The genus Ectonura Cassagnau, 1980in South Africa (Collembola, Neanuridae, Neanurinae), with a key to South African Neanurinae

Two new species of Neanurinae (Collembola) are described from the Western Cape, South Africa: Ectonura monochaetasp. n. and Ectonura barraisp. n.Ectonura monochaetasp. n. differs from other species in the genus by its strongly reduced chaetotaxy, and the lateral shift of dorso-internal chaetae on Abd. V and their integration in the tubercles (De+DL). Ectonura barraisp. n. is similar to Ectonura natalensis (Womersley, 1934), but differs in chaetotaxic details and chaetal group arrangement. A key to the seven species of Neanurinae recorded from South Africa is given.     

New records of the Cryphonectriaceae from southern Africa including Latruncellus aurorae gen. sp. nov

The Cryphonectriaceae accommodates some of the world's most important tree pathogens, including four genera known from native and introduced Myrtales in Africa. Surveys in the past 3 y in southern Africa have led to the discovery of cankers with fruiting structures resembling those of the Cryphonectriaceae on trees in the Myrtales in Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia. These fungi were identified with morphological characteristics and DNA sequence data. For the first time we report Chrysoporthe austroafricana from Namibia and on Syzygium guineense and Holocryphia eucalypti in Swaziland on a Eucalyptus grandis clone. The host and geographic ranges of Celoporthe dispersa are expanded to include S. legatti in South Africa and S. guineense in Zambia. In addition a monotypic genus, Latruncellus aurorae gen. sp. nov., is described from Galpinia transvaalica (Lythraceae, Myrtales) in Swaziland. The present and other recent studies clearly emphasize the limited understanding of the diversity and distribution of fungi in the Cryphonectriaceae in Africa.     

Descriptions of Tachygonetria africana n. sp. and T. pretoriensis n. sp. and redescriptions of two other species of Tachygonetria Wedl, 1862 (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae), all parasitic in Geochelone pardalis (Testudinidae) from South Africa

Two new species of Tachygonetria, T. africana n. sp. and T. pretoriensis n. sp. are described. Both are parasites of Geochelone pardalis (Bell) from South Africa. In addition, two subspecies, T. longicollis fitzsimmonsi Petter, 1966 and T. macrolaimus macrolaimus (Linstow, 1899), also parasites of Geochelone pardalis (from Pretoria Zoo, South Africa), are redescribed and new information on their morphology is presented. On the basis of their morphology, these subspecies are raised to full specific level.     

A new citrus-feeding psyllid from the Comoro Islands, with a review of the Diaphorina amoena species group (Homoptera)

ABSTRACT. Analysis of host plant data for the seventy-one species of Diaphorina shows the genus to be unusually polyphagous, the species developing on eighteen families of dicotyledonous angiosperms. Apart from the common Asian citrus pest, Diaphorina citri , a second citrus-feeding species is described and discussed. This species belongs to the amoena species-group which is defined and a key to nine of the ten included species is given. Seven new species are described: flavipennis sp.n. and nigripennis sp.n. from East Africa on Strychnos usambarensis; huila sp.n. from Angola on Ptaeroxylon obliquum; turned sp.n., from South Africa (host unknown); orantimina sp.n. from Madagascar (host unknown); auberti sp.n. from Comoro Islands on citrus trees; and bispinulata sp.n. from Madagascar (host unknown).     

A new species of Schoutedenichia Jadin & Vercammen-Grandjean, 1954 from Madagascar and a re-description of S. dutoiti (Radford, 1948) from South Africa (Acariformes: Trombiculidae)

A new chigger mite species, Schoutedenichia microcebi n. sp. is described from the grey mouse lemur Microcebus murinus (J.F. Miller) from Madagascar. The new species is closely related to S. dutoiti (Radford, 1948), a species described from a single specimen collected on a rodent in South Africa. Examination of the holotype and new material on S. dutoiti from South Africa enabled us to re-describe this species and provide new data on its hosts and geographical distribution.

     

Paraquimperia Africana n. sp (Nematoda : Quimperiidae), a new intestinal parasite of the eel Anguilla mossambica Peters, in South Africa

A new seuratoid nematode of the family Quimperiidae, Paraquimperia africana n. sp., is described from the small intestine of the longfin eel, Anguilla mossambica Peters, from the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The new species is characterized mainly by the presence of a ventral sucker in mature males, short spicules (147-171 microm), the number and arrangement of caudal papillae, the postesophageal position of the excretory pore, and by the slender female tail. In this new species, a variability in the number (3-5 pairs) of subventral preanal papillae was observed. Paraquimperia africana is the first representative of the genus in Africa. In view of recent reports, Paraquimperia aditum (Mueller, 1934) is considered a junior synonym of Paraquimperia tenerrima (Linstow, 1878). Paraquimperia xenentodonia Gupta and Bakshi, 1984 is considered a species inquirenda.     

Systematics of the Neotropical caddisfly genus Notidobiella Schmid (Trichoptera, Sericostomatidae), with the description of 3 new species

Three new species of Notidobiella Schmid (Insecta: Trichoptera) are described from South America: Notidobiella amazonianasp. n. (Brazil), Notidobiella brasilianasp. n. (Brazil), and Notidobiella ecuadorensissp. n. (Ecuador). In addition, the 3 previously described species in the genus, Notidobiella chacayana Schmid, Notidobiella inermis Flint, and Notidobiella parallelipipeda Schmid, all endemic to southern Chile, are redescribed and illustrated, including the females of each species for the first time, and a key to males of the species in the genus is provided. The occurrence of Notidobiella in Brazil and Ecuador represents a significant extension of the range of the genus beyond southern Chile where it previously was thought to be endemic. The biogeography of Sericostomatidae and other austral South American Trichoptera is reviewed. The presence of the family in South America may not be part of a "transantarctic" exchange, but instead may represent an earlier occurence in the region. The distribution of Notidobiella in tropical South America likely represents recent dispersal from southern South America to the north.     

An unusual species of spoon-wing lacewing (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae) from South Africa, with notes on its biology

Abstract. An unusual species of spoon-wing lacewing, Palmipenna aeoleoptera sp.n., is described from Namaqualand, South Africa. This small species is similar to its three congeners in general body morphology and genitalic features. Its hindwings, however, differ dramatically from known insect hindwing form. These conspicuously pigmented wings with their relatively huge surface area are hypothesized to have dual aerodynamic and semaphore functions when used by males in gliding flight during mate attraction.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleuroxus</Emphasis>-like chydorids (Crustacea: Anomopoda) from South Africa,with the description of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dumontiellus africanus</Emphasis> gen. n., sp. n.

Five species of Pleuroxus-like chydorids are found in new material from South Africa or are known from the literature. One species is here described as Dumontiellus africanus gen. n., sp. n., endemic to South Africa. Handling editor: K. Martens     

New species of the Eastern Hemisphere genera Afroheriades and Noteriades (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae), with keys to species of the former

New species of the rarely encountered megachilid genera Afroheriades Peters from South Africa, Afroheriades hyalinussp. n., and Noteriades Cockerell from Myanmar and Thailand, Noteriades jenniferaesp. n. and Noteriades spinosussp. n., are described and illustrated. The species are described to make their names available for forthcoming publications on phylogenetic studies of the family Megachilidae. Taxonomic notes and a comparative diagnosis for each genus are presented. Afroheriades hennigi (Peters) and Afroheriades reicherti (Brauns) are new junior synonyms of Afroheriades dolichocephalus (Friese). A key to the known species of Afroheriades is provided.     

A synopsis of the genus Cypholoba Chaudoir (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Anthiini) known to occur in the Republic of South Africa

Nearly one third of the described species of Cypholoba Chaudoir (Coleoptera: Carabidae) are known to inhabit the Republic of South Africa. A key and diagnostic notes are provided for their identification, as well as notes about way of life for some of the species based on observations in the Kruger National Park. Fifteen species and subspecies of the genus are recorded from the Republic of South Africa; adult specimens of each species and subspecies are illustrated and information about the distribution of each species in the Republic of South Africa is summarized and mapped: Cypholoba alstoni (Péringuey), Cypholoba alveolata (Brême), Cypholoba amatonga Péringuey, Cypholoba fritschi (Chaudoir), Cypholoba gracilis gracilis (Dejean), Cypholoba gracilis scrobiculata (Bertoloni), Cypholoba gracilis zuluana Basilewsky, Cypholoba graphipteroides graphipteroides (Guérin-Méneville), Cypholoba leucospilota semilaevis (Chaudoir), Cypholoba macilenta (Olivier), Cypholoba notata (Perroud), Cypholoba oberthueri seruana Strohmeyer, Cypholoba opulenta (Boheman), Cypholoba rutata (Péringuey), and Cypholoba tenuicollis aenigma (Dohrn).     

Biology, immature and adult morphology, and molecular characterization of a new species of the genus Entedon (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) associated with the invasive pest Specularius impressithorax (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) on Erythrina plants

Entedon erythrinae sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a gregarious egg-larval endoparasitoid of the Erythrina bruchine Specularius impressithorax, an invasive pest of the coral tree seeds (Erythrina spp.), is described from the Hawaiian Islands and Africa (South Africa, Tanzania and Mozambique). The biology and morphology of preimaginal stages of this new species are described in details.It is remarkable that the early embryo of the parasitoid represents a mass of undifferentiated cells surrounded by a peculiar membrane formed by the peripheral enlarged polygonal cells. The young larva developing inside this membrane corresponds morphologically to the second instar of congeneric species. Various peculiarities of the parasitoid-host relationships in gregarious and solitary Entedon parasitoids are discussed. The DNA sequences of 28S D2 (nuclear), Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI, mitochondrial) and Cytochrome B (CytB, mitochondrial) genes are provided for this new species and compared with the sequences of some other Afrotropical and Palearctic species of the genus.     

Nesippus orientalis Heller, 1868 (Pandaridae: Siphonostomatoida): descriptions of the adult, young and immature females, a first description of the male and aspects of their functional morphology

Nesippus orientalis Heller, 1868, a cosmopolitan species found in the mouth and on the gill-arches of a number of shark hosts, is distinguished from other species by the presence of dorsal plates on the fourth thoracic segment. Specimens were collected from various sharks caught in the nets of the Natal Sharks Board, off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Collected specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol and studied using the wooden slide technique and scanning electron microscopy. Careful examination of adult females revealed features previously not described in detail. Furthermore, some female specimens were still grasping the placoid scales of their hosts. These specimens showed how the maxillipeds are used to clasp the host. Immature, young females and males, some still attached to the young females, were also collected. The males use their maxillipeds, which have a slightly different structure to those of the female, to hold onto the females.     

Systematics and biology of the endemic water scavenger beetles of Hawaii (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae, Hydrophilini)

Abstract.  Recent field surveys in the Hawaiian Islands have revealed an adaptive radiation of endemic water scavenger beetles (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae). Phylogenetic analysis based on 55 adult morphological characters affirms that this endemic hydrophilid fauna is a monophyletic clade that incorporates the first well-supported transformation from an aquatic to terrestrial way of life within any lineage of the subfamily Hydrophilinae. The clade is prescribed to the genus Limnoxenus Motschulsky, where described members were previously placed. Five new species are described: L. waialeale sp.n. (Kauai), L. kauaiensis sp.n. (Kauai), L. oahuensis sp.n. (Oahu), L. punctatostriatus sp.n. (Kauai) and L. namolokama sp.n. (Kauai). Lectotypes are designated for the two previously described species L. semicylindricus (Eschscholtz) and L. nesiticus (Sharp). The Hawaiian lineage is a component of a larger clade that also includes the remaining four species of Limnoxenus from Europe, South Africa, and Australia, plus the monotypic genera Limnocyclus Balfour-Browne of New Caledonia and Hydramara Knisch of South America. The majority of the Hawaiian species exhibit vestigial wings, an extremely unusual condition in aquatic beetles. No other island-endemic members of the Hydrophilinae are known to be flightless, suggesting insularity per se is not responsible for this condition. L. nesiticus of Oahu has not been collected during the past 106 years, suggesting that it has been lost to anthropogenically mediated extinction.     

Three new species of Orphninotrichia Mosely (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from Barrington Tops, New South Wales, a distribution extended, and remarks on generic placement

Abstract Three new species are described in the endemic Australian microcaddisfly genus Orphninotrichia Mosely (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae: Hydroptilinae), all collected in the Barrington Tops area of north-eastern New South Wales: Orphninotrichia bilobata sp. n., O. claviculata sp. n. and O. dundungra sp. n. From the same area, Orphninotrichia papillata Wells, described from central Victoria, is newly recorded and noted for the atypical presence of a large gland on the dorsum of the male head. Comments are made on the still unresolved affinities of the genus Orphninotrichia , and a key to males of all species is provided.     

Two new taxa of subtribe Rhaconotina (Hymenoptera: Braconidae,Doryctinae, Doryctini) from Africa,with a key to subtribe genera

A new genus, Grangerdoryctes gen. n. (with type species Aivalykus niger Granger), from Madagascar and a new subgenus Pararhacon subgen. n. of the genus Rhaconotus Ruthe (type species R. (P.) haeselbarthi sp. n.) from South Africa are described and illustrated. A discussion of genera without a second radiomedial vein of the fore wing in the tribe Doryctini is presented. The position and content of the subtribe Rhaconotina are discussed and a key for determination of the genera of this subtribe is proposed.