Latest Articles from African Invertebrates Latest 3 Articles from African Invertebrates https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:33:49 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from African Invertebrates https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/ The cicada genus Tugelana Distant, 1912 (Hemiptera, Cicadidae): phylogenetic position and conservation status https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/66891/ African Invertebrates 62(2): 399-410

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.62.66891

Authors: Martin H. Villet, Shelley Edwards

Abstract: The cicada genus Tugelana Distant, 1912 is monotypic and endemic to south-eastern Africa. Material was not available for a recent molecular phylogeny of its tribe, so its precise phylogenetic placement is unestablished. Consequently, a 627 bp sequence of the cytochrome oxidase gene was obtained and its candidate relatives identified as several species of Platypleura Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843 using the BOLD Identification System and NCBI Genbank’s BLAST. Bayesian inference analyses indicated that the type species, the Maputaland Orangewing Cicada Tugelana butleri Distant, 1912, is closely related to the Dune Koko Orangewing Cicada Platypleura zuluensis Villet, 1989, which has a geographical distribution that is parapatric with T. butleri and which has aberrant genitalia for a member of Platypleura. This pair of species is placed fairly deep within the African clade of Platypleura. We therefore formally recognized Platypleura Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843 as a senior synonym of Tugelana Distant, 1912, syn. nov., and assign T. butleri Distant, 1912 to Platypleura as Platypleura butleri (Distant 1912), comb. nov. The species occurs on the wooded grasslands of the Maputaland coastal plateau east of Lebombo Mountains and south of Maputo Bay. Its Extent of Occurrence is about 6360 km2, which would qualify it as Vulnerable under the IUCN’s classification criteria for conservation status.

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Research Article Tue, 3 Aug 2021 11:05:27 +0300
Determination of species and instars of the larvae of the Afrotropical species of Thanatophilus Leach, 1817 (Coleoptera, Silphidae) https://africaninvertebrates.pensoft.net/article/12966/ African Invertebrates 58(2): 1-10

DOI: 10.3897/afrinvertebr.58.12966

Authors: Claire A. Daniel, John M. Midgley, Martin H. Villet

Abstract: Thanatophilus micans and T. mutilatus have significance for forensic entomology. Their larvae are therefore described and a key is provided for identifying the larvae of Afrotropical Silphidae based on morphological characters. It is shown that seven common species of Thanatophilus can be distinguished by a 360 bp mtDNA sequence from the cytochrome oxidase I gene.

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Research Article Wed, 17 May 2017 16:23:52 +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