Afrotropical Research Articles

Platyscelio hits again: the first record of this genus in the Dominican Republic

After the presence of the genus Platyscelio was noticed and confirmed in the Neotropical realm, in this paper the genus is recorded from the Panamanian realm, in Dominican Republic. In the Neotropical realm Platyscelio is represented through P. africanus Risbec, previously considered as being present only in the Afrotropical realm, but in the Panamanian realm we found a different species – P. pulchricornis Kieffer.

Modeling the Impact of Climate Change on Sustainable Production of Two Legumes Important Economically and for Food Security: Mungbeans and Cowpeas in Ethiopia

Climate change is one of the most serious threats to global crops production at present and it will continue to be the largest threat in the future worldwide. Knowing how climate change affects crop productivity might help sustainability and crop improvement efforts. Under existing and projected climate change scenarios (2050s and 2070s in Ethiopia), the effect of global warming on the distribution of V. radiata and V. unguiculata was investigated. MaxEnt models were used to predict the current and future distribution pattern changes of these crops in Ethiopia using different climate change scenarios (i.e., lowest (RCP 2.6), moderate (RCP 4.5), and extreme (RCP 8.5)) for the years 2050s and 2070s. The study includes 81 and 68 occurrence points for V. radiata and V. unguiculata, respectively, along with 22 environmental variables. The suitability maps indicate that the Beneshangul Gumuz, Oromia, Amhara, SNNPR, and Tigray regions are the major Ethiopian regions with the potential to produce V. radiata, while Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, SNNPR, and Tigray are suitable for producing V. unguiculata. The model prediction for V. radiata habitat ranges distribution in Ethiopia indicated that 1.69%, 4.27%, 11.25% and 82.79% are estimated to be highly suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable, and unsuitable, respectively. On the other hand, the distribution of V. unguiculata is predicted to have 1.27%, 3.07%, 5.22%, and 90.44% habitat ranges that are highly suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable, and unsuitable, respectively, under the current climate change scenario by the year (2050s and 2070s) in Ethiopia. Among the environmental variables, precipitation of the wettest quarter (Bio16), solar radiation index (SRI), temperature seasonality (Bio4), and precipitation seasonality (Bio15) are discovered to be the most effective factors for defining habitat suitability for V. radiata, while precipitation of the wettest quarter (Bio16), temperature annual range (Bio7) and precipitation of the driest quarter (Bio17) found to be better habitat suitability indicator for V. unguiculata in Ethiopia. The result indicates that these variables were more relevant in predicting suitable habitat for these crops in Ethiopia. A future projection predicts that the suitable distribution region will become increasingly fragmented. In general, the study provides a scientific basis of suitable agro-ecological habitat for V. radiata and V. unguiculata for long-term crop management and production improvement in Ethiopia. Therefore, projections of current and future climate change impacts on such crops are vital to reduce the risk of crop failure and to identify the potential productive areas in the country.

New record of Borniochrysa Brooks & Barnard, 1990 (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) from China, with description of two new species

Borniochrysa Brooks & Barnard, 1990 (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Chrysopinae: Chrysopinae) is a green lacewing genus, with five species previously recorded from the Australian, Oriental, and Afrotropical regions. Here we report the first record of Borniochrysa from China, and describe two new species, Borniochrysa kamayaria sp. nov. and Borniochrysa zhenxiana sp. nov. The standard DNA barcoding region of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of these two new species was sequenced. An identification key to the Borniochrysa species is also provided.

The unexpected discovery of the Afrotropical genus Tricorythus Eaton, 1868 (Ephemeroptera: Tricorythidae) from the Oriental region with description of a new species

Tricorythus meenakshi sp. n., is described based on all the stages from Tamil Nadu, Southern India. This new Indian species is most closely related to the Afrotropical species T. discolor Burmeister and T. tener Kluge. The new species can be separated from others in the genus by: In male imago, i) body dorsally with a colorless median stripe from head to abdomen; ii) femur and base of the tibia of all legs dark, rest mostly colorless; and iii) penis shape; and in the larva, i) body slender with a light median stripe as in adult; ii) protoptera dark in both sexes; iii) mouthparts details; iv) tarsal claws denticulation; and v) shape of denticles on hind margins of abdominal terga. Previously, the genus Tricorythus Eaton was known only from the Afrotropical realm; this is the first record of this genus from the Oriental realm.

Association of alcohol consumption with abortion among ever-married reproductive age women in Ethiopia: A multilevel analysis.

A miscarriage or a spontaneous loss of a pregnancy that occurs before the 20th week is an abortion. Even though numerous recommendations state that pregnant women should abstain from alcohol at all stages of pregnancy, alcohol intake among pregnant women is common. However, there are few papers addressing the effect of alcohol use on miscarriage using nationally representative data. Moreover, the association of alcohol use with abortion and its mechanisms is not well studied in the Ethiopian region. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to estimate the association of alcohol use with abortion rates among reproductive age (15-49) women in Ethiopia. Using the most recent findings of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS), secondary data analysis was performed among pregnant women in Ethiopia. A total of 11,396 women between the ages of 15 and 49 years who were of reproductive age were included in the research. To characterize the study population, descriptive statistics were used. The variability was considered using the multilevel binary logistic regression model. A multilevel binary logistic model was used to determine the effect of alcohol intake on abortion while controlling for potential confounders. In the multivariable analysis, variables with a P-value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant for the response variable. The proportion of women who had an abortion was 10.46% with a 95% CI of 9.92-11.03. In the final model of the multilevel analysis, age group [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.13; 95% CI: 3.86-9.73], education level (AOR = 1.29; 95 and CI: 1.10-1.51), alcohol consumption (AOR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.18-1.61), age at first sex (AOR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.03-1.39), media exposure (AOR = 1.28, CI: 1.10-1.48), contraceptive use (AOR = 1.34, CI: 1.16-1.56), and occupation of respondent (AOR = 1.21, CI: 1.06-1.38) were identified to be significant determinants of abortion in Ethiopia. Sexual and reproductive health education and family planning programs should target older women in the reproductive age group, women with primary educational status, working women, and those who initiated sexual intercourse at a younger age considering it could reduce abortion and unintended pregnancy. Furthermore, as part of sexual and reproductive health education, the adverse effect of alcohol consumption on abortion should be emphasized.

Three new species of Rhabdias Stiles et Hassall, 1905 (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) parasitic in Ptychadena spp. (Amphibia: Anura: Ptychadenidae) and an identification key to Rhabdias spp. from Afrotropical anurans.

Three new species of lung-dwelling nematodes are described from the frogs Ptychadena anchietae (Bocage), P. oxyrhynchus (Smith), and P. uzungwensis (Loveridge) in southern Africa. All three species are medium-sized species of Rhabdias Stiles et Hassall, 1905, with the thick-walled buccal capsules measuring 11-13μm×6-11μm, consisting of longer anterior and shorter posterior parts. Rhabdias athos n. sp. and R. porthos n. sp. are characterised by the rounded anterior end of the body and the presence of short dilatation of the oesophagus at its mid-length. Rhabdias porthos n. sp. has distinct excretory glands which are absent in two other species. Rhabdias aramis n. sp. is characterised by the truncated anterior end and the slight constriction of the oesophagus at the level of its mid-length. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS-28S rDNA sequences placed R. aramis n. sp. in the clade consisting of R. engelbrechti Kuzmin et al., 2017 from South Africa and Eurasian Rhabdias spp., while R. athos n. sp. and R. porthos n. sp. formed a sister group to that clade. Identification key to 14 Rhabdias spp. parasitic in anuran amphibians from the Afrotropical Realm is provided.

The resurrection of Cerasommatidiidae, an enigmatic group of coccinelloid beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinelloidea) based on molecular and morphological evidence

Abstract The family Cerasommatidiidae was proposed by Brèthes in 1925 for his new genus Cerasommatidia from Brazil, described as an intermediate taxon between Endomychidae and Coccinellidae (Coccinelloidea). This group was neglected for decades until 1994 when the resemblance of Cerasommatidia with the eupsilobiine genus Ibicarella was noticed, and Cerasommatidiidae was synonymized with Eupsilobiinae (Endomychidae). Based on the newly discovered material from the Neotropical and Afrotropical regions with clear resemblance to Cerasommatidia and Ibicarella, the phylogenetic placement of these taxa and new allied genera was reassessed based on phylogenetic analyses of molecular, morphological and combined datasets. The data were analysed under Bayesian (BI), maximum likelihood (ML) and parsimony (MP) frameworks. Our results support the restoration of Cerasommatidiidae as a distinct family in Coccinelloidea. Close affinity of Cerasommatidiidae with Coccinellidae, Eupsilobiidae and Mycetaeidae is recovered and the sister-relationship to Mycetaeidae is highly supported. Ibicarella is found to be a junior synonym of Cerasommatidia. Three new genera and six new species are described and illustrated: Yamuy gen. nov. (type species, Y. marginatus sp. nov.; and Y. constratus sp. nov.) and Karumbe gen. nov. (type species, K. geiseri sp. nov.; K. brethesi sp. nov. and K. pakaluki sp. nov.) from the Neotropics and Mahavelo gen. nov. (type species, M. madagasus sp. nov.) from Madagascar.

Revision of Afrotropical Udea Guenée in Duponchel, 1845, with description of five new species of the U. ferrugalis (Hübner, 1796) group (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Spilomelinae)

TheUdeaspecies (currently six) present in the Afrotropical realm are revised based on adults.Phlyctaenia epicoenaMeyrick, 1937syn. nov.is found to be identical withU. ferrugalis(Hübner, 1796).Udea delineatalis(Walker in Melliss 1875) andU. hageniViette, 1952 are redescribed. In addition, five species ofUdeaare described as new to science:U. kirinyagaMallysp. nov.from Mount Kenya in Kenya,U. nicholsaeMallysp. nov.,U. meruensisMallysp. nov.andU. momellaMallysp. nov., all three from Mount Meru in Tanzania, andU. namaquanaKarisch & Mallysp. nov.from South Africa. A phylogenetic analysis based on morphological data and mitochondrial COI as well as the nuclear wingless gene, where available, places the new species in theU. ferrugalisspecies group, which also comprisesU. ferrugalisas well asU. delineatalisfrom the oceanic island of St. Helena. Another island endemic,Udea hagenifrom Tristan da Cunha, is found to be a member of theU. numeralisgroup, as sister toU. numeralis. An additional synapomorphic character of the genitalia is recognised for theU. ferrugalisgroup.Udea infuscalis(Zeller, 1852) andU. melanostictalis(Hampson in Poulton 1916) are misplaced inUdeaand transferred to Pyraustinae, asLirabotys infuscaliscomb. nov.andAchyra melanostictaliscomb. nov., respectively. Adults, tympanic organs, and genitalia of both sexes, where available, are illustrated. A checklist summarises the now eight AfrotropicalUdeaspecies.

Coherent Indian Summer Monsoon and Sahel Rainfall Variability Revealed by Ethiopian Rainfall δ18O

AbstractCoherent fluctuations in Sahel and Indian summer monsoon (ISM) rainfall influence the socio‐economic welfare of several densely populated regions. Here we identify a common mode of interannual rainfall variability over the Sahel and Indian regions and demonstrate the influence of both Pacific and Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SST) in inducing such a large‐scale response. The principal component of the leading mode of precipitation variability (PC1) over these regions correlates independently well with both ISM and Sahel rainfall indices. Here we show that this global SST‐driven dominant mode of Indo‐Sahel rainfall variability is well captured in present‐day rainfall δ18O and speleothem δ18O of the Ethiopian region. We use a ∼40‐year‐long monthly observational record of precipitation stable isotopes at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to show that episodic isotopic depletions in rainfall at this site occur during the wet phases of PC1. These isotopic anomalies are associated with eastward intrusions of moisture initiating from the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Finally, we demonstrate decadal‐scale co‐variability between PC‐1 and a century‐long δ18O record from an actively growing Ethiopian speleothem to highlight the potential of rainfall isotopic records from this region to capture fluctuations in the coupled variability of the Indo‐African boreal monsoons.

Morphological and Molecular Characterization Using Genitalia and CoxI Barcode Sequence Analysis of Afrotropical Mosquitoes with Arbovirus Vector Potential

Potential arboviral Afrotropical mosquito vectors are underrepresented in public databases of CoxI barcode sequences. Furthermore, available CoxI sequences for many species are often not associated with voucher specimens to match the corresponding fine morphological characterization of specimens. Hence, this study focused on the characterization of Culicine mosquitoes from South Africa, Mozambique, and Angola and their classification using a complementary approach including a morphological analysis of specimens’ genitalia and phylogenetic study based on the analysis of CoxI barcode sequences using maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic inference methods, alongside Median-Joining Network and PCOORD analyses. Overall, 800 mosquitoes (652 males and 148 females) from 67 species, were analyzed. Genitalia from 663 specimens allowed the identification of 55 species of 10 genera. A total of 247 CoxI partial gene sequences corresponding to 65 species were obtained, 11 of which (Aedes capensis, Ae. mucidus, Culex andersoni, Cx. telesilla, Cx. inconspicuosus, Eretmapodites subsimplicipes, Er. quinquevittatus, Ficalbia uniformis, Mimomyia hispida, Uranotaenia alboabdominalis, and Ur. mashonaensis) are, to the best of our knowledge, provided here for the first time. The presence of Cx. pipiens ecotypes molestus and pipiens and their hybrids, as well as Cx. infula, is newly reported in the Afrotropical region. The rates of correct sequence identification using BOLD and BLASTn (≥95% identity) were 64% and 53%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that, except for subgenus Eumelanomyia of Culex, there was support for tribes Aedini, Culicini, Ficalbiini, and Mansoniini. A divergence >2% was observed in conspecific sequences, e.g., Aedeomyia africana, Ae. cumminsii, Ae. unilineatus, Ae. metallicus, Ae. furcifer, Ae. caballus, and Mansonia uniformis. Conversely, sequences from groups and species complexes, namely, Ae. simpsoni, Ae. mcintoshi, Cx. bitaeniorhynchus, Cx. simpsoni, and Cx. pipiens were insufficiently separated. A contribution has been made to the barcode library of Afrotropical mosquitoes with associated genitalia morphological identifications.

Two species of the hoverfly genus Eumerus Meigen (Diptera: Syrphidae) new record for Pakistan

An updated checklist of the genus Eumerus Meigen, 1822 is presented from Pakistan along with two new country records, i.e., Eumerus vestitus Bezzi, 1912 and Eumerus sogdianus Stackelberg, 1952. Eumerus sogdianus is native to Central and Southern Europe, but recorded from east to Central and Southern Asia, and Eumerus vestitus is native to the Afrotropical region, but recently also recorded from India. Both species are collected from northern areas of Pakistan – the extreme edge of the western Himalayas, where a significant diversity of hoverflies has been reported in recent studies. A brief diagnosis, identification key, and a taxonomic remark on known Pakistani Eumerus species are presented. A distribution map and detailed photographs of the newly recorded species are also presented.

Pest categorisation of Penthimiola bella.

The EFSA Panelon Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Penthimiola bella (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), the citrus leafhopper, for the European Union (EU). P. bella is native to the Afrotropical region; it has spread to Israel (first reported in 1974), Lebanon, and was reported from Morocco in 2018. Within the EU, P. bella is established in Portugal (Algarve) where it was first found on sweet oranges in 2012, and then in Spain in 2020, also on sweet oranges. P. bella is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. It is a polyphagous species reported, among cultivated hosts, on sweet orange, grapefruit and avocado. It is also described as being found on unspecified trees and bushes in savannahs, mountain forests and rain forests in Africa. Climatic conditions in some parts of southern EU countries are favourable and host plants are available in those areas to support establishment and spread. Despite being present in Portugal for over 10 years, there is a lack of evidence of impacts; hence, the magnitude of impact following introduction is uncertain. Nevertheless, in South Africa, P. bella was reported as being an economically important pest of citrus and to cause damage to avocado fruit during the early stages of development. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry and further spread. Except for having uncertain economic or environmental impacts as a result of its introduction, P. bella satisfies all the other criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

A New Species of the Mealybug Genus Mirococcus (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) from the Cape Verde Islands, with New Records and an Updated Checklist of Scale Insect Species.

In this study, a new species of mealybug from the Cape Verde Islands, Mirococcus capeverdensis Łagowska and Hodgson sp. n., collected on Campylanthus glaber Benth. (Scrophulariaceae), a native plant to these islands, is described and illustrated based on the adult female. A taxonomic key to the mealybugs from the Afrotropical Region that lack cerarii is provided. In addition, seven scale insect species, namely Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead, Hemiberlesia cyanophylli (Signoret), Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis (Green), Icerya aegyptiaca (Douglas), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), Palmicultor palmarum (Ehrhorn), and Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana) are recorded for the first time from the Cape Verde Islands and an updated checklist of Coccomorpha species known from this region, along with their known island distributions and valid sources, is appended.

Revision of the genera Pseudotraulia Laosinchai & Jago, 1980 and Bannacris Zheng, 1980 (Orthoptera: Acrididae) with proposal of new synonyms

The genera Pseudotraulia Laosinchai & Jago, 1980 and Bannacris Zheng, 1980 are revised based on the examination of types and additional materials. Bannacris punctonotus Zheng, 1980 is synonymized with Pseudotraulia cornuata Laosinchai & Jago, 1980 and Bannacris Zheng, 1980 with Pseudotraulia Laosinchai & Jago, 1980. The tribal placement of Pseudotraulia is discussed and the genus Pseudotraulia is transferred here from the tribe Mesambriini of the subfamily Catantopinae Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893 to the subfamily Coptacrinae Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893 which is not divided into tribes and consists of 22 genera distributed in the Afrotropical and Oriental regions.

The first species of Nemestrinidae (Diptera) endemic to Madagascar: A remarkable new species of Atriadops Wandolleck, 1897

A new species of Nemestrinidae, Atriadops irwini Barraclough sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Sakaramy in the far north of Madagascar at about the same latitude as the Comoros Islands. The species was collected in lowland tropical forest by Dr Michael Irwin. Atriadops Wandolleck, 1897, is a small genus of Nemestrinidae in the subfamily Trichopisideinae. Six named species are distributed across the Australasian, Oriental, Afrotropical and Neotropical Regions. Atriadops irwini sp. nov. is thus only the seventh species in the genus (the first new species described in almost 70 years) and the second valid species from the Afrotropical Region. This is the first record of Atriadops from Madagascar, where the new species is the only endemic nemestrinid. Nycterimyia capensis Bezzi is the only other nemestrinid recorded from Madagascar, but it also occurs in South Africa (where it was first described) and Kenya. The world fauna of Atriadops is discussed and all known larval host records are listed.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasites and Enteric Bacterial Infections among Selected Region Food Handlers of Ethiopia during 2014-2022: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Food-borne disease due to intestinal parasites (IPs) and enteric bacterial infections (EBIs) remain a major public health problem. Food handlers, individuals involved in preparing and serving food, working with poor personal hygiene could pose a potential threat of spreading IPs and EBIs to the public. The aim of this study was to examine the overall prevalence and risk factors of IPs and EBIs among food handlers in four selected regions of Ethiopia. Scientific articles written in English were recovered from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and other sources from Google Engine and University Library Databases. “Prevalence,” “Intestinal Parasites,” “Enteric Bacterial Infections,” “Associated Factors,” “Food Handlers,” and “Ethiopia” were the search terms used for this study. For critical appraisal, PRISMA 2009 was applied. Stata software version 16 was used to perform the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity and publication bias were evaluated using Cochran's Q, inverse variance (I2), and funnel plot asymmetry tests. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled burden of IPs and EBIs and its associated factors among food handlers, along with the parallel odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). For this meta-analysis, a total of 5844 food handlers were included in the 20 eligible studies. The overall pooled prevalence of IPs and EBIs among food handlers in four selected regions of Ethiopia was 29.16% (95% CI: 22.61, 35.71), with covering (25.77%) and (3.39%) by IPs and EBIs, respectively. Ascaris lumbricoides, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia lamblia, and hookworm were the most prevalent IPs among food handlers with a pooled prevalence of 7.58%, 6.78%, 3.67%, and 2.70%, respectively. Salmonella and Shigella spp. were the most prevalent EBIs among food handlers with a pooled prevalence of 2.78% and 0.61%, respectively. A high prevalence of IPs and EBIs among food handlers was observed in Oromia (38.56%; 95% CI: 29.98, 47.14), while a low prevalence was observed in the Tigray region (19.45%; 95% CI: 6.08, 32.82). Food handlers who had not taken food hygiene training (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: −0.34, 1.69), untrimmed finger nail (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.47, 2.99), lack of periodic medical checkup (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 0.41, 2.64), lack of handwashing habits (OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 0.53, 3.41), and eating raw vegetables and meat (OR: 2.63, 95% CI: 0.92, 4.34) were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of IPs and EBIs. The prevalence of IPs and EBIs was high in the selected Ethiopian region (Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR, and Tigray) food handlers along an increasing prevalence trend from 2014 to 2022. Therefore, this study recommends the provision of proper health education and training regarding personal hygiene, hand washing, food handling, medical checks, as well as raw vegetable and meat safety.

A new species and new records of ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) from Ethiopia

The present study is based on ptyctimous mite materials collected from 19 forest localities in Ethiopia during 2012–2020. A list of identified taxa, including 21 species from nine genera and four families is provided; of these, ten species are recorded for the first time in the Ethiopian fauna, among which one species is recorded for the first time in the Afrotropical region. One new species of Euphthiracaridae—Euphthiracarus (Pocsia) debreberhanensis Niedbała sp. nov.—is described. Morphological additions to descriptions of Acrotritia rustica, Plonaphacarus machadoi, P. ecphylus, and Notophthiracarus subitus are presented.

First record of three alien Auchenorrhyncha species from Europe: Acanalonia bivittata (Say, 1825), Branchana xanthota Li, 2011, and Dryadomorpha pallida Kirkaldy 1906 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Acanaloniidae, Cicadellidae)

Three alien Auchenorrhyncha species are recorded for the first time from Europe (northern Italy): the Nearctic planthopper Acanalonia bivittata (Say, 1825), the Asian leafhopper Branchana xanthota Li, 2011, and the leafhopper Dryadomorpha pallida Kirkaldy 1906, present in the Afrotropical, Palearctic, Oriental and Australian regions. Observations on morphology and data on biology and host plants are provided. The 5th instar nymph of Dryadomorpha pallida is described. Considerations and data about the increase of alien Auchenorrhyncha species in Europe are discussed.

Taxonomic contribution to the knowledge of the oribatid mite genus Arcoppia (Acari, Oribatida, Oppiidae)

ABSTRACT A new species of the genus Arcoppia (Oribatida, Oppiidae) – A. gezahegni n. sp. – is described, based on materials collected from mosses on the mountain swamp in Arsi Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. Generic diagnosis and an identification key to known species of Arcoppia from the Afrotropical region are presented. The initial placement of Arcoppia tuberosa in Arcoppia is supported; Wallworkoppia vibrissa is transferred to Arcoppia. http://LSIDurn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2283A884-52CC-4C92-B64A-638F9CB63EE6

Polyctenidae (Hemiptera: Cimicoidea) species in the Afrotropical region: Distribution, host specificity, and first insights to their molecular phylogeny.

Polyctenidae bugs are rarely studied, hematophagous, and highly specialized ectoparasites of bats. There are only 32 described species worldwide, including six species in the Afrotropical region. Knowledge on these parasites is limited, and most studies are restricted to the New World polyctenid species. Here we report additional records of Adroctenes horvathi from Kenya and South Africa, as well as Hypoctenes faini from Rwanda. We present an updated list of published polyctenid records in the Afrotropical region indicating their host specificity and their geographical distribution. We report global infection patterns and sex ratio of polyctenids based on previously published data, including Old and New World species. Lastly, we demonstrate the first molecular phylogeny of Polyctenidae, showing their phylogenetic relationship with the closely related family Cimicidae.