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 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 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

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

Monitoring arthropods in a tropical landscape: relative effects of sampling methods and habitat types on trap catches

To discuss the challenge of monitoring multi-species responses of tropical arthropods to disturbance, we considered a large dataset (4 × 105 individuals; 1,682 morphospecies representing 22 focal taxa) based on the work of parataxonomists to examine the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on arthropods at Gamba, Gabon. Replication included three sites in each of four different stages of forest succession and land use after logging, surveyed during a whole year with four sampling methods: pitfall, Malaise, flight-interception and yellow pan traps. We compared the suitability of each sampling method for biological monitoring and evaluated statistically their reliability for 118 arthropod families. Our results suggest that a range of sampling methods yields more diverse material than any single method operated with high replication. Multivariate analyses indicated that morphospecies composition in trap catches was more strongly influenced by habitat type than by sampling methods. This implies that for multi-species monitoring, differences in trap efficiency between habitats may be neglected, as far as habitat types remain well contrasted. We conclude that for the purpose of monitoring large arthropod assemblages in the long-term, a protocol based on operating a set of different and non-disruptive traps appears superior in design than summing a series of taxa-specific protocols

Antlions of southern Africa: genus Crambomorphus McLachlan, 1867, including extra-limital species (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Palparinae: Palparini)

Mansell, Mervyn W. (2018): Antlions of southern Africa: genus Crambomorphus McLachlan, 1867, including extra-limital species (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Palparinae: Palparini). Zootaxa 4382 (3): 465-500, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4382.3.

Antlions of southern Africa: Syngenes Kolbe, 1897, with descriptions of two new species and comments on extra-limital taxa (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Acanthaclisini)

Mansell, Mervyn W. (2018): Antlions of southern Africa: Syngenes Kolbe, 1897, with descriptions of two new species and comments on extra-limital taxa (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Acanthaclisini). Zootaxa 4497 (3): 346-380, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4497.3.

FIGURES 76–79 in Antlions of southern Africa: genus Crambomorphus McLachlan, 1867, including extra-limital species (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Palparinae: Palparini)

FIGURES 76–79. Dorsal wing patterns of southern African Crambomorphus species. 76, C. sinuatus; 77, C. kalaharicus; 78, C. namibicus; 79, C. karrooanus.Published as part of Mansell, Mervyn W., 2018, Antlions of southern Africa: genus Crambomorphus McLachlan, 1867, including extra-limital species (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Palparinae: Palparini), pp. 465-500 in Zootaxa 4382 (3) on page 496, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4382.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/118306

FIGURES 10–12. Syngenes longicornis. 10 in Antlions of southern Africa: Syngenes Kolbe, 1897, with descriptions of two new species and comments on extra-limital taxa (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Acanthaclisini)

FIGURES 10–12. Syngenes longicornis. 10, abdomen dorsal with hair pencil details; 11, abdomen dorsal showing pattern; 12, third instar larva, photo: H. de Klerk©