Atherigona (Atherigona) naqvii Steyskal, 1966

Deeming, John C. & Kirk-Spriggs, Ashley H., 2024, A contribution to the knowledge of Namibian Atherigona Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae), with the descriptions of four new species and two new subspecies, Zootaxa 5536 (4), pp. 501-535 : 519-520

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 ).