Latest Articles from African Invertebrates Latest 14 Articles from African Invertebrates https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:20:48 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from African Invertebrates https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/ The Diptera of Lesotho: a history of collecting in the Mountain Kingdom, summary of recent collecting sites and introduction to the topical collection in African Invertebrates https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/108525/ African Invertebrates 64(3): 207-220

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.64.108525

Authors: John M. Midgley, Burgert S. Muller, Genevieve L. Theron, Mpho Phoofolo, Terence A. Bellingan, Kurt Jordaens

Abstract: The Kingdom of Lesotho in southern Africa is entirely bordered by South Africa, with which it shares many geological and vegetation types, but the vast extent of alpine vegetation and high altitudes suggests that differences in insect diversity should be expected. Globally, the Diptera are one of the most diverse orders of insects, though biodiversity estimates for the order are lacking for many regions. Here, we present a summary of the limited historical Diptera collections from Lesotho, summarise our collecting expeditions in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and provide photographs and descriptions of the collecting sites. This paper is the first of a series of papers in a Topical Collection of the Diptera of Lesotho in African Invertebrates. We hope to stimulate more research on Afrotropical Diptera and to improve their conservation in Lesotho in particular.

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Editorial Mon, 18 Sep 2023 14:33:55 +0300
Notes on the Bittacus (Mecoptera, Bittacidae) of Mozambique, with the description of a new species https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/85542/ African Invertebrates 64(2): 95-107

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.64.85542

Authors: John M. Midgley, Terence A. Bellingan

Abstract: A new species of Bittacus Latreille, 1805 is described based on two specimens from Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. Bittacus londti sp. nov. is the second known Afrotropical Bittacus with a femoral bulla and brings the number of species known from Mozambique to four. A distribution map for these species is provided.

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Research Article Fri, 5 May 2023 17:00:05 +0300
Jason G. H. Londt: A giant of South African entomology https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/105050/ African Invertebrates 64(2): 13-40

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.64.105050

Authors: Torsten Dikow, John Midgley

Abstract: To celebrate the 80th birthday of Jason G.H. Londt, we present a collection of articles in his honour. This introduction includes a summary of Jason’s life and career, an overview of the articles in the Festschrift, lists of his scientific and popular publications and a list of species named in his honour. Jason’s contribution to Mecoptera and Asilidae research in the Afrotropics is discussed, highlighting the impressive contributions he has made to the taxonomy, biology and ecology in both groups.

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Editorial Fri, 5 May 2023 17:00:01 +0300
Taxonomic revision of the mydas-fly genera Eremohaplomydas Bequaert, 1959, Haplomydas Bezzi, 1924, and Lachnocorynus Hesse, 1969 (Insecta, Diptera, Mydidae) https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/76309/ African Invertebrates 63(1): 19-75

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.63.76309

Authors: Claire Boschert, Torsten Dikow

Abstract: The genera Eremohaplomydas Bequaert, 1959, Haplomydas Bezzi, 1924, and Lachnocorynus Hesse, 1969 (Diptera: Mydidae: Syllegomydinae) are revised. Currently, four species are known from southern Africa, i.e., Eremohaplomydas desertorum Bequaert, 1959 from north-western Namibia, Haplomydas crassipes Bezzi, 1924 widespread in southern Africa, Lachnocorynus chobeensis Hesse, 1969 from northern Botswana, and Lachnocorynus kochi Hesse, 1969 from northern Namibia. Four new species, Eremohaplomydas gobabebensis sp. nov. and Eremohaplomydas whartoni sp. nov. from the central Namib desert of Namibia, Eremohaplomydas stomachoris sp. nov. from the northern Namib desert in Namibia, and Lachnocorynus stenocephalus sp. nov. from north-eastern Zimbabwe are described. Lachnocorynus kochi is synonymized with Lachnocorynus chobeensis. Distribution, biology, occurrence in biodiversity hotspots sensu Conservation International and seasonal imago flight activity are discussed. Descriptions/redescriptions, photographs, specimen occurrence data, and identification keys (both dichotomous and matrix-based) to species are provided and made openly accessible in data repositories to support and accelerate future studies of the included taxa. An updated identification key to the Mydidae genera of the Afrotropical Region is provided. The placement of the three genera in the subfamily taxon Syllegomydinae is discussed and several morphological features, such as an extremely reduced proboscis in some species, a unique wing venation in Eremohaplomydas gobabebensis sp. nov., and the unique metathoracic coxa, are discussed.

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Research Article Fri, 25 Mar 2022 11:15:28 +0200
Rediscovery of the endemic Afrotropical genus Spathioplites (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Doryctinae) with major range extension records for Spathioplites phreneticus https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/74103/ African Invertebrates 62(2): 497-520

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.62.74103

Authors: Simon van Noort, Sergey A. Belokobylskij, Agnièle Touret-Alby

Abstract: The endemic, monotypic Afrotropical genus Spathioplites Fischer, 1962 is rediscovered based on new specimens collected in South Africa and Senegal. Spathioplites phreneticus Fischer, 1962 was previously known from the holotype (male) and 12 paratypes (11 males and a female) collected in Chad in 1959. As part of an ongoing long-term insect inventory survey program in Africa new specimens were recently collected in Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve in South Africa, extending the distribution range southwards by 4900 km. An additional historical specimen from Senegal was discovered in the collections of the Natural History Museum in Paris, extending the range westwards by 4000 km. Possible reasons for the disjunct distribution exhibited by current locality records for this species are discussed. The holotype male and a paratype female, as well as one of the two newly collected South African females were imaged. These photographs, as well as genus and species re-descriptions, are provided. An identification key to the Old World genera in the doryctine tribe Spathiini s. str. is also presented. All images and interactive identification keys are available on www.waspweb.org.

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Research Article Thu, 9 Dec 2021 16:32:08 +0200
The Baetidae (Ephemeroptera) of the Comoros and Mayotte https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/70632/ African Invertebrates 62(2): 427-463

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.62.70632

Authors: Thomas Kaltenbach, Nathalie Mary, Jean-Luc Gattolliat

Abstract: Material collected in 1974 during the Austrian Hydrobiological Mission of F. Starmühlner to the Comoros and during recent years by one of the authors (NM) in the course of an ongoing freshwater monitoring program in Mayotte is the basis of this first larger study of the mayfly family Baetidae in the Comoros Archipelago (Comoros, Mayotte). We identified eight different species using morphological characters, four species on both the Comoros and Mayotte, three species on the Comoros only and one species on Mayotte only. Two species, Dabulamanzia mayottensis sp. nov. and Nigrobaetis richardi sp. nov., are new to science; they are described and illustrated based on their nymphs. The nymph of Afroptilum bicorne (Ulmer, 1909) is described for the first time and its assignment to this species is discussed. The description of the previously endemic Malagasy species Potamocloeon (Aquaediva) freitagae (Gattolliat, 2001), is complemented based on the additional material from the Comoros and re-examination of the type material. A key to the nymphs of all species of Baetidae in the Comoros and Mayotte is provided and the biogeography of the family in this region is discussed.

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Research Article Wed, 8 Sep 2021 12:05:08 +0300
Labiobaetis Novikova & Kluge in West Africa (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae), with description of a new species https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/64885/ African Invertebrates 62(1): 355-382

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.62.64885

Authors: Thomas Kaltenbach, Jean-Luc Gattolliat

Abstract: Material collected between 1984 and 1988 in Guinea and Mali and between 2003 and 2008 in the Ivory Coast substantially increased our knowledge of Labiobaetis Novikova & Kluge in West Africa. We identified eight different species using morphological characters. One species, L. ediai sp. nov., is new to science; it is described and illustrated, based on its nymphs. The status of L. boussoulius (Gillies, 1993) is discussed and the divergent morphology of L. elouardi (Gillies, 1993) is compared to other species of Labiobaetis. A key to the nymphs of all West African species is provided and the distribution of Labiobaetis species in the Afrotropical realm is discussed.

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Research Article Tue, 27 Apr 2021 11:29:03 +0300
Labiobaetis Novikova & Kluge in Ethiopia (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae), with description of a new species https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/62029/ African Invertebrates 62(1): 231-255

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.62.62029

Authors: Thomas Kaltenbach, Jean-Luc Gattolliat

Abstract: Material collected between 2017 and 2019 in Ethiopia in the Awash River catchment substantially increased our knowledge of Labiobaetis Novikova & Kluge in this country. Four species were previously reported based on ecological investigations of Ethiopian rivers: L. glaucus (Agnew, 1961), L. latus (Agnew, 1961), L. vinosus (Barnard, 1932) and L. bellus (Barnard, 1932). We have identified six different species using a combination of morphology and genetic distance (COI, Kimura 2-parameter). Two of them, L. alahmadii Gattolliat & Al Dhafer, 2018 and L. potamoticus Gattolliat & Al Dhafer, 2018 were previously assumed to be endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. The status of L. bellus is discussed and remains unresolved. One species is new to science; it is described and illustrated based on its nymphs. A key to the nymphs of all Ethiopian species is provided. The interspecific K2P distances in Ethiopia are between 17% and 23%, the intraspecific distances are usually between 0% and 1%. The total number of Labiobaetis species worldwide is augmented to 145. The Afrotropical species of Labiobaetis are discussed in comparison to the species of other realms.

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Research Article Wed, 24 Feb 2021 09:32:53 +0200
A new species of Ischiodon Sack (Diptera, Syrphidae) from Madagascar https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/24461/ African Invertebrates 59(1): 55-73

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.59.24461

Authors: Ximo Mengual

Abstract: 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 species, as well as an identification key to all known species.

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Research Article Wed, 18 Apr 2018 14:23:46 +0300
Review of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler, 1910 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) from the Arabian Peninsula https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/12782/ African Invertebrates 58(2): 21-37

DOI: 10.3897/AfrInvertebr.58.12782

Authors: Mostafa R. Sharaf, Shahid Ali Akbar, Abdulrahman S. Aldawood, Francisco Hita Garcia

Abstract: In this study, we review the Arabian species of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler. We provide species reviews for the two previously known species, N. angulatus (Mayr, 1862) and N. humerosus (Emery, 1896) and describe a new species N. zaheri sp. n. from Yemen based on the worker caste. An illustrated key to the Arabian species of the genus and montage photos of all three species are provided.

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Research Article Thu, 1 Jun 2017 11:01:34 +0300
A remarkable new genus of Keroplatidae (Insecta, Diptera) from the Afrotropical region, with DNA sequence data https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/12655/ African Invertebrates 58(1): 93-105

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.58.12655

Authors: Olavi Kurina, Michal Mantič, Jan Ševčík

Abstract: A new genus and species of Keroplatidae—Kibaleana apicospinosa gen. & sp. n.—is described from Kibale National Park in Uganda. The new genus is preliminarily placed to the tribe Orfeliini and it is characterized by a unique combination of diagnostic characters: wing vein R4 missing, vein A1 shortened, palpi short but five-segmented, fore tibia with apical comb of setae, absence of apical comb of setae on mid and hind tibiae, and male terminalia with relatively long and narrow gonostyli, each bearing a subapical tooth. The sequences of four fragments of mitochondrial DNA (COI, CytB, 12S, 16S) are provided along with a brief discussion about taxonomic position of the new genus.

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Research Article Thu, 11 May 2017 15:24:28 +0300
The temporal occurrence of flesh flies (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) at carrion-baited traps in Grahamstown, South Africa https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/9537/ African Invertebrates 58(1): 1-8

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.58.9537

Authors: Martin H. Villet, Chrystal Clitheroe, Kirstin A. Williams

Abstract: Eleven species of flesh fly were identified in a sample of 737 specimens captured during fortnightly trapping at three sites in Grahamstown, South Africa, over a year. Sarcophaga africa Wiedemann, 1824, S. inaequalis Austen, 1909, S. exuberans Pandellé, 1896 and S. tibialis Macquart, 1851 showed well-defined peaks between early October 2001 and late April 2002, and only S. africa was trapped at other times of year. These peaks occurred when average minimum and maximum ambient air temperatures were above 12°C and 22°C, respectively, and showed no obvious relationship to rainfall. There were indications of population cycles in all of these species. Sarcophaga hera Zumpt, 1972, S. arno Curran, 1934, S. inzi Curran, 1934, S. langi Curran, 1934, S. freyi Zumpt, 1953, S. nodosa Engel, 1925 and S. samia Curran, 1934 were too scarce to assess their patterns of occurrence rigorously. Insects attending a corpse are reputed to assist forensic entomologists in estimating the time of year when the body died. Some flesh flies provide more precise estimates than others, so several species should be used for cross-validation. Insect activity at a corpse depends on the weather, so that presence of a species indicates particular environmental conditions and not simply calendar dates (particularly if climate changes). Absence of a species is not necessarily evidence of specific conditions because species may not be present at all sites simultaneously, populations cycle even when their members are active, and low population densities may hamper detection of a species.

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Research Article Wed, 18 Jan 2017 11:48:25 +0200
Rediscovery and first South African records of the parasitic copepod Cancerilla oblonga Bartsch, 1975 (Crustacea, Cancerillidae) https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/9775/ African Invertebrates 57(2): 105-109

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.57.9775

Authors: Rebecca B. MacKinnon, Jannes Landschoff, Charles L. Griffiths

Abstract: The parasitic copepod Cancerilla oblonga, previously know only from the single holotype female collected from Luderitz Bay, Namibia, is rediscovered in Cape Town, South Africa, where it parasitises the brittlestar Amphiura capensis. The first photographic and SEM images of this species are presented and prevalence rates estimated. Of 240 hosts examined, 25 (=10.42%) were infected, of these 7.53% carried a single copepod, 2.09% two copepods and 0.84% three copepods. This discovery is the first record of any siphonostomatoid copepod infecting an invertebrate host in South Africa.

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Research Article Fri, 7 Oct 2016 11:13:34 +0300
Subfossil statoblasts of Lophopodella capensis (Sollas, 1908) (Bryozoa, Phylactolaemata, Lophopodidae) in the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene sediments of a montane wetland, Eastern Mau Forest, Kenya https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/8191/ African Invertebrates 57(1): 39-52

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.57.8191

Authors: Colin J. Courtney Mustaphi, Esther N. Githumbi, Lauren R. Shotter, Stephen M. Rucina, Rob Marchant

Abstract: Lophopodella capensis (Sollas, 1908) is only known from a limited number of palustrine and lacustrine sites in southern Africa and single sites in both Kenya and Israel. Statoblasts of L. capensis were found preserved in the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene aged sediments of Enapuiyapui wetland, Eastern Mau Forest, western Kenya. The wetland is a headwater microcatchment of tributaries that feed into the Mara River and the Lake Victoria Basin. Bryozoan taxa were not surveyed in a 2007 macroinvertebrate biodiversity assessment. The presence of L. capensis at this site marks the second observation of this taxon in Kenya, 65 km from Lake Naivasha, where observed prior, and in a location some 1000 meters higher. The results suggest Bryozoa should be included in aquatic biodiversity surveys that target these wetlands and that bryozoan remains should be incorporated into palaeoecological studies as useful palaeoenvironmental indicators.

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Research Article Sat, 14 May 2016 11:40:58 +0300