233 research outputs found
The higher classification of southern African insects
A number of changes have taken place in the
higher classification of southern African insects
since the last time it was documented in full
(Scholtz & Holm 1985) and there is currently no
comprehensive modern classification of higher
insect taxa available for the region.http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/entohttp://www.entsocsa.co.za/Publications.htm2018-09-30am2016Zoology and Entomolog
A new galloping gait in an insect
An estimated three million insect species all walk using variations of the alternating tripod gait. At any one time, these animals hold one stable triangle of legs steady while swinging the opposite triangle forward. Here, we report the discovery that three different flightless desert dung beetles use an additional gallop-like gait, which has never been described in any insect before. Like a bounding hare, the beetles propel their body forward by synchronously stepping with both middle legs and then both front legs. Surprisingly, this peculiar galloping gait delivers lower speeds than the alternating tripod gait. Why these beetles have shifted so radically away from the most widely used walking style on our planet is as yet unknown
Acutitornus persectus spec. nov., a new species of gall-forming moth from the Northern Cape province of South Africa (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae: Apatetrinae, Apatetrini)
A new apatetrine gelechiid, Acutitornus persectus spec. nov., is described from the Northern Cape province of South
Africa. The larvae of this species develop in stem galls in Stipagrostis namaquensis (Nees) (Poaceae), a grass
species with the unusual defense mechanism of abscising leaves in response to insect or fungal attack.http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/nfi_ditsongam2016Zoology and Entomolog
Melanophila unicolor Gory, 1841 (Buprestidae), the furnace beetle, in southern Africa
Recently, large numbers of Melanophila unicolor
Gory, 1841 were attracted to furnaces and cooling
copper at a smelter at Tsumeb, Namibia, where the
beetles are colloquiallyknownas ‘furnace-beetles’.
The smelter is surrounded by indigenous savanna
woodland. The beetles were alleged by workers to
inflict a painful bite. Specimens were sent to us
for identification; the results are reported in this
communication.http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/entohttp://www.entsocsa.co.za/Publications.htm2018-03-30am2016Zoology and Entomolog
Dung beetle conservation biogeography in southern Africa: current challenges and potential effects of climatic change
Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene changes to the geomorphology, climate and vegetation of southern Africa are considered responsible for radical differences between southwest and northeast dung beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) leading to current endemism in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. This bias is supported by distributional analysis of 437 species across vegetation regions and 2° × 2° squares of latitude and longitude using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and minimum spanning trees (MST). The ordinal values for six NMDS dimensions showed significant correlations with annual rainfall, annual temperature, rainfall seasonality and altitude. Significant climatic differences were also shown between six regional centres defined and modelled for the subcontinent: winter/bimodal rainfall, southwest arid, southeast highlands, savanna, sandy savanna and east coast. Twenty-one, principal, subregional centres defined from further NMDS and MST analyses of regional data showed significant intra-regional differences in climatic attributes although published data suggest that soil, vegetation and dung type associations were frequent additional influences. Species showing the smallest ranges were centred primarily around the coast and bordering escarpments, which coincide with regions and subregions showing unique environmental conditions characterized by many endemic genera and species. Published land use data indicate that large parts of these regions are highly transformed or degraded, so that some species are facing strong current threats. Furthermore, published global climatic change data suggest that many endemic species could be further threatened, especially to the southwest where the late Cenozoic trend to unique climatic and environmental conditions could, potentially, be reversed in the future.JRS Biodiversity Foundation Grant No. GNT60313http://link.springer.com/journal/105312020-11-26hj2020Zoology and Entomolog
A review on the effect of macrocyclic lactones on dung-dwelling insects : toxicity of macrocyclic lactones to dung beetles
Avermectins and milbemycins are commonly used in agro-ecosystems for the control of
parasites in domestic livestock. As integral members of agro-ecosystems with importance in
maintaining pasture health through dung burial behaviour, dung beetles are an excellent nontarget
bio-indicator taxon for examining potential detrimental effects of pesticide application.
The current review focuses on the relative toxicity of four different anthelmintics (ivermectin,
eprinomectin, doramectin and moxidectin) in dung residues using dung beetles as a bioindicator
species. One of the implications of this review is that there could be an effect that
extends to the entire natural assemblage of insects inhabiting and feeding on the dung of cattle
treated with avermectin or milbemycin products. Over time, reduced reproductive rate would
result in decreased dung beetle populations and ultimately, a decrease in the rate of dung
degradation and dung burial.http://www.ojvr.orgam201
A review on the effect of macrocyclic lactones on dung-dwelling insects : toxicity of macrocyclic lactones to dung beetles
Avermectins and milbemycins are commonly used in agro-ecosystems for the control of
parasites in domestic livestock. As integral members of agro-ecosystems with importance in
maintaining pasture health through dung burial behaviour, dung beetles are an excellent nontarget
bio-indicator taxon for examining potential detrimental effects of pesticide application.
The current review focuses on the relative toxicity of four different anthelmintics (ivermectin,
eprinomectin, doramectin and moxidectin) in dung residues using dung beetles as a bioindicator
species. One of the implications of this review is that there could be an effect that
extends to the entire natural assemblage of insects inhabiting and feeding on the dung of cattle
treated with avermectin or milbemycin products. Over time, reduced reproductive rate would
result in decreased dung beetle populations and ultimately, a decrease in the rate of dung
degradation and dung burial.http://www.ojvr.orgam201
Afrotropical Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) : description of the hitherto unknown male of C. walkeri Boorman, 1979 from South Africa
The genus Culicoides Latreille is represented by 160 described species in the Afrotropical
Region; of these, approximately 10 % are plain-wing species, the wing lacking a distinctive
pattern of pale and dark spots. This plain-wing sector includes C. walkeri Boorman which, till
now, has been known only in the female, based on nine specimens fromKenya. The hitherto
unknown male of C. walkeri is described here (and the female redescribed) based on material
collected in South Africa since 1970. Culicoides walkeri can be distinguished from other
plain-wing species in its pale ochreous colour, the robust shape of the male genitalia, and the
sensilla coeloconica distribution which, uniquely, is the same in both sexes (occurring
on flagellomeres 1–12). Though the feeding habits of C. walkeri are not known, its greatly
inflated third palpal segment and the copious number of sensilla found on the flagellum,
indicate it to be ornithophilic. Culicoides walkeri would appear to be confined to the frost-free
savannas of the eastern length of Africa, from the equator southwards; its limited distribution
in South Africa is mapped and shows that this uncommon species is confined to the Central
Bushveld, the Lowveld and the Mopane bioregions. We propose that C. walkeri remain
unplaced to subgenus.http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/entohttp://www.entsocsa.co.za/Publications.htmam201
A molecular phylogeny of the African Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Dung beetles of the subfamily Scarabaeinae have a worldwide distribution, with the Afrotropical region, the putative origin of the diversification
of Scarabaeinae, having the richest diversity. We use partial sequences from two ribosomal (16S, 28S) and two protein coding genes
(COI, CAD) to examine the relationships among 55 genera, representing more than half of the genera in the region. Taxa were sampled to
maximize representation of dung beetle morphological and ecological diversity in all nine tribes that occur in Africa. We estimated the divergence
times of the tribes to determine relative ages. The phylogenetic hypothesis of tribal and generic relationships was found to largely
concur with that of a recent molecular study done at a global scale, suggesting earliest diverging lineages which are quite distinct from the
ones traditionally recognized. Thus recent calls for a new classification for Scarabaeinae are supported. We suggest possible changes to the
classification, corroborate the likely African origin of the subfamily and provide support for fungus-feeding as the most likely ancestral
feeding habit in the Scarabaeinae.An NRF grant was
awarded to CHS.http://www.arthropod-systematics.deam201
Phylogeny of the African ball-rolling dung beetle genus Epirinus Reiche (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae : Scarabaeinae)
Recent phylogenetic analyses have pointed to the dung beetle genus Epirinus as the
putative African ancestral roller group. Consequently, we tested the roller status of species in the
genus with observational studies and constructed a molecular phylogeny based on partial
sequences of two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes for 16 of 29 species. Tested species were
confirmed to be dung rollers. Monophyly of the genus was confirmed, lending support to the
synonymy of the wingless genus Endroedyantus with Epirinus. Moreover, the phylogenetic
hypothesis was found to have a similar topology with a previously published one based on
morphological data. A combined molecular/morphology analysis showed congruence between
the molecular and morphological datasets. The loss of flight in some species and estimated
divergence dates within Epirinus are discussed.http://www.publish.csiro.au/?nid=120ab201
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