Atherigona (Atherigona) simplex (Thomson)

Couri, Marcia S., Pont, Adrian C. & Daugeron, Christophe, 2010, The Muscidae (Diptera) of New Caledonia 2503, Zootaxa 2503 (1), pp. 1-61 : 18-19

5. Atherigona (Atherigona) simplex (Thomson)

( Figs 9–12 )

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

Atherigona bituberculata Malloch, 1925b: 119 . Holotype male, Pusa, India, in BMNH (type seen by Pont, 1986b: 50) (synonymy by Pont, 1973c: 53).

Atherigona simplex ; Pont, 1989: 682; Shinonaga et al., 1991: 330.

Diagnosis. Frons brown. Palpus brown in both sexes. Male fore tarsomeres without erect setulae or hairs. brown. Male wing without a faint dark spot at apex of subcosta. Male hypopygial prominence bifurcate, the two arms small and situated on a distinct knob, close together and only a little divergent as in Figs 9 and 10 (see also Pont, 1973c: Fig. 16a–d ; Pont, 1986b: Figs 254, 255, 258, 259); trifoliate process pale, except at sides of lateral plates, stalk slender as in Figs 11 and 12 , median piece sometimes slightly sinuate in profile ( Pont, 1973c: Fig. 16e–j ; Pont, 1986b: 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, 1986b). See also Pont & Magpayo (1995).

Material examined: MNHN: New Caledonia: Nouméa : v.1955, 3 ♀, J. Rageau .

CNC: New Caledonia: Dumbéa : 100 m, 7.ix.1972, 1 ♂, J. F. McAlpine .

BPBM: New Caledonia: Anse Vata : 1.x.1958, 2 ♀ ; 22.x.1958, 2 ♀ (one in fly trap. bait: kidney extract) ; 23.x.1958, 2 ♀; 25.x.1958, 2 ♀; 27.x.1958, 7 ♀; 1.xi.1958, 6 ♀; 15.xi.1958, 13 ♀; 22.xi.1958, 5 ♀; 23.xi.1958, 15 ♀; all C.R. Joyce ; 1.xi.1958, 1 ♀ ; 22.xi.1958, 6 ♀ ; 23.xi.1958, 2 ♀; 1.iv.1958, 1 ♀, J Rageau. Beach near La Foa : 19.xi.1958, 1 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. Canala : 11.xi.1958, 1 ♂, 4 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. La Crouen : 150 m, Malaise trap, 20-22.iii.1968, 2 ♂ , J.L. Gressitt & T.C. Maa. Nouméa : 15.v.1945, 1 ♀ , H.E. Milliron ; ii.1959, 1 ♂ , C.M. Yoshimoto & N.L.H. Krauss; 22–23.xi.1963, 1 ♂, R. Straatman. Plateau de Dogny : 20.xi.1958, 1 ♀ , C.R. Joyce. Poindime : 0–50 m, i.1969, 1 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss. Pouebo : 150 m, 17.i.1964, 1 ♂ , R. Straatman; 0– 20 m, seashore, 30.i.1964, 1 ♀, R. Straatman. St Louis : iii.1959, 3 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss. Tao : 0–10 m, 8.x.1967, 1 ♀ , J. & M. Sedlacek; 8–10.ii.1958, Malaise trap, 2 ♀, C.M. Yoshimoto & N.L.H. Krauss. Up Bulari R.: 17.xi.1958, 4 ♀, C.R. Joyce. Loyalty Islands: Ouvea: Fayaoue , ii.1963, 1 ♀ , N.L.H. Krauss.

Comments. See Pont (1973c) for biology and morphology. Male similar to A. oryzae but can be separated by the dark colour of palpus and by the morphology of the hypopygial prominence and trifoliate process. See Pont (1986b) for redescription and detailed geographic records. The species was first recorded from New Caledonia by Pont (1986b), based on one male from Dumbéa (CNC).

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

Figures

FIGURES 1–16. 1–4. Atherigona bidens Hennig, male terminalia. 1. Hypopygial prominence, dorsal view. 2. Male hypopygial prominence, lateral view. 3. Male trifoliate process, posterior view. 4. Male trifoliate process, lateral view. 5– 8. Atherigona oryzae Malloch, male terminal. 5. Hypopygial prominence, dorsal view. 6. Hypopygial prominence, lateral view. 7. Trifoliate process, posterior view. 8. Trifoliate process, lateral view. 9–12. Atherigona simplex (Thomson), male terminalia. 9. Hypopygial prominence, dorsal view. 10. Hypopygial prominence, lateral view. 11. Trifoliate process, posterior view. 12. Trifoliate process, lateral view. 13–16. Atherigona tibiseta Malloch, male terminalia. 13. Hypopygial prominence, dorsal view. 14. Hypopygial prominence, lateral view. 15. Trifoliate process, posterior view. 16. Trifoliate process, lateral view. Scale bar: 0.1mm