Afrotropical Genus Research Articles

Rhinoceromyia, a peculiar new genus of long-legged flies from Guinea (Diptera: Dolichopodidae: Dolichopodinae)

The genus Rhinoceromyia Grichanov gen. nov. is described from the tropical forest of southeastern Guinea to accommodate a new species, Rhinoceromyia dubrovskii Grichanov sp. nov. with a peculiar horn on the male face, a very unusual character in the Empidoidea. The secondary segmentation and articulation of the male cercus is also an extraordinary character in the Dolichopodidae. The new genus is placed in the subfamily Dolichopodinae and is considered close to the Afrotropical genus Afropelastoneurus Grichanov, differing from the latter in remarkable characters of head, wing and male genitalia.

An integrated taxonomic revision of Ctonoxylon (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) reveals new Malagasy species originating from multiple recent colonisations of the island

Ctonoxylon is a strictly Afrotropical genus of bark beetles breeding under bark of rainforest trees and lianas. A taxonomic revision of the genus included a molecular phylogenetic analysis of ten species based on three gene fragments and was compared to a morphology-based tree topology for all 24 currently recognised species. Four species are described as new to science: Ctonoxylon torquatum, sp. nov., Ctonoxylon tuberculatum, sp. nov., Ctonoxylon quadrispinum, sp. nov., all from Madagascar, and Ctonoxylon pilosum, sp. nov. from Cameroon. Ctonoxylon hirsutum Hagedorn, 1910, stat. rev. is resurrected from synonymy with C. flavescens Hagedorn, 1910, and C. atrum Browne, 1965 stat. rev. from its synonymy with C. methneri Eggers, 1922 (as C. hamatum Schedl, 1941). The following species have new synonymies suggested: Ctonoxylon festivum Schedl, 1941 (= C. dentigerum Schedl, 1941, syn. nov.), C. methneri Eggers, 1922 (= C. hamatum Schedl, 1941, syn. nov., = C. griseum Schedl, 1941, syn. nov.), C. montanum Eggers, 1922 (= C. longipilum Eggers, 1935, syn. nov., = C. nodosum Eggers, 1940, syn. nov.), C. camerunum Hagedorn, 1910 (= C. conradti Schedl, 1939, syn. nov.), and C. spinifer Eggers, 1920 (= C. setifer Eggers, 1920, syn. nov.). New country records are noted for C. festivum (Tanzania), C. flavescens (Uganda), C. camerunum (Liberia), C. crenatum Hagedorn, 1910 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), C. spathifer Schedl, 1941 (Ghana), C. atrum (Cameroon), and C. spinifer (Madagascar), with patterns in distribution and colonisation of Madagascar discussed. An identification key with pictures of all species is provided.

Taxonomic revision of Asapharcha Meyrick, 1920 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), with descriptions of four new species

The Afrotropical genus Asapharcha Meyrick, 1920 is recognized as a senior synonym of Lacistodes Meyrick, 1921, syn. nov. and Melitoxestis Meyrick, 1921, syn. nov. Nine species of Asapharcha are recognized as valid, four of which are described as new: A. angustella sp. nov. (South Africa), A. lacistoides sp. nov. (Namibia, Ethiopia, Sudan), A. ochrocapitella sp. nov. (Zimbabwe), and A. unipunctella sp. nov. (Namibia). Two new synonyms are proposed: Asapharcha crateropa Meyrick, 1930 syn. nov. of Lacistodes tauropis Meyrick, 1921, and Lacistodes brunneostola Janse, 1960, syn. nov. of Asapharcha strigifera Meyrick, 1920. Three new generic combinations are proposed: Asapharcha centrotypa (Meyrick, 1920) (Melitoxestis), comb. nov., Asapharcha fuscomaculata (Bidzilya & Mey, 2011) (Lacistodes), comb. nov., Asapharcha hirsuta (Janse, 1958) (Lasiarchis), comb. nov. The female genitalia of A. strigifera are described for the first time. Asapharcha tauropis is recorded for the first time from Kenya and Ethiopia. All species of Asapharcha are diagnosed, and an identification key to all species of the genus is provided. Wing pattern and genitalia of all species are illustrated, and an updated checklist of the genus is given.

Revision of the Afrotropical genus Zetheumenidion Bequaert (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae).

A taxonomic revision of the Afrotropical genus Zetheumenidion Bequaert, 1926 is presented. Four new species (Zetheumenidion abruptum sp. nov., Zetheumenidion concinnoide sp. nov., Zetheumenidion latum sp. nov. and Zetheumenidion minimum sp. nov.) are described; Zetheumenidion paeneplanum (Bequaert, 1926) stat. rev. is resurrected from synonymy with Z. pulchripenne (Cameron, 1910); Zetheumenidion femoratum flavissimum Giordani Soika, 1987 is raised to species level (Zetheumenidion flavissimum stat. nov.). A key to all known species is provided and the taxonomic placement of the genus is discussed.

An illustrated key and new records of the Afrotropical bark beetle genus Cryphalomimus Eggers (Coleoptera, Curculionidae).

The Afrotropical genus Cryphalomimus Eggers, 1927 is revised. New distributional records are added, showing a broad but scattered distribution of C. striatus Eggers, 1927. Internal morphological characters for this genus are described here for the first time. An illustrated identification key for the three included species is provided.

Underground trees inhabit varied environmental extremes across the Afrotropics.

Geoxyles, a distinctive feature of Afrotropical savannas and grasslands, survive recurrent disturbances by resprouting subshrub branches from large below-ground woody structures. Underground trees are a type of geoxyle that independently evolved within woody genera of at least 40 plant families in Africa. The environmental limits and determinants of underground tree biogeography are poorly understood, with the relative influence of frost and fire debated in particular. We aim to quantify variability in the niche of underground tree species relative to their taller, woody tree/shrub congeners. Using occurrence records of four Afrotropical genera, Parinari (Chrysobalanaceae), Ozoroa (Anacardiaceae), Syzygium (Myrtaceae) and Lannea (Anacardiaceae), and environmental data of nine climate and disturbance variables, the biogeography and niche of underground trees are compared with their open and closed ecosystem congeners. Along multiple environmental gradients and in a multidimensional environmental space, underground trees inhabit significantly distinct and extreme environments relative to open and closed ecosystem congeners. Niche overlap is low among underground trees and their congeners, and also among underground trees of the four genera. Of the study taxa, Parinari underground trees inhabit hotter, drier and more seasonal environments where herbivory pressure is greatest. Ozoroa underground trees occupy relatively more fire-prone environments, while Syzygium underground trees sustain the highest frost frequency and occur in relatively wetter conditions with seasonal waterlogging. Lannea underground trees are associated with the lowest temperatures, highest precipitation, and varying exposure to disturbance. While underground trees exhibit repeated convergent evolution, varied environments shape the ecology and biogeography of this iconic plant functional group. The multiplicity of extreme environments related to fire, frost, herbivory and waterlogging that different underground tree taxa occupy, and the distinctiveness of these environments, should be recognized in the management of African grassy ecosystems.

Discovery of a new Afrotropical genus of flat wasps Ifrika gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae)

ABSTRACT A new Afrotropical genus (Ifrika gen. n.) and three new species (Ifrika mnyama sp. n., Ifrika nyigu sp. n. and Ifrika wadudu sp. n.) are described and illustrated. A fourth species, Ifrika pauculihirta comb. n., is transferred from Dissomphalus. The males of this genus are easily recognised among the other genera of Pristocerinae by having the following combination of characteristics: the median clypeal lobe indistinct from the lateral ones, the dorsal pronotal area very short, the hypopygium with an inner membrane and a posterior margin deeply excavated, the genitalia with the harpe strongly incurved, almost fully divided, the aedeagus with a basal cover plate, the mediodorsal fold, and the median projection ventrally curved and apodeme dorsally curved. A key to all species and some comments on the Afrotropical Bethylidae fauna are also provided. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:76C9CD41-F991-4F4E-9E4C-C16E2F62ECC3

Taxonomic revision of the Afrotropical genus Pseudagris de Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), with description of four new species.

The Afrotropical genus Pseudagris de Saussure, 1863 is revised. Four new species, Pseudagris apicalis sp. nov., Pseudagris nigrithorax sp. nov., Pseudagris nigrorufa sp. nov., and Pseudagris tanzanica sp. nov., are described. The following taxonomic changes are proposed: Pseudagris versicolor (von Schulthess, 1914) = Synagris versicolor var. meade-waldoi Maidl, 1914 syn. nov.; Pseudagris tessmanniana (von Schulthess, 1913) stat. rev. et comb. nov. is resurrected from synonymy. Lectotypes for Synagris aterrima Maidl, 1914 and Synagris versicolor von Schulthess, 1914 are designated. The males of Pseudagris brunnea Gusenleitner, 2007 and Pseudagris carinata (de Saussure, 1863), and the female of P. pygmaea Gusenleitner, 1998 are described for the first time. A key to the species is provided.

Five new species of the genus Meganaclia Aurivillius, 1892 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Syntomini).

The Afrotropical genus Meganaclia Aurivillius, 1892 is revised, five new species M. smithi sp. n., M. grehani sp. n., M. josephi sp. n., M. johannae sp. n. and M. gaerberfesti sp. n. are described with a key for identification of species based on male genitalia structures. Habitus and genitalia of all taxa are illustrated and a distribution map is provided.

Taxonomic revision of the tribe Acraeini Boisduval, 1833 (Papilionoidea: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae)

The systematic and taxonomic history of the tribe Acraeini is reviewed. Using a robust dated molecular phylogeny published in 2021, and combining this with morphological and ecological data-sets, we divided the clearly paraphyletic genus Acraea (sensu lato) into five genera. We raised the subgenera Rubraea Henning, 1992, Stephenia Henning, 1992 to genera and reinstate Bematistes Hemming, 1935 and Telchinia Hübner, [1819] as valid genera. The genus Tildia gen. nov. is erected for a monophyletic clade of Acraea (sensu lato), and we treat the Neotropical Actinote and the Afrotropical Telchinia as separate genera. Because of the relatively low sampling of ‘Telchinia’ species in the dated molecular phylogeny we suggest that the possibly paraphyletic Telchinia be further investigated using more complete sampling. We furthermore present an updated alpha taxonomy for the six Afrotropical genera in the tribe – Acraea, Rubraea stat. nov, Stephenia stat. nov, Tildia gen. nov., Bematistes stat. rev. and Telchinia stat. rev. The current alpha taxonomy of the New World genus Actinote and the Old World genus Cethosia is given.

Synopsis of Trissepyris Kieffer, 1905 (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae), an endemic Afrotropical genus, with description of a new species

Synopsis de Trissepyris Kieffer, 1905 (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae), un genre afrotropical endémique, avec la description d'une nouvelle espèce. Le genre Trissepyris Kieffer, 1905 (Chrysidoidea, Bethylidae) est révisé. Une nouvelle espèce de la région afrotropicale (Côte d'Ivoire) est décrite et illustrée: Trissepyris akan n. sp. Elle se différencie de la seule autre espèce de ce genre, T. ruficeps Kieffer, 1905, par la présence de cinq dents apicales sur la mandibule, de petites ponctuations sur la partie dorsale du pronotum, d'un faible élargissement postérieur du notaulus, de cinq hamuli sur l'aile postérieure et d'une fovéa mésoscuto-scutellaire inclinée vers l'avant. Une diagnose modifiée et une discussion approfondie sur les caractères de diagnose morphologiques sont fournies. De plus, une clé taxonomique des deux espèces est présentée.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Delorhachis Karsch 1896 (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae)

ABSTRACT This paper presents the first comprehensive revision of the Afrotropical genus Delorhachis Karsch, 1896. Through the utilisation of integrative taxonomic methods (external morphology, dissections of genitalia and DNA barcoding), we distinguish five species groups within the genus and herein describe 11 new species and one new subspecies: D. meyi sp. nov., D. nimbaensis sp. nov., D. pallidifascia sp. nov., D. parvinota sp. nov., D. smithi sp. nov., D. wetzelae sp. nov., D. wetzelae shambaa ssp. nov., D. manuelae sp. nov., D. tommasoi sp. nov., D. bakossi sp. nov., D. baaka sp. nov., and D. zambica sp. nov. We also remove D. charopa Bethune-Baker, 1909 stat. rev. from synonymy with D. viridiplaga Karsch, 1896. Several new taxonomic combinations are proposed: Chrysamma syntomoctena Tams, 1929 is transferred to Delorhachis (D. syntomoctena (Tams, 1929) comb. nov.) and Delorhachis amator Hering, 1928, D. amica Hering, 1928 and D. purpurea Hering, 1928 are transferred to Miresa (M. amator (Hering, 1928) comb. nov., M. amica (Hering, 1928) comb. nov., and M. purpurea (Hering, 1928) comb. nov.). Delorhachis schultzei Aurivillius, 1905 is synonymised with Hilipoda gravidipes Karsch, 1896 syn. nov. Miresa strigivena Hampson, 1910 is synonymised with D. nigrivenosa Karsch, 1896 syn. nov. Delorhachis denisae Dufrane, 1945 and Chrysamma erythrochrysa Tams, 1929 are synonymised with M. purpurea syn. nov. The females of D. viridiplaga and D. charopa and the male of D. chlorodaedala Tams, 1929 are described and illustrated for the first time. DNA barcodes were obtained for 55 specimens representing 14 taxa, and analyses were performed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference approaches; a tree resulting from the latter is provided. Pairwise distances of barcodes between taxa are provided where available. The adults and genitalia of all taxa, their habitats and distribution are illustrated in 182 colour figures and five distribution maps. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0DED3725-84D8-4F0B-9219-F0EB25671194

Taxonomic review of the Afrotropical genus Birketsmithiola Krüger with descriptions of five new species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae)

The footman moth genus Birketsmithiola Krüger, 2015 is reviewed and five new species are described: B. kruegeri sp. n. (eastern D.R. Congo), B. kingstoni sp. n. (Malawi), B. smithi sp. n. (Zambia and Malawi), B. nakuru sp. n. (Kenya), and B. bvumba sp. n. (Zimbabwe). Eilema sanguicosta var. nyassana Strand, 1912 previously considered as an unavailable name is restored and upgraded to species level: B. nyassana (Strand, 1912), stat. rev. Lectotypes for Ilema sanguicosta Hampson, 1901 and Eilema sanguicosta var. nyassana Strand, 1912 are designated. Adults together with male and female genitalia of all Birketsmithiola species are illustrated.

In support of morphology: Molecular analysis successfully delineates the Afrotropical genus Atylotus (Diptera: Tabanidae) into species

Previous studies of the horse fly genus Atylotus in the Afrotropics has shown little to no differentiation into species based on the barcoding region of cytochrome oxidase I (COI), largely due to morphological misidentifications. Using field caught specimens and a museum reference collection together with type comparisons, COI and 16S ribosomal RNA sequences were generated from two specimens of Atylotus agrestis, two A. albipalpus, four A fuscipes and one A. nigromaculatus. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences produced four separate species clades with strong support. The results showed that COI does delineate the species of Afrotropical Atylotus and that misidentifications of specimens is a common problem. Additionally, Atylotus fuscipes is revived from synonymy and given full species status. Finally, a comprehensive review of the COI barcodes, publicly available on GenBank and BOLD is included that highlights some problems with using sequences from public databases.

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Miocene Ethiopian amber: filling gaps in the geological record of African terrestrial biota

Abstract The Early Miocene (16–23 Mya) amber of Ethiopia constitutes a new source of fossil ants for Africa, where they are otherwise poorly documented. Here we report a diversified assemblage of six subfamilies and at least 19 genera that are still predominantly alive in the Afrotropics today. In this first account, a particular reference is made to the subfamily Dolichoderinae, with the description of two new species: Technomyrmex svojtkai Perrichot & Engel sp. nov. and Ravavy goldmani Boudinot & Perrichot sp. nov. The first is illustrated and described based on synchrotron-radiation microcomputed tomography, and the second represents the first fossil record for the tribe Bothriomyrmecini and Ravavy, a Malagasy and Afrotropical genus that was hitherto monotypic. The ant composition in Ethiopian amber is congruent with the global pattern emerging across ants and showing a Neogene diversification almost exclusively within extant genera.

Revision of the endemic African genus Dinapsis (Dinapsini, Megalyridae, Hymenoptera) with description of seven new species.

The endemic Afrotropical genus Dinapsis is revised, and seven new species are described and illustrated: D.bicolor van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D.gamka van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D.igneus van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D.spinitibia van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D.taita van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D.tricolor Shaw & van Noort, sp. nov., D.zulu Shaw & van Noort, sp. nov. The distribution of the Central African Republican species D.centralis Shaw & van Noort, 2009 is extended to include Cameroon, Kenya and Uganda. Dinapsisturneri Waterston, 1922, previously only known from the poorly preserved holotype female, is redescribed based on newly collected specimens. The distribution of this Western Cape species is extended to include the Eastern and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. Four distinct species groups within the genus are proposed and diagnosed. An illustrated identification key to all described species of Dinapsis is provided. Online interactive Lucid keys to Afrotropical megalyrid genera and Dinapsis species are available at http://www.waspweb.org.

Révision du genre afrotropical Epitenodera Giglio-Tos, 1912 (Mantodea, Mantidae)

Revision of the afrotropical genus Epitenodera Giglio-Tos, 1912 (Mantodea, Mantidae). The afrotropical genus Epitenodera Giglio-Tos, 1912, is revised as far as possible with a care about stability in nomenclature, after the study of more than 300 specimens preserved in various museums and other scientific institutions. The now existing synonymies are retained except that of E. iringana Giglio-Tos, 1912, and the following ones are added: Tenodera houyi Werner and Epitenodera gambiensis Beier, 1931, already synonymous, are synonymized with Tenodera brevipennis Saussure, 1871, while Epitenodera equatoriana La Greca, 1993, and Sphodromantis werneri Roy, 2010, are synonymized with Epitenodera nimbana Roy, 1963. The variety brevelytra, named by Giglio-Tos in 1912 for E. herbacea, is raised to the species rank, whereas E. falcata n. sp., and E. sudanensis n. sp. are newly described.

Phylogenetic placement of a new Melanophilharmostes Paulian, 1968 pill scarab (Coleoptera: Hybosoridae: Ceratocanthinae) from Cameroon: molecular results decipher misleading morphology.

This study targets two specimens of a morphologically highly unusual pill scarab from Cameroon. The original morphology-inspired hypothesis that these beetles represent a new genus is refuted. Instead, a phylogenetic analysis of 90 terminals and 3231 aligned DNA positions linked both specimens with the Afrotropical genus Melanophilharmostes Paulian, 1968. Both Cameroonian specimens are herein described as Melanophilharmostes tuber Grebennikov, new species. Re-evaluation of the morphological characters of this species in light of molecular results corroborated this taxonomic decision by detecting all three morphological autapomorphies of the genus: the presence of setae and horseshoe-shaped microsculpture on the dorsal body surface, as well as the presence of the lateral carina on each elytron. Except for a single representative of the genus Melanophilharmostes placed within the genus Pseudopterorthochaetes Paulian, 1977 (interpreted as an analytical artifact), both genera are sister groups, in agreement with the pre-existing morphology-based hypothesis. Both genera, together with the Malagasy/Comorian genus Synarmostes Germar, 1843 and monotypic Balleriodes Grebennikov, 2021 from Tanzania, constitute the strongly supported Synarmostes group of genera.

Rediscovery of the endemic Afrotropical genus Spathioplites (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Doryctinae) with major range extension records for Spathioplites phreneticus

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.

The first Western Palearctic record of Euprosthenops Pocock (Araneae, Pisauridae), with description of a new species from Israel.

The primarily Afrotropical genus Euprosthenops Pocock, 1897 is recorded in the Western Palearctic for the first time. A diagnosis and an illustrated description of E.insperatussp. nov., based on a single male from southern Israel, are provided. Considering the structure of the male palp, the holotype of E.insperatussp. nov. resembles males of two widespread African species, E.australis Simon, 1898 and E.proximus Lessert, 1916; it differs from them by colouration pattern as well as by the different shapes of the retrolateral tibial apophysis and the palpal sclerites. A short survey of the regional insect and spider genera of the paleotropical origin is also presented.