Atherigona (Atherigona) bedfordi Emden, 1940

Atherigona bedfordi Emden, 1940: 120, figs 27, 55; Pont 1991: 339; Deeming 2000: 284; Dike 2003: 219 (distribution); Muller 2015: 860, fig. 42.

Atherigona humeralis Wiedemann, 1830: 441, sensu Hennig 1964: 497 et auctt., non Skidmore 1985: 313, nec Pont (1986: 113).

Previous record: Brandberg: Messum Valley, 21°13.29'S, 14°30.98'E (Deeming 2000: 284) .

Material examined: 4♂, 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 ; 2♂, same data, except: 01–04.iii.2001, A.H. Kirk-Spriggs; 2♀, Katima Mulilo District, Salambala forest, 17°50'02''S, 24°36'20''E, 23–29.xii.2002, Malaise trap, A.H. & M.K. Kirk-Spriggs, Malaise traps ; 1♂, Skeleton Coast, Kunene River mouth, 17°16'S, 11°47'E, 20–22.iv.1994, E. Marais, light trap ; 1♂, West Caprivi Park, Kwando River, Susuwe, 17°45'37''S, 23°20'55''E, 28.ix–02.x.1996, A . H. Kirk-Spriggs, Malaise trap, dry woodland (all NMNW) .

Remarks: One of the three male specimens from Susuwe (cited above), has the frontal vitta infuscate on all but the anterior margin.

Distribution: (Afrotropical): Angola, Chad, Gambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa and Sudan; (Palaearctic): Egypt, Palestine and Saudi Arabia.

Host-plants: Napier grass, Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone (as Pennisetum purpureum), Hyparrhenia cyanescens (Stapf) Stapf, Oryza barthii A. Chev., Sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, Sporobolus pyramidalis P. Beauv. and wheat, Triticum spp. (all Poaceae).