellow except for apical half of fore tibia and first three tarsal segments of fore tarsi which are infuscated.

Leg chaetotaxy: Fore tarsi without any specialised chaetotaxy.

Wings: Hyaline, except for slight brown smoky suffusion at apex of Sc­R 1 and humeral crossvein. Veins brown. Halteres with white knob and yellow stalk. Calypters white.

Abdomen: All tergites yellow; tergite 1+2 with a brown marking; tergite 3 with two large dark-brown oblong marks taking up approximately two thirds of surface; tergite 4 with two small round markings, taking up a third of segment; tergite 5 immaculate. Hypopygial prominence knob-shaped with two anteriorly projecting tubercles. Trifoliate process stem 2× the length of the apical process; trifoliate process infuscated except for brown stem; median piece with filiform in posterior view except for apex which is abruptly dilated, with hyaline setulae: one pair small and undifferentiated and the other pair long and hair-like (at least half the length of median piece); median piece almost angular in profile, with gradual dilation towards apex starting from middle of piece in profile, appearing to be shaped like a fishhook; lateral plates barely wider than median piece in profile, no inner lobes present. Surstylus not infuscated.

Female. Unknown.

Holotype ♂: SOUTH AFRICA : KwaZulu­Natal: Giant’s Castle , 29°15.955'S 29°31.228'E, 1710 m, 8–10. xii.2004, M.B. Mostovski ( NMSA; Type no. 2510).

Paratypes: KwaZulu­Natal: 9♂ same label data as holotype ( NMSA; Type no. 2510); Free State : 4♂ Geluksdal farm, 27°54'7.05"S 29°23'31.9"E, sparse Leucisedea [ Leucosidea ] dominated scrub, 9–10. xi.2009, A.H.Kirk-Spriggs, Malaise trap ( BMSA (D) 13289,13292, 13293, 13294) ; 6♂ Harrismith , Scotland farm, 27°58'59.5"S 29°37'09.8"E, dense Leucosedea [ Leucosidea ] dominated scrub, 10–12.xi.2009, A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, Malaise trap ( BMSA (D) 12761, 12769, 12770, 12773, 12779, 12782); KwaZulu­Natal : 5 ♂: Cathedral Peak , Didima, 28°57.000'S 29°14.395'E, 1422 m, 13–16.xii.2004, M.B. Mostovski ( 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) ; 1♂ Royal Natal National Park , Riverine bush, montane slopes, 6–10. xiii.1984, J.G.H. Londt ( NMSA) ; 30♂ 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) 19691, 19678, 19836, 19827, 19689, 19782, 19565, 19739, 19608, 19786, 19696, 19582, 19790, 19710, 19795, 19579, 19661, 19701, 19606, 19603, 19758, 19736, 19638, 19637, 19776, 19623,

19632, 19598, 19766, 19590); 1♂ Royal Natal National Park , Tiger Falls area, 28°41.341'S 28°56.047'E, Protea caffra woodland, 17–18.ii.2010, A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, Malaise trap ( BMSA (D) 19808) .

Distribution: South Africa.

Figures

Figs 19–27. Atherigona spp.: trifoliate process and hypopygial prominence of (19) A. marginifolia van Emden; (20) A. erectisetula sp. n.; (21) A. humeralis (Wiedemann); (22) A. bundongoana van Emden; (23) A. falcata (Thomson); (24) A. ndumoensis sp. n.; (25) A. decempilosa Dike; (26) A. binubila van Emden; (27) A. piscatoris sp. n. Not to scale.