African Invertebrates

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List of Papers (Total 74)

Morphological and genetic diversity of two individual forms of Euphaedra eberti (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

A total of 385 Euphaedra eberti Aurivillius, 1898, adults collected between 2012 and 2018 in the vicinity of Bangui, Central African Republic, were examined for intraspecific morphological variability, genetic diversity and genitalia structure. The species shows significant wing pattern variability. Two main morphotypes were identified in the set: the nominate form eberti, and...

Checklist, endemism, English vernacular names and identification of the cicadas (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadidae) of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Public understanding of the goals of applied biology and conservation is promoted by showcasing charismatic or significant organisms using vernacular names. Conservation activities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, are prioritising taxa that have high rates of provincial endemism, such as snails, earthworms, millipedes and cicadas. To assist wider public engagement...

Four new species of the sac spider genus Planochelas Lyle & Haddad, 2009 (Araneae, Trachelidae) from central and southern Africa

The genus Planochelas Lyle & Haddad, 2009 is endemic to the Afrotropical region. Members of the genus are very small, arboreal sac spiders. They are mainly collected by canopy fogging in tropical forest and savanna. In this study, four new species of Planochelas are described: P. brevis sp. nov., P. jocquei sp. nov. (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and P. haddadi sp. nov., P...

A new dictyopharid genus Neonersia gen. nov. from Cameroon (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Dictyopharidae, Orthopagini)

A new dictyopharid genus Neonersia Song & Deckert, gen. nov. is described here based on Dictyophora [sic] fugax Melichar, 1912 (previously also placed in the genus Nersia Stål, 1862) from Cameroon. The new genus is placed in the tribe Orthopagini. It may be easily distinguished from all other Orthopagini genera by carinate tegulae.

Revision of the southern African genus Stuckenbergomyia Smith, 1971 (Diptera, Empidoidea) and proposal of a new subfamily

The genus Stuckenbergomyia Smith is revised with the description of a new species from Namibia (S. namibiensis sp. nov.) and an undescribed species based on females from Western Cape Province of South Africa. The genus is fully illustrated and its phylogenetic relationships within the Hybotidae are discussed with the proposal of a new subfamily, Stuckenbergomyiinae subfam. nov.

On the species of the genus Mistaria Lehtinen, 1967 studied by Roewer (1955) from Africa (Araneae, Agelenidae)

Eleven species of the spider family Agelenidae Koch, 1837 are reviewed based on the type material and transferred from the genus Agelena Walckenaer, 1805 to Mistaria Lehtinen 1967. These species occur in various African countries as indicated and include: M. jaundea (Roewer, 1955), comb. nov. (♂, Cameroon), M. jumbo (Strand, 1913), comb. nov. (♂♀, Central & East Africa), M...

A revision of Empodiodes Oldroyd, 1972 with the descriptions of two new species from South Africa (Diptera, Asilidae, Stenopogoninae)

The genus Empodiodes Oldroyd, 1972, a Southern African endemic, is revised. Six species are recognised, four previously described (E. greatheadi Oldroyd, 1972, E. melanoscopaeus Londt, 1992, E. namibiensis Londt, 2012, E. whittingtoni Londt, 1992) and two new species (E. pusillipes sp. nov., E. torridus sp. nov.). A key for their separation is provided and their distributions...

On the revisited types of four poorly known African species of Palpimanus (Araneae, Palpimanidae)

Based on the types deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Germany), the following African species of Palpimanus Dufour, 1820 are re-examined and redescribed in details: P. namaquensis Simon, 1910 (South Africa, Namibia), P. nubilus Simon, 1910 (Namibia), P. paroculus Simon, 1910 (South Africa, Namibia) and P. processiger Strand, 1913 (Rwanda). The distribution of the...

New collection records for Theraphosidae (Araneae, Mygalomorphae) in Angola, with the description of a remarkable new species of Ceratogyrus

During 2015 and 2016 several baboon spider specimens (Araneae: Theraphosidae) were collected in central Angola during surveys undertaken for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These collections represent range and habitat extensions for Pterinochilus Pocock, 1897, Ceratogyrus Pocock, 1897 and Phoneyusa Karsch, 1884. The new species Ceratogyrus attonitifer sp. n. is described from...

New information about the pre-imaginal morphology of genus Graptomyza (Diptera, Syrphidae, Volucellini): description of third-instar larva and re-description of puparium of G. signata (Walker, 1860)

Pre-imaginal morphology of the flower fly species Graptomyza signata (Walker) is described and figured in detail based on specimens collected on a decomposed Aloe-like plant in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Third-instar larva is described for the first time and the puparium morphology is re-described using both light (optical) and electron microscopy. The present work...

A review of Southern African Choerades Walker, 1851 with the description of a new species (Diptera, Asilidae, Laphriinae)

Southern African Choerades Walker, 1851 are reviewed. Six species are recognised (C. analogos sp. n. described from South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, C. bella (Loew, 1858), C. flavipes (Wiedemann, 1821), C. multipunctata (Oldroyd, 1974), C. nigrapex (Bigot, 1878), C. nigrescens (Ricardo, 1925)) and a key for their separation is provided. Distributional information demonstrates that...

New information about the pre-imaginal morphology of genus Graptomyza (Diptera, Syrphidae, Volucellini): description of third-instar larva and re-description of puparium of G. signata (Walker, 1860)

Pre-imaginal morphology of the flower fly species Graptomyza signata (Walker) is described and figured in detail based on specimens collected on a decomposed Aloe-like plant in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Third-instar larva is described for the first time and the puparium morphology is re-described using both light (optical) and electron microscopy. The present work...

New collection records for Theraphosidae (Araneae, Mygalomorphae) in Angola, with the description of a remarkable new species of Ceratogyrus

During 2015 and 2016 several baboon spider specimens (Araneae: Theraphosidae) were collected in central Angola during surveys undertaken for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These collections represent range and habitat extensions for Pterinochilus Pocock, 1897, Ceratogyrus Pocock, 1897 and Phoneyusa Karsch, 1884. The new species Ceratogyrus attonitifer sp. n. is described from...

A review of Southern African Choerades Walker, 1851 with the description of a new species (Diptera, Asilidae, Laphriinae)

Southern African Choerades Walker, 1851 are reviewed. Six species are recognised (C. analogos sp. n. described from South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, C. bella (Loew, 1858), C. flavipes (Wiedemann, 1821), C. multipunctata (Oldroyd, 1974), C. nigrapex (Bigot, 1878), C. nigrescens (Ricardo, 1925)) and a key for their separation is provided. Distributional information demonstrates that...

Taxonomic revision of the assassin-fly genus Microphontes Londt, 1994 (Insecta, Diptera, Asilidae)

The genus Microphontes Londt, 1994 (Diptera: Asilidae: Brachyrhopalinae) is revised. Currently, three species are known from Namibia and western South Africa, i.e. Microphontes megoura Londt, 1994 from north-western South Africa, Microphontes safra Londt, 1994 from Namibia and Microphontes whittingtoni Londt, 1994 from western South Africa. Four new species, Microphontes...

Taxonomic revision of the assassin-fly genus Microphontes Londt, 1994 (Insecta, Diptera, Asilidae)

The genus Microphontes Londt, 1994 (Diptera: Asilidae: Brachyrhopalinae) is revised. Currently, three species are known from Namibia and western South Africa, i.e. Microphontes megoura Londt, 1994 from north-western South Africa, Microphontes safra Londt, 1994 from Namibia and Microphontes whittingtoni Londt, 1994 from western South Africa. Four new species, Microphontes...

New records of dragonflies (Odonata) in Zambia

Zoogeographically important data on the occurrence of 22 dragonfly species in Zambia are presented, including at least seven species for the first time recorded or unambiguously confirmed in the country. They filled gaps in the previously known distribution ranges and showed that some of them reach further, especially to the south, but also west or north. Zoogeographical...

The family Ismaridae Thomson (Hymenoptera, Diaprioidea): first record for the Afrotropical region with description of fourteen new species

The family Ismaridae Thomson, 1858 is reported from the Afrotropical region for the first time. A total of 15 species are recognised, 14 of which are described as new: Ismarus africanus sp. n. from Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa; I. apertus sp. n. from Kenya; I. bicolor sp. n. from Cameroon, Kenya; I. goodrichi sp. n. from Kenya; I. kakamegensis sp. n. from Kenya; I...

The family Ismaridae Thomson (Hymenoptera, Diaprioidea): first record for the Afrotropical region with description of fourteen new species

The family Ismaridae Thomson, 1858 is reported from the Afrotropical region for the first time. A total of 15 species are recognised, 14 of which are described as new: Ismarus africanus sp. n. from Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa; I. apertus sp. n. from Kenya; I. bicolor sp. n. from Cameroon, Kenya; I. goodrichi sp. n. from Kenya; I. kakamegensis sp. n. from Kenya; I...

A new genus of coprophagous water scavenger beetle from Africa (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Sphaeridiinae, Megasternini) with a discussion on the Cercyon subgenus Acycreon

A new genus of coprophagous beetle, Evanesternum gen. n. (Hydrophilidae: Sphaeridiinae: Megasternini), is described in order to accommodate Cercyon (Acycreon) pulsatus d’Orchymont, 1937 from the Republic of South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A detailed description is provided along with habitus photographs, line drawings and SEM micrographs of relevant diagnostic...

A review of the assassin-fly genus Laphyctis Loew, 1858 with descriptions of two new species (Diptera, Asilidae, Laphriinae)

The asilid genus Laphyctis Loew, 1858 is revised. The genus is restricted to the Afrotropical Region where it has been confused with the more widely distributed Laphystia Loew, 1847, which currently has no Afrotropical representatives. Three previously described species are recognised: Laphyctis gigantella (Loew, 1852), type of the genus, Laphyctis argenteofasciata (Engel, 1929...

On four species of the genus Mistaria Lehtinen, 1967 (Araneae, Agelenidae) from Kenya

In the current study, three species reported from Kenya are transferred from Agelena Walckenaer, 1805 to Mistaria Lehtinen, 1967, i.e. M. fagei (Caporiacco, 1949), comb. n., M. nairobii (Caporiacco, 1949), comb. n. and M. zorica (Strand, 1913), comb. n. One new species M. nyeupenyeusi G.M. Kioko & S. Li, sp. n. is described.

A review of the assassin-fly genus Laphyctis Loew, 1858 with descriptions of two new species (Diptera, Asilidae, Laphriinae)

The asilid genus Laphyctis Loew, 1858 is revised. The genus is restricted to the Afrotropical Region where it has been confused with the more widely distributed Laphystia Loew, 1847, which currently has no Afrotropical representatives. Three previously described species are recognised: Laphyctis gigantella (Loew, 1852), type of the genus, Laphyctis argenteofasciata (Engel, 1929...

A new species of Ischiodon Sack (Diptera, Syrphidae) from Madagascar

The flower fly genus Ischiodon Sack (Diptera, Syrphidae) is revised and a new species, Ischiodon astales sp. n., is described from Madagascar. Additionally, a lectotype for Ischiodon aegyptius is designated and the first records of Ischiodon scutellaris for the Arabian Peninsula are reported. Diagnoses, illustrations, synonymies and distributional data are given for all described...