Atherigona divergens Stein, 1913: 532 Deeming 1971: 183 Atherigona hancocki van Emden, 1940: 113 Illustrated key and systematics of male South African Atherigona s. str. (Diptera: Muscidae) Muller, B. S. African Invertebrates 2015 2015-12-31 56 3 845 845 8B4XF Stein, 1913 Stein 1913 [474,849,204,230] Insecta Muscidae Atherigona Animalia Diptera 23 868 Arthropoda species divergens   Fig. 1     Atherigona divergensStein, 1913: 532;  Deeming 1971: 183.     Atherigona hancocki van Emden, 1940: 113,  syn n.  Diagnosis: This species is easily distinguishable from others by its projecting and knob-shaped proepisternum with 4 equally developed and strong setae, and its very complex and uniquely shaped quinquefoliate “trifoliate process” ( Fig. 1). Type material examined:  Holotype ♂of  A. divergens: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu­Natal: ‘Durban, F. Muir’ (ZMHB).   Holotype ♂of  A. hancocki: UGANDA: Kampala G.L.R. Hancock  18.iv.1926. Van Emden 1940( MRAC). Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu­Natal:  1♂ Drakensberg Garden Caravan Park, 29°45'S 29°15'E, ca.  1750 m, On Cassineflowers,  6–11.i.1988, J.G.H. Londt( NMSA);  5♂ Empangeni, 28°38'S 31°42'E,  5–15.i.1990, P.E. Reavell, Malaise trap( NMSA);  1♂ Port Edward, 31°03'S 30°13'E,  9.iv.1997, K.R. Cradock, Malaise trap( 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);  4♂ 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) 19729, 19592, 19742, 19797). Distribution: as  A. divergens: South Africa; as  A. hancocki: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda. Discussion:  A. hancockivan Emdenhas since its initial description been one of the stranger species within the subgenus, with it being the only species with a quinquefoliate “trifoliate process”. One could be excused for thinking it impossible that it could actually become a junior synonym.  A. divergensSteinis currently housed in the ZMHB, after being thought lost together with numerous other  Atherigonatypes until its “rediscovery” in the early 2000s.  A. divergenshas a relatively incomplete description (as do most species described at that time), but I was fortunate enough to have been able to examine both  A. divergensand  A. hancocki,and was able to compare the holotypeof  A. divergensto the original description of A. hancocki,as well as the holotype, and it is identical to many of the diagnostic features of  A. hancocki, viz.the proepisternum knob-shaped with four equally developed and strong setae; the hypopygial prominence absent; the frontal plates infuscated and glossy; the frontal vitta dull infuscated. Unfortunately the trifoliate process of  A. divergensis missing so that cannot be compared. From the combination of characters (many considered unique to  A. hancocki),  Atherigona hancockiis hereby designated as a junior synonym of  Atherigona divergens. [181,1138,507,529] 1926-04-18 MRAC G. L. R. Hancock Uganda Kampala 23 868 1 1 Kampala holotype 1988-01-06 1988-01-11 1988-01-06 NMSA On Cassine & J. G. H. Londt Uganda 1750 -29.75 Drakensberg Garden Caravan Park 1225 29.25 23 868 1 1 Kampala 1990-01-05 1990-01-15 1990-01-05 NMSA P. E. Reavell Uganda -28.633333 Empangeni 1231 31.7 23 868 5 5 Kampala 1997-04-09 NMSA K. R. Cradock Uganda -31.05 Port Edward 1218 30.216667 23 868 1 1 Kampala 2004-12-10 2004-12-13 2004-12-10 NMSA M. B. Mostovski Uganda 1425 -28.689367 Royal Natal National Park 1 28.938784 23 868 1 1 Kampala 2010-02-15 2010-02-17 2010-02-15 BMSA Leucosedes & A. H. Kirk-Spriggs Uganda 1600 -28.7063 Royal Natal National Park 1 28.934717 Thendele 23 868 4 4 Kampala