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 ) occidentalis Deeming, 1971 Atherigona occidentalis Deeming, 1971: 177 , figs 132, 133; Deeming 1979: 49 , figs 53–55; Dike 2003: 220 (distribution); Muller 2015: 890 , fig. 32; Muller & Mostovski 2018: 352 , fig. 19. Material examined : 4♂ , 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♂ , NMNW ; 2♂ , NMWC ) ; 3♂ , 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; 1♂ , Katima Mulilo District , Salambala , 4 km NE of, 17°49'21''S , 24°36'07''E , 25.ii–01.iii.2001 , A .H. Kirk-Spriggs & E. Marais, Malaise trap sample; 1♂ , 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 ; 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 ; 11♂ , 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 (all NMNW ) ; 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♂ , NMNW ; 1♂ , NMWC ) ; 1♂ , Tsumeb District , Varianto 771/2, 19°23'00''S , 17°43'57''E , 29.iii–01.iv.2003 , A .H. Kirk-Spriggs , light trap ( NMWC ) ; 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 ( NMNW ) ; 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 ( NMWC ) . Remarks : Deeming (1979: 46) , recorded a species of Atherigona which he believed to be a variety of the common A . ( s . str .) lineata and provided a description of the adult male, female, third-instar larva and puparium to allow for future recognition. This material was reared from the grass Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult. (as synonym S . pallidifusca (Schumach.) Stapf & C.E. Hubb. ) at Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria . In that description, the fore femur of the male was described as having a dark mark occupying the apical 2 / 5 of its length. In the above cited specimen, the apical 1 / 2 of the fore femur is deep black. Following examination of a longer series of specimens, it is now evident that this is a highly variable species. Atherigona ( s . str .) occidentalis was originally described for the male as having the fore femur “… faintly infuscate in apical third” ( Deeming 1971: 177 ), as are other West African specimens examined. Distribution : (Afrotropical): Botswana , Burkina Faso , Cameroon , Mali , Namibia *, Nigeria , South Africa and Zambia *. 1♂ , “ Zambia , 5 km SE Livingstone, 17°54'S , 25°51'E , 15.iii.1993 , E. Marais” (deposited in NMNW ), extends the range of the species to include Zambia . Host-plant : Diectomis fastigiata (Sw.) P. Beauv. (as Andropogon fastigiatus Sw. ) ( Poaceae ).