First records of the antlion genus Solter Navás from southern Africa, with description of a new species (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Myrmecaelurini)

A new species of Solter Navás is described from South Africa, representing the first record of this genus from Africa south of the equator. The new species provides a significant extension to the known distribution range of this predominantly Palaearctic genus. The species described here is characteristically reddish brown with a banded abdomen, and was recorded at three localities in arid rocky areas in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.The Northern Cape Department of Nature Conservation and the JRS Foundation.http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/hb201

Biology and systematics of some southern African myrmeleontoid insects (order Neuroptera)

The biology of southern African Myrmeleontidae and Nemopteridae (Neuroptera, Myrmeleontoidea) was studied with special emphasis on the nemopterid subfamily Crocinae. The superfamily Myrmeleontoidea is considered to be a monophyletic group derived from ancestors similar to the family Nymphidae. The Myrmeleontidae and Nemopteridae are the most highly evolved families, and the Nemopteridae have a sistergroup relationship with the other four myrmeleontoid families. Within the Nemopteridae, the Crocinae are considered more advanced than the subfamily Nemopterinae. An account of previous work on the two families is presented: literature relating to the Myrmeleontidae is catalogued in appendix 2 and publications dealing with the Nemopteridae are surveyed in the text . Biological and morphological information derived from the immature stages as well as the adults was used in the systematic study of the two families. The geographical distribution and phylogeny of the Myrmeleontoidea is discussed with particular reference to the Myrmeleontidae and Nemopteridae. The Myrmeleontidae have a world wide distribution whilst the Nemopteridae are more restricted, being limited to the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. It is concluded that the two families originated on Gondwanaland, and their present distribution is explained on the basis of evidence provided by plate tectonics. In southern Africa, the Myrmeleontidae show two distributional trends: there is a distinct western fauna including many endemics and an eastern fauna which comprises taxa with a wide distribution in central and east Africa, extending their ranges into the eastern parts of the subregion. The Nemopteridae occur predominantly on the western side of the subcontinent and over 90% of the species are endemic to southern Africa. A systematic revision of the southern African Crocinae is presented and summarized in a set of illustrated keys to the adults and larvae. There are now ten known crocin species in four genera from the subregion, four species being described for the first time in this thesis. The larvae of all ten species and the eggs of seven, have been correlated with the adults and are described. Two crocin genera, Concroce and Thysanocroce, have larvae with short prothoraxes, whilst those in Laurhervasia and Tjederia are elongated. Larvae of the first two genera live in plant detritus under rocks and in crevices whereas larvae of the latter two genera inhabit small dusty caves. These findings on the Myrmeleontidae and Nemopteridae are discussed in the context of general systematic theory, phylogeny and zoogeography

A new genus and species of owlfly from eastern and southern Africa (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae)

The genus Dorsomitus Tjeder, 1992, is considered a nomen nudum. Dorsomitus gen. nov. is described and validated here. A new combination, Dorsomitus neavei (Kimmins, 1949) gen. et comb. nov. is proposed, Dorsomitus tjederi gen. et sp. nov. is described, and Disparomitus neavei Kimmins, 1949, is designated as type species of the genus Dorsomitus gen. nov.http://www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.euam2018Zoology and Entomolog

A revision and key to the genera of Afrotropical Mantispidae (Neuropterida, Neuroptera), with the description of a new genus

The Afrotropical Mantispidae genera have previously been neglected and are poorly known. The genera are revised and redescribed. A new genus Afromantispa Snyman and Ohl is described with Afromantispa tenella comb. n. as type species. Perlamantispa (Handschin, 1960) is synonymised with Sagittalata Handschin, 1959. The new combinations within the genus include S. austroafrica comb. n., S. bequaerti comb. n., S. dorsalis comb. n., S. girardi comb. n., S. nubila comb. n., S. perla comb. n., S. pusilla comb. n., S. similata comb. n., S. royi comb. n., S. tincta comb. n. and S. vassei comb. n. An illustrated key to the genera Afromantispa gen. n., Sagittalata Handschin, 1959, Mantispa Illiger, 1798, Cercomantispa Handschin, 1959, Rectinerva Handschin, 1959, Nampista Navás, 1914, and Pseudoclimaciella Handschin, 1960 is provided. The wing venation of Mantispidae is redescribed. Similarities between the genera are discussed. Subsequent studies will focus on revising the taxonomic status of species, which are not dealt with in this study.The University of Pretoria and the Scarab Research Group (University of Pretoria)http://www.pensoft.net/journals/zookeysab201

Phylogeny and historical biogeography of silky lacewings (Neuroptera: Psychopsidae)

Psychopsidae (silky winged lacewings) are a small family of Neuroptera characterized by broad hirsute wings that impart a physical resemblance to moths. The fossil record includes many psychopsid-like taxa from the Late Triassic to Early Oligocene from all major continents. Extant species have a disjunct, tripartite distribution comprising Afrotropical, Southeast Asian and Australian regions that is significant to historical biogeography. Two subfamilies are currently recognized: Zygophlebiinae in the Afrotropics, and Psychopsinae in Australia and Southeast Asia. This study explores phylogeny and historical biogeography of Psychopsidae, using data from biogeography, comparative morphology and molecular sequences (16S, 18S, CAD, COI). Our results show that: (i) the morphological phylogeny is incongruent with molecular data; (ii) Afrotropical Silveira Navás represent a separate lineage that warrants placement in its own subfamily; (iii) the family originated in Pangea; and (iv) the present genus level distribution resulted from two vicariance events associated with Gondwanan fragmentation.The National Research Foundation (NRF), the Research and Development funding body at the University of Pretoria and the JRS Biodiversity Foundation, U.S.A.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-31132019-01-30hj2018Zoology and Entomolog

Phylogeny and historical biogeography of the southern African lacewing genus Afroptera (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae: Nemopterinae)

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : All molecular sequence data is available on GenBank. All molecular sequence data is available on GenBank. Datasets, R scripts and trees are available on Dryad (https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tmpg4f56k).SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL : APPENDIX S1. Morphological characters list and their corresponding states used in this study. FIGURE S1. Fifty percent majority rule consensus tree resulting from Bayesian analysis of the combined (COI, CAD, 16S, 28S and 18S) with PP, MP and MLB given, respectively. Dashes (-) on nodes indicate weak/no support. Letters below branches indicate the clade's name. FIGURE S2. The single most parsimonious tree of the combined morphological/molecular concatenated dataset with bootstrap support values on each branch. Dashes (-) on branches indicate weak/no support. TABLE S1. Species included in this study, with collection locality and GenBank accession numbers. TABLE S2. Primers used for PCR amplification. TABLE S3. Estimated model parameters for COI, 16S, 28S 18S and CAD for Afroptera using JMODELTEST.The lacewing genus Afroptera Abdalla & Mansell (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae: Nemopterinae) is endemic to southern Africa, predominantly found in the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes. The taxonomy of the genus has been recently resolved. However, the monophyly and evolutionary history of the genus has never been addressed. This study employs an integrative phylogenetic approach, by incorporating three ribosomal genes (16S, 28S and 18S) and two protein-coding genes (cytochrome oxidase subunit I and carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase-aspartate transcarbamoylase-dihydroorotase), and morphological data to examine the monophyly and historical biogeography of Afroptera. We use Bayesian, parsimony and maximum likelihood phylogenetic methods to assess the monophyly and relatedness of Afroptera within the Nemopterinae. We also use ancestral range reconstruction and diversification analysis to infer the historical biogeography of the genus. Our analyses reveal the genus as a monophyletic lineage. The genus Afroptera originated during the Pliocene (5.24–3.13 Mya) in a desert environment, experiencing rapid speciation during the Pleistocene, primarily within the Fynbos and Succulent biomes; and secondarily dispersed into the Nama Karoo and Savannah (Kalahari) biomes. The current distribution patterns of Afroptera species likely stem from intensified aridification in the southwest during the Plio-Pleistocene, consistent with the dry-adapted nature of Afroptera's ancestors. Therefore, our findings suggest a climatically driven diversification model for the genus Afroptera.National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa.http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/syenhj2024Zoology and EntomologySDG-15:Life on lan

Phylogeny and biogeography of southern African spoon-winged lacewings (Neuroptera : Nemopteridae : Nemopterinae)

Nemopteridae are a charismatic family of lacewings characterised by uniquely extended hind wings.They are an ancient widespread group in the drier regions of the world. The family comprises two subfamilies, Crocinae (thread-wings) and Nemopterinae (spoon- and ribbon-wings). The present distribution of the family has been largely influenced by the vicariant events of plate tectonics, resulting in relict populations in some parts of the world and extensive evolutionary radiations in others, particularly southern Africa where the vast majority of the species are endemic to the Western and Northern Cape Provinces of South Africa. This study aimed to establish the validity of the 11 currently recognised genera and infer their biogeographic history using molecular sequence data from four gene regions. The hypothesis that the Cape nemopterines co-evolved with certain taxa in the Cape Floristic Region was also tested. Phylogenetic analysis supports seven of the 11 currently recognised genera. The crown age of the Nemopterinae is estimated to be at ca. 145.6 Mya, indicating that the group has been present since the late Jurassic. Most of the genera appear to have diversified during the middle Eocene and into the middle Miocene (ca. 44 - 11 Mya) with recent rapid radiation of several of the genera occurring during the late Miocene (ca. 6 - 4.5 Mya). While these data support an initial radiation with the Rushioideae (Aizoaceae) it is recommended that further study including observations and gut content be carried out. [238]Funding for the genetic analysis was provided through the National Research Foundation (NRF) with additional private funding from J.B. Ball.www.elsevier.com/locate/ympevhb2013ab201

Evolution, systematics and historical biogeography of Palparini and Palparidiini antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) : old origin and in situ diversification in Southern Africa

APPENDIX S1. Supplementary analyses to test for the impact of missing data. APPENDIX S2. Details on fossil calibrations. FIGURE S1. Best-fit ML tree resulting from the analysis of the specimens- level dataset. Support values are presented on nodes as follows: SH-aLRT/uBV. Clades consistent with those retrieved by the ML analysis of the species-level dataset are represented in blue. FIGURE S2. Best-fit ML tree resulting from the analysis of the specieslevel dataset. FIGURE S3. Dated phylogeny resulting from the BEAST analyses relying on a primary calibration approach based on three fossils: (A) †Roesleriana exotica, (B) †Pristinofossor rictus, (C) †Porrerus dominicanus. Median ages are provided on nodes; horizontal bars represent 95% HPD of age estimates. FIGURE S4. Results of RASP analyses. TABLE S1. Palparidiini and Palparini species list along with additional information on taxonomy and distributional information. Distributional information for almost all species is based on the comprehensive catalogue of Stange (2004) but other studies are also listed when relevant. TABLE S2. Taxon sampling, including the species for which we relied on GenBank data. GenBank accession numbers for seven gene fragments are provided on the right (newly generated data is highlighted using bold fonts). TABLE S3. List of primers. TABLE S4. Best partition schemes and models for the analyses of the species-level (left) and specimen level (right) datasets. TABLE S5. Model scores from all historical biogeography analyses with the best-fit models (based on AICc_wt) of each analysis highlighted with bold fonts.DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Figshare at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.21904746. Newly generated sequences were deposited in GenBank, and are registered with the following accession numbers: OQ581997–OQ582070 (cob), OQ603605–OQ603608 (18S), OQ606012–OQ606168 (cox1), OQ624960–OQ625111 (rrnL), OQ625113–OQ625252 (rrnS) and OQ625254–OQ625279 (28S) (see Table S2 for details).Palparine and palparidiine antlions constitute an emblematic clade of large and occasionally colourful insects that are only distributed in the western portion of the Eastern hemisphere, with about half of the known species diversity occurring exclusively in Southern Africa. Little is known about their evolutionary history, and the boundaries and relationships of most genera are still unresolved. In this study, we analyse a molecular dataset consisting of seven loci (five mitochondrial and two nuclear genes) for 144 antlion species and provide the first phylogenetic hypothesis for a representative sampling of Palparini and Palparidiini (62 Palparini species, representing 15 of the 17 known genera, and all three known Palparidiini species). In addition, we reconstruct their timing of diversification and historical biogeography. The resulting tree indicates that several extant palparine genera are polyphyletic or paraphyletic and provides interesting leads that ought to be helpful for future taxonomic revisions; it also enables us to re-evaluate the taxonomic utility and relevancy of a number of morphological characters that were previously used to define some genera. Molecular dating analyses indicate that the most recent common ancestor of both groups originated about 92 million years ago (Ma) in the Late Cretaceous. Finally, the results of historical biogeography analyses provide strong support for an origin in Southern Africa, which further acted as both a cradle of diversification and a springboard for successive waves of northern dispersals.Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement.https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13653113am2024Zoology and EntomologyNon

A checklist of the dacine fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae, Dacinae) of Mozambique

Here we present a checklist of all records of dacine fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae) from Mozambique, based on verified specimen records in natural history collections and literature records. In total, 57 Dacinae species are recorded from Mozambique, of which only one is considered endemic. This relatively low species diversity compared to other African countries appears to be related to incomplete sampling. For each species the localities from which it was recorded are given (including geocoordinates), or a general distribution is provided. The checklist is discussed briefly in terms of species richness, endemism and geographic distribution.https://www.africanentomology.comZoology and Entomolog

Evolution of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) : an anchored phylogenomics approach

A phylogeny of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) using anchored hybrid enrichment data is presented. Using this phylogenomic approach, we analysed 137 kb of sequence data (with < 10% missing) for 82 species in 50 genera of Chrysopidae under Bayesian and maximum likelihood criteria. We recovered a strongly supported tree topologically congruent with recently published phylogenies, especially relationships amongst higher‐level groups. The subfamily Nothochrysinae was recovered as paraphyletic, with one clade sister to the rest of Chrysopidae, and the second clade containing the nominal genus (Nothochrysa Navás) as sister to the subfamily Apochrysinae. Chrysopinae was recovered as a monophyletic with the monobasic Nothancylini tribe n. sister to the rest of the subfamily. Leucochrysini was recovered sister to Belonopterygini, and Chrysopini was rendered paraphyletic with respect to Ankylopterygini. Divergence times and diversification estimates indicate a major shift in rate in ancestral Chrysopini at the end of the Cretaceous, and the extensive radiation of Chrysopinae, the numerically dominant clade of green lacewings, began in the Mid‐Paleogene (c. 45 Ma).Table S1. Taxa used in this study, including SRA accession numbers.Table S2. Divergence time estimates (mean ages and ranges) and branch support values for nodes in Figs 2 and S1. PP, posterior probability.Figure S1. Chronogram node numbers and fossils.Figure S2. Maximum likelihood phylogeny of Chrysopidae using AHE data. Bootstrap support values are indicated on nodes and grouped by colour according to value.Figure S3. Nucleotide Astral tree.Figure S4. BAMM plot showing the two most common shift configurations in the credible set. The ‘f’ number corresponds to the proportion of the posterior samples in which this configuration is present.Figure S5. Macroevolutionary cohort matrix for diversifica-tion. Each cell in the matrix is coded by a colour denoting the pairwise probability that two species share a common macroevolutionary rate regime. The maximum clade credi-bility tree is shown for reference in the left and upper margins of each cohort matrix.Figure S6. BAMM rate shift tree showing the overall best fit configuration. Red circles signify placement of shifts.File S1. Chrysopidae Anchored hybrid enrichment alignment. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1111%2Fsyen.12347&file=syen12347-sup-0001-FileS1.txt)File S2. Chrysopidae anchored hybrid enrichment, partition datasets. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1111%2Fsyen.12347&file=syen12347-sup-0002-FileS2.txt)Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (209447/2013–3, to JPG), the US National Science Foundation (DEB-1144119, to SLW; DEB-1144162, to MSE; and DEB-0933588, to JDO) and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (5162016) (to XL).https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/136531132020-07-01hj2019Zoology and Entomolog