Afrotropical Research Articles

Morphotaxonomic Assessment of the pratensis Species Complex with Ontogenetic Development and Redescription of Oligonychus pratensis (Banks) (Acari: Prostigmata: Tetranychidae)

The Banks grass mite/New World date mite, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks) (Acari: Prostigmata: Tetranychidae), is a globally distributed and economically significant agricultural pest. The present study comprehensively addresses the morphotaxonomic identification of globally reported populations of O. pratensis, to resolve ambiguities within the pratensis complex. Detailed morphological characterizations of all mobile stages (larva, protonymph, deutonymph, male, and female) of the Californian population of O. pratensis were provided, with key diagnostic traits utilized in this taxonomic assessment. The taxonomic notes are provided for worldwide populations of O. pratensis reported from six biogeographic realms. The taxonomic identity of the claimed populations of O. pratensis from South Africa (Afrotropical realm), El Salvador (Neotropical realm), China, Pakistan (Oriental realm), and Saudi Arabia (Palearctic realm) were found to either be “doubtful” or exhibit notable differences compared to the Californian population. Notably, the purported Chinese population of O. pratensis was identified as a cryptic species, likely a novel taxon within the gossypii species subgroup. Furthermore, the study confirmed the absence of O. pratensis in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, ontogenetic changes across developmental stages are documented. The findings of this study may contribute to a clearer understanding of the true distribution and global occurrence of O. pratensis, providing robust diagnostic characteristics to support future research.

The first Palearctic species of Discheramocephalus Johnson (Coleoptera, Ptiliidae, Ptiliinae) from Korea with an annotated catalog of the genus Discheramocephalus.

Nineteen species of the genus Discheramocephalus Johnson have been identified from the Afrotropical, Australasian, Indomalayan, and Neotropical regions. According to distribution of the previously known species and some undescribed species, Discheramocephalus has been suggested to be a pantropical genus. Herein, the first Palearctic species, Discheramocephalus jaeseoki sp. nov., has been described from the Korean Peninsula. Illustrations of its habitus and diagnostic characters, a distributional map, and an annotated taxonomic catalogue of the genus Discheramocephalus are also provided.

New species, new synonyms, and resurrected taxa: A review of West and Central Palaearctic members of the genus Pseudoanthidium (Apoidea: Megachilidae).

Wool carder bees of the genus Pseudoanthidium comprise approximately 60-65 species, which are found in the Palaearctic, Indo-Malayan and Afrotropical realms. Their taxonomic relationships are little understood. Herein, I revised West and Central Palaearctic members of the genus. Four species are described as new, namely P. farsiense sp. nov. from Iran, P. microrubrum sp. nov. from Morocco, P. syriacum sp. nov. from Syria, and P. tajikistanicum sp. nov. from Tajikistan. The largely overlooked species Anthidium fulviventre Friese, 1917, described from Russia, and Anthidium ivanovi Mavromoustakis, 1954, described from Tajikistan, are recognized as members of the Pseudoanthidium genus, as P. fulviventre (Friese, 1917) comb. nov. and P. ivanovi (Mavromoustakis, 1954) stat. resurrect. & comb. nov. Anthidium moricei Friese, 1911, from Jordan, and A. royoi Dusmet, 1915, from Morocco, are resurrected from synonymy with P. melanurum and suggested to be treated as P. moricei (Friese, 1911) stat. resurrect. and P. royoi (Dusmet, 1915) stat. resurrect. & comb. nov. The hitherto unknown males of P. moricei (Friese, 1911) and P. rubellulum Pasteels, 1969 are described based on material from Jordan and Israel, respectively. Royanthidium bicoloripenne Pasteels, 1981 (syn. nov.) from Morocco, is revealed to be a junior synonym of P. octodentatum (Pérez, 1895). Morphological traits, along with DNA sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene ("barcoding gene"), allowed clustering the species in five polytypic and five monotypic species groups. As key character traits of the type species of nominate Pseudoanthidium largely fit the subgeneric characters of the subgenus Royanthidium Pasteels, 1969, Royanthidium is regarded as a junior synonym (syn. nov.) of nominate Pseudoanthidium. The species of the subgenus Exanthidium Pasteels, 1969 form a uniform clade both in terms of morphology and DNA marker. An examination of the non-Palaearctic Pseudoanthidium species is suggested to determine whether Exanthidium deserves subgenus status.

Assessing the potential spread of Zaprionus tuberculatus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in the Americas: insights for proactive management and agricultural protection.

Invasive species pose significant ecological and economic threats globally. Zaprionus tuberculatus Malloch, a drosophilid fruit fly native to the Afrotropical region and Indian Ocean islands, is included in the pest list of the Center for Agriculture and Bioscience (CABI) because it uses fruit as breeding sites and can damage cultivated areas. This fly species extended its range across Europe in the late 20th century; in 2020, it was recorded in South America, and currently, it is widely distributed in Brazil. Here, we assess the potential spreading of Zaprionus tuberculatus in Central and North America based on 2 distinct origins of propagules: from South America and from Europe. To this end, we developed species distribution models using bioclimatic variables and elevation data to project potentially suitable habitats and infer invasion routes. In any case, our results indicate suitability for Z. tuberculatus colonization in Central and North America, including major fruit-producing areas in Central American countries and the United States (Florida and California). The rapid dispersal ability of Z. tuberculatus, coupled with its adaptability to diverse environments, underscores the urgency for proactive monitoring and control measures. Therefore, this study provides valuable insights for developing proactive measures to mitigate the spread of Z. tuberculatus and protect agricultural productivity in the Americas.

First record of the genus Eusterinx Förster (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Orthocentrinae) from the Afrotropical Region, with description of a new species from South Africa.

The genus Eusterinx Förster, 1869 is reported from the Afrotropical region for the first time. The new species E. africana sp. nov. from South Africa belonging to the subgenus Ischyracis is described and illustrated. The subgenus Dallatorrea Ashmead, 1902 is reduced to the synonym Ischyracis Förster, 1869 syn. n. An identification key to all known Ischyracis species of the world fauna is provided.

Afrotropical Centistidea Rohwer, 1914 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) with description of four new species.

The braconid parasitoid wasp genus Centistidea Rohwer, 1914 is revised for the Afrotropical region, with four new species described; Centistideaareolaris Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov., C.linearis Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov., C.longipedes Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov., and C.turneri Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov. are described based on specimens from the Natural History Museum, United Kingdom, and the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium. An illustrated key to species in the Afrotropical region is provided.

Overview of myrmecological studies and a checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The production of species checklists is fundamental to setting baseline knowledge of biodiversity across the world and they are invaluable for global conservation efforts. The main objective of this study is to provide an up-to-date extensive checklist of the ants of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, based on available literature to serve as a foundation for future research and ant faunistic developments. We gathered the literature available to us, most of it compiled from the Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics (GABI) Project and treated the data to province level when possible. We also offer insight into who, when and where contributions have emerged to the current knowledge of the ants of the DRC and each of its 26 provinces. The current list is restricted to valid species and subspecies, discarding morphospecies and some misidentified taxa. The list comprises eight subfamilies, 64 genera and 736 species, the highest species diversity for a country located within the Afrotropical realm.

Status and Integrated Management of White Mango Scale on Mango (<i>Mangifera indica</i> L.) in Ethiopia: A Review

Mango is attacked by many insect pests which reduce the quality and productivity of the crop. Among the insect pests attacking mango plant, white mango scale is the most devastating insect pest. White mango scale is a new insect pest and a major problem of mango production in Ethiopia. It has been determined that the white mango scale is a new, quickly increasing, and devastating insect pest of mango. It emerged as an upsetting insect pest that now harms mango output, resulting in 50 to 100% losses and forcing the plant out of production in the majority of Ethiopian mango-growing regions. Because there are fewer quarantine restrictions and easier applicability through transport agents, the insect has spread quickly across the country since it was first discovered in 2010. In a short period of time, the insect invaded nearly all of Ethiopia's mango-growing regions, and the country was placed on the list of countries affected with the new white mango scale. Its polyphagous behavior and sucking the plant sap, the insect pest severely harms mango shoots, twigs, leaves, branches, and fruits, which results in significant fruit quality and quantity losses. The insect's hard white scales make it difficult to control with chemical pesticides, in addition to other uncontrolled activities. Although no recognized chemical control methods for the white mango scale are successful, other management strategies for the pest include cultural, biological, chemical, and integrated pest management. White mango scale damage had an impact on the economy, society, environment, and other factors. Therefore, urgently coordinated actions against this uncontrolled white-scale dissemination and the harm it causes in Ethiopia are required.

Phylogenomic insights into the worldwide evolutionary relationships of the stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponini)

Stingless bees (tribe Meliponini) are remarkable for their characteristically large social colonies, their capacity to produce honey and other useful products, and their morphological and behavioral diversity. They have a disjunct pan-tropical distribution, primarily occurring in warm and humid environments in the Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Indo-Australasian regions. Even though phylogenetic hypotheses have been proposed for Meliponini based on morphology and molecular data, many questions are still unsolved regarding the evolutionary relationships and systematics of the tribe. In this contribution, we present a large phylogenomic dataset comprising over 2500 ultra-conserved element (UCE) loci sequenced for 153 species of Meliponini, representing all known genera of stingless bees. The genera Camargoia, Paratrigonoides, Plectoplebeia, Cleptotrigona, Ebaiotrigona, Papuatrigona, Pariotrigona, Platytrigona, and Sahulotrigona were included in molecular phylogenetic analyses for the first time. Concatenated and species-tree analyses were performed using different partitioning strategies and summary methods. We performed gene-genealogy interrogation (GGI) on several recalcitrant nodes to resolve discordances among recovered tree topologies. Results were mostly consistent among analyses, recovering three main lineages of Meliponini congruent with the biogeographic domains to which they are associated. Within major clades, discordances were found in relation to previous works. The genus Frieseomelitta was recovered as paraphyletic in relation to Trichotrigona, and the genus Lepidotrigona was revealed to be composed of two independent lineages. Even though concatenated and weighted ASTRAL analyses were mostly effective in recovering the relationships favored by GGI, they retrieved different results in relation to the phylogenetic placements of Oxytrigona and Cephalotrigona. The most favored hypothesis in GGI analyses was not found in any other analyses, being more congruent with morphological evidence and highlighting the relevance of exploring the support given to alternative hypotheses through topological tests. Recent advances in our capacity to generate molecular sequences from old specimens using modern sequencing methods allowed for unparalleled sampling across genera, yielding a backbone for the phylogenetic relationships of stingless bees, which will further investigations into their systematics and evolution.

Spatial variations and predictors of overweight/obesity among under-five children in Ethiopia: A geographically weighted regression analysis of the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey.

Overweight/ obesity among under-five children is an emerging public health issue of the twenty-first century. Due to the quick nutritional and epidemiological change, non-communicable diseases, premature death, disability, and reproductive disorders have grown in low-income countries. Besides, little attention has been given. Therefore, we aimed to explore spatial variations and predictors of overweight/obesity among under-five children in Ethiopia using a geospatial technique. A total weighted sample of 3,609 under-five children was included in the study. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a nationally representative sample of the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey data set. ArcGIS version 10.8 was used to explore the spatial variation of obesity. SaTScan version 9.6 software was used to analyze the spatial cluster detection of overweight/obesity. Ordinary least square and geographically weighted regression analysis were employed to assess the association between an outcome variable and explanatory variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used to declare it statistically significant. The spatial distribution of overweight/obesity among under-five children in Ethiopia was clustered (Global Moran's I = 0.27, p-value<0.001). The significant hot spot areas or higher rates of childhood obesity, were found in Southern Amhara, Northwest Somalia, Border of Harari, central Addis Ababa, Eastern SNNPR, and Northwestern Oromia region. In spatial SaT Scan analysis, 79 significant clusters of overweight/obesity were detected. The primary clusters were located in SNNPR, Oromia, and Addis Ababa (RR = 1.48, LLR = 31.40, P-value < 0.001). In the geographically weighted regression analysis, urban residence, cesarean section, rich households, and female children were statistically significant predictors. Overweight or obesity among under-five children show spatial variations across Ethiopian regions. GWR analysis identifies cesarean section, wealth index, urban residence, and child sex as significant predictors. The Ministry of Health and Ethiopian Public Health Institute should target regions with these contributing predictors, promoting localized physical education, health education campaigns, and ongoing community monitoring to encourage active lifestyles and reduce sedentary behaviors among children.

Orientation, thermal characteristics and structural dimensions of Mangrove Kingfisher Halcyon senegaloides nest cavities in arboreal termitaria in central Mozambique

The breeding ecology of the Mangrove Kingfisher Halcyon senegaloides (family Alcedinidae) remains poorly known. While the few nests recorded in southern and East Africa have been in tree hollows, a seasonal population in central Mozambique woodland breeds in cavities in arboreal termitaria. Despite this breeding strategy being widely recorded in many tropical kingfisher species, it has received little research attention in the Afrotropical realm. We report on the siting and structural characteristics of arboreal termitaria used as nesting sites by Mangrove Kingfishers in central Mozambique and document the thermal dynamics of a nesting cavity in an arboreal termitarium. Arboreal termitaria (average volume 40.1 ± 23.8 l) occurred at a density of 0.52 ± 0.22 termitaria ha−1 in large trees or shrubs, mostly of the families Fabaceae and Malvaceae. Termitaria containing nest cavities were situated 10.8 ± 3.1 m above the ground, and most nests (78.6%) faced north. Nest cavity temperatures averaged 31.4 ± 2.6 °C, which is warmer and more stable than the average ambient temperatures of 28.7 ± 4.0 °C. ‘Carton’ termitaria (comprising a mixture of faecal matter and wood fragments) are thus believed to confer a thermal advantage for summer-nesting Mangrove Kingfishers.

Diversity and Host Specificity of Avian Haemosporidians in an Afrotropical Conservation Region.

Afrotropical regions have high bird diversity, yet few studies have attempted to unravel the prevalence of avian haemosporidia in conservation areas. The diversity and host specificity of parasites in biodiversity hotspots is crucial to understanding parasite distribution and potential disease emergence. We test the hypothesis that biodiverse regions are associated with highly diverse parasites. By targeting the cytochrome b (Cytb) gene, we molecularly screened 1035 blood samples from 55 bird species for avian haemosporidia infections to determine its prevalence and diversity on sites inside and adjacent to the Kruger National Park. Overall infection prevalence was 28.41%. Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, and Plasmodium presented prevalences of 17.39%, 9.24%, and 4.64%, respectively. One hundred distinct parasite lineages were detected, of which 56 were new lineages. Haemoproteus also presented the highest diversity compared to Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium with varying levels of specificity. Haemoproteus lineages were found to be specialists while Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon lineages were generalists. We also found a positive relationship between avian host diversity and parasite diversity, supporting an amplification effect. These findings provide insight data for host-parasite and co-evolutionary relationship models.

Not all male bees posses thirteen antennal segments: New megachilid species from the Afro-Arabian and Afrotropical regions (Apoidea: Anthidiini: Pseudoanthidium) with deviant numbers of segments

Male bees (Apoidea) typically possess antennae with 13 articles, with only a few exceptions reported, none of which are from the Megachilidae family. In this study, we describe two new species of the megachilid tribe Anthidiini that display an unusual characteristic – their males have only 12 antennal segments. We attributed these species, Pseudoanthidium omanicum sp. nov. from the Arabian Peninsula, and P. ethiopicum sp. nov. from Ethiopia, to the subgenus Pseudoanthidium (Mesanthidiellum), previously known only from Sub-Saharan Africa. Notably, the male of a third species in this subgenus, P. (Mesanthidiellum) sakaniense (Cockerell, 1936) was also found to have only 12 antennal segments. Further investigation revealed that males with antennae with 12 articles are also present in the closely related subgenus Pseudoanthidium (Branthidium), suggesting that this phenomenon may be more widespread yet often overlooked. A broader review indicates that deviations from the typical 13 antennal articles are known in 10 genera of bees and account for less than 0.5% of all bee species. We conclude that this trait has evolved independently across different bee lineages. However, the specific function of a reduced number of antennal articles remains elusive. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:56B808FB-E4F2-46A9-9B54-850AF83263D0

First record of Colotis amata (Fabricius, 1775) in North Africa (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Colotis amata (Fabricius, 1775) is associated with desert habitats in the Afrotropical and Oriental biogeographic region. There is little information available on the Papilionoidea that live in the Saharan regions, as evidenced by the fact that this species was recently discovered in southern Algeria close to Timiaouine. The expansion of the distribution area towards the North may be explained by the presence of its host plant in this area and in the pattern of distribution of some species.

Solitary folded-winged wasps of the genus Zethus Fabricius (Vespidae, Zethinae) parasitised by two new species of Strepsiptera on different continents

Two new species of Strepsiptera from the genus Zethus Fabricius, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) are described. Although the stylopisation of the genus Zethus has been known for almost a century, we provide the first description of its strepsipteran parasites. Zethus brasiliensis fuscatus R. Bohart &amp; Stange, 1965 is parasitised by Eupathocera zethisp. nov. in the Neotropical Region (French Guiana) and Zethus favillaceus Walker, 1871 by Deltoxenos impressussp. nov. in the Afrotropical Region (Kenya). An independent switch to the same host genus is supported by molecular and morphological data. Diagnoses and detailed descriptions of the species are provided based on characters of the female cephalothorax and male cephalotheca. Diagnostic characters are discussed.

A window on remarkable cryptic diversity of the Merodon planifacies subgroup (Diptera: Syrphidae) in the Afrotropical Region.

The genus Merodon Meigen (Diptera: Syrphidae) is one of the most species-rich hoverfly genera distributed across the Palaearctic and Afrotropical regions. In the Palaearctic, the genus Merodon boasts 195 described species, while its Afrotropical region pales in comparison, with a mere 17 species documented thus far. As a result of 8 years of fieldwork conducted in the Republic of South Africa, in this paper, we present the description of 11 new species for science with a description of immature stages for 2 species, which increases the diversity of this genus in the Afrotropical region by remarkable 39%. These revelations are based on integrating morphology, molecular analysis (COI gene and 28S rRNA) and geometric morphometry. All described species belong to the Merodon planifacies subgroup, the Merodon desuturinus lineage and, within that, to the Afrotropical Merodon melanocerus group. Additionally, we provide an illustrated key to 15 species belonging to the subgroup, a detailed discussion on relevant taxonomic characters, a morphological diagnosis, a distribution map and clarification of the association between M. capi complex and host plants from the genus Merwilla.

Diversity and Interactions between Picobiine Mites and Starlings.

The subfamily Picobiinae (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) comprises obligate and permanent parasites of birds found exclusively in the quills of contour feathers. We studied associations of picobiine mites with birds of the family Sturnidae (Aves: Passeriformes) across the Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Oceanian zoogeographical regions. Among the 414 examined bird individuals belonging to 44 species (35.2% of all sturnids), 103 individuals from 24 species (54.5% of examined species) were parasitised by quill mites. The diversity of mites was represented by five species, including one newly described, Picobia malayi Patan and Skoracki sp. n. Statistical analysis of the Picobiinae-Sturnidae bipartite network demonstrated a low connectance value (Con = 0.20) and high modularity, with significant differences in the H2' specialisation index compared to null model values. The network structure, characterised by four distinct modules, highlighted the specificity and limited host range of the Picobiinae-Sturnidae associations. The distribution of Picobia species among starlings was congruent with the phylogeny of their hosts, with different mites parasitising specific clades of starlings. Additionally, the findings suggest that the social and breeding behaviours of starlings influence quite a high prevalence. Finally, our studies support the validity of museum collections to study these parasitic interactions.

Review of the genus Chirodisca Emeljanov, 1996 (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Caliscelidae).

The caliscelid genus, Chirodisca Emeljanov, 1996 (Caliscelinae, Caliscelini), is reviewed. Adults and 5th instar nymph of Chirodisca astyages (Dlabola, 1982) and adults of Ch. eximia (Stål, 1859) are described and illustrated on the basis of type specimens and other material examined. Caliscelis macbridei Fernando, 1960 is synonymised with Ch. eximia (Stål, 1859). The composition and distribution of the genus are revised and discussed, and new records from the Palaearctic, Oriental and Afrotropical Realms are given for both species.

Species of the Genus Paroniella Fuhrmann, 1920 (Cestoda: Davaineidae) from Bulbuls (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae): Redescription of P. perreti (Mahon, 1954) and Description of P. neolestes n. sp. from Africa.

The purpose of the present study is to contribute to the knowledge on the diversity of cestodes of the genus Paroniella Fuhrmann, 1920 parasitising passerine birds of the family Pycnonotidae (bulbuls) in the Afrotropical Region. The only known species of this groups, Paroniella perreti (Mahon, 1954) from Pycnonotus tricolor (Hartlaub) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is poorly described. Therefore, it needed a detailed redescription in order to make a reliable comparison and provide differentiation among this species and newly-collected davaineid specimens. Based on new materials collected from Neolestes torquatus Cabanis in Gabon, Paroniella neolestes n. sp. is described. The type series of P. perreti from the collection of the Natural History Museum of Geneva is redescribed and figured using conventional light microscopy and interference-contrast microscopy. The specimens of the new species were stained by iron acetocarmine and mounted in Canada balsam. The present study provided more detailed and accurate data on P. perreti (compared to its original description) in relation mostly to the armament of suckers (not mentioned in the original description), the structure of the copulative apparatus, the number of rostellar hooks and the number of testes. The morphological comparison of the specimens from Neolestes torquatus from Gabon with the known 53 species of the genus Paroniella (presented in a table format) characterised them as belonging to a new species. The new combination Paroniella oitaensis (Kugi, 1990) n. comb. was proposed. Based on the present state of knowledge, P. perreti and P. neolestes seem to be specific each to a single host species, i.e. Pycnonotus tricolor and Neolestes torquatus, respectively. Further studies of davaineid cestodes from pycnonotids from Africa as well as from South and Southeast Asia may result in discovering much greater diversity of this group than currently known.

First record of the genus Sergeya Ponomarenko, 2008 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions, with description of ten new species.

Genus Sergeya Ponomarenko, 2008 is recorded here for the first time from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions. Ten species are described as new: S. hackeri sp. nov. (Yemen), S. olei sp. nov. (Thailand), S. chuii sp. nov. (DR Congo), S. bunsoensis sp. nov. (Ghana), S. palescens sp. nov. (Uganda, South Africa), S. malawica sp. nov. (Malawi), S. korongotaji sp. nov. (Uganda), S. lobata sp. nov. (South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia), S. davidi sp. nov. (Kenya), S. harambee sp. nov. (Kenya). The genus is redescribed, and its differences from most related Afrotropical genus Lanceopenna Janse, 1950, as well as Oriental Neolitinia Ponomarenko, Omelko & Omelko, 2021 and Parateleiopsis Ponomarenko, Omelko & Omelko, 2021 are discussed. Additionally, Lanceopenna prominula (Meyrick, 1913) (Aristotelia) is transferred from the genus Lanceopenna to Sergeya: S. prominula (Meyrick, 1913) comb. nov. and is recorded for the first time from Zimbabwe. All Afrotropical species of Sergeya are diagnosed, and an identification key to all species of the genus is provided. Wing pattern and genitalia of all species are illustrated. A lectotype is designated for Aristotelia prominula Meyrick, 1913. An updated check-list of species of Sergeya is provided.