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A new species of Fidelia Friese, 1899 is described from southern Africa: Fidelia (Fideliopsis) whiteheadi Litman & Kuhlmann sp. nov. Diagnostic characters are provided to distinguish this species from others in the genus, particularly from the closely related F. hessei; an updated description for Fidelia hessei is also given. The host plant preferences and seasonal activity of F. whiteheadi Litman & Kuhlmann sp. nov. and F. hessei are discussed. Finally, a revised, illustrated key to species of the genus Fidelia is presented.
Ballomma, a new Afrotropical genus in the Cryptothelinae (Araneae, Zodariidae): eyes on the run
(2015)
Ballomma gen. nov. is described in the zodariid subfamily Cryptothelinae. It is characterized by the pairs of adjacent anterior median eyes and anterior lateral eyes and triangular palpal tarsus in the female, the concave tegulum with thin embolus in the male. Apart from the type species B. erasmus gen. et sp. nov. (♂♀), the genus contains B. haddadi gen. et sp. nov. (♂♀), B. neethlingi gen. et sp. nov. (♂♀), and B. legala gen. et sp. nov. (♀). A key to the species is provided. The restricted distribution of the genus is discussed.
Eight new species of Gulella Pfeiffer, 1856 are described from south-eastern South Africa, occurring over a linear distance of 550 km within the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot. Seven species are narrow-range endemics, while Gulella kenbrowni sp. nov. occurs somewhat patchily over most of this distance. The very similar G. fordycei sp. nov. is recorded from only one small nature reserve in medium-altitude mistbelt forest. Six species, G. crookesi sp. nov., G. maraisi sp. nov., G. mkombeni sp. nov., G. abbotti sp. nov., G. donaikeni sp. nov. and G. calcicola sp. nov. each occur at one or a few isolated localities along a narrow strip of 140 km at or near the coast. The latter two are found only in the Marble Delta region, where mining has badly degraded and continues to threaten their habitat, and appear to meet the criteria for Red-Listing as Critically Endangered. Six species occur in nature reserves, highlighting the importance of small pockets of protected habitat for the conservation of terrestrial snails.
Lichens are the object of investigation within the framework of the BIOTA Southern Africa project, subproject S04 (http://www.biota-africa.org). This interdisciplinary research project, installed in 2000, focuses on the analysis of biodiversity and its changes along climatic and vegetation gradients (transects) in Namibia and in the Republic of South Africa. In the context of this project, studies on the diversity of lichens are carriedout. Special reference is given to the monitoring of lichens growing on soil, which form the so called biological soil crusts.Lichen diversity is assessed and analysed with respect to its spatial and temporal changes. These are related to various abioticand biotic factors such as climate, soil features and land use. The indicator value of certain terricolouslichen taxaand/or lichen groups (communities) is investigated for the study area, and it is intended to use itin a future long-term monitoring programme in the region. In this brochure, we whish to explain what lichens are, how do they live and where do they grow, and why they are so important as bioindicatorsin arid and semi-arid areas of the world. The activities of the S04 subproject along the BIOTA transect are described, as well as the methods used for monitoring environmental changes in Southern Africa using soil-inhabiting lichens.
The recently described family Chummidae, now the sister clade of Macrobuninae, so far only known from two South African species, is extended with seven new species, six from the southern part of South Africa and one from Lesotho: Chumma bicolor sp. nov. (♀), C. foliata sp. nov. (♂♀), C. interfluvialis sp. nov. (♂♀), C. lesotho sp. nov. (♀), C. striata sp. nov. (♂♀), C. subridens sp. nov. (♂♀) and C. tsitsikamma sp. nov. ♂. A key to the species is provided. Although Chumma is part of a clade containing the Macrobuninae, it is argued that the family name Chummidae should remain valid.
Eight new species of Eucosmocydia Diakonoff are described and illustrated from the Afrotropical region: E. pappeana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Kenya); E. deinbolliana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Kenya); E. ugandensis Aarvik, new species (TL: Uganda); E. lecaniodiscana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Kenya); E. nigeriana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Nigeria); E. pancoviana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Kenya); E. kirimiriana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Kenya); and E. macabensis Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Mauritius). Three additional species are transferred to the genus: E. hymenosa (Razowski, 2013), new combination (TL: Nigeria); E. chlorobathra (Meyrick, 1911), new combination (TL: Seychelles); and E. trigonoptila (Meyrick, 1921), new combination (TL: Mozambique). We also transfer to the genus E. catamochla (Meyrick, 1932), new combination (TL: Indonesia), the first species recorded outside the Afrotropical region. We recognize two species groups in Eucosmocydia, and this contribution focuses on the oedipus Diakonoff, 1988 group (n = 13 species), the males of which are characterized by a unique flattened lobe from the base of the hindwing. Six species from Kenya were reared exclusively from native fruit of Sapindaceae; E. mixographa (Meyrick) was formerly reported from Fabaceae and Euphorbiaceae.
ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AE18CA26-20E8-48D3-ABD0-22A0D9891065
Nine new species of the South African endemic group of euryglossiform bees of the genus Scrapter Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 are described, thus bringing the total number of species to 29 in this species-group: Scrapter avontuurensis Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀, S. bokkeveldensis Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀, S. fynbosensis Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀, S. hergi Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♂, S. keiskiensis Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀, S. mellonholgeri Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀♂, S. nitens Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀, S. oubergensis Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♀ and S. willemstrydomi Kuhlmann sp. nov. ♂. The new replacement name S. punctulatus nom. nov. is proposed for S. punctatus Kuhlmann, 2014 which is a junior primary homonym of S. punctatus Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville, 1825 (= Allodape punctata [Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville, 1825]). Moreover, new records for already described taxa are presented and an updated key to all species of euryglossiform Scrapter is provided.
The nitidus species group of the bee genus Scrapter Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 is redefi ned, revised and 15 species are described as new for science: S.caeruleus sp. nov. ♀, S.confusus sp. nov. ♀♂, S.convexoides sp. nov. ♂, S. convexus sp. nov. ♀♂, S. crassipunctatus sp. nov. ♀♂, S.felicis sp. nov. ♀♂, S.fl avipunctatus sp. nov. ♀♂, S.imparilis sp. nov. ♀♂, S. littoralis sp. nov. ♀, S.longicornis sp. nov. ♂, S.montanus sp. nov. ♀♂, S.mpumalangensis sp. nov. ♀♂, S.obtusus sp. nov. ♀♂, S. perpunctatulus sp. nov. ♂ and S.variabilis sp. nov. ♀♂. The previously unknown males of S. divergens (Friese, 1925), S. semirufus Cockerell, 1932 and S. perpunctatus Cockerell, 1933 are described for the fi rst time. All currently known 28 species of the S. nitidus species group are redescribed, imaged and included in a key to facilitate their identifi cation.
The South African endemic bees of the "euryglossiform" species of the genus Scrapter Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 are revised and illustrated. The species-group is defined for the first time and comprises 20 species, 16 of which are described here as new: Scrapter exiguus sp. nov. ♀, ♂, S. gessorum sp. nov. ♀, S. inexpectatus sp. nov. ♀, S. luteistigma sp. nov. ♀, ♂, S. minutissimus sp. nov. ♂, S. minutuloides sp. nov. ♀, S. minutus sp. nov. ♀, S. nanus sp. nov. ♀, ♂, S. nigerrimus sp. nov. ♀, S. nigritarsis sp. nov. ♀, S. papkuilsi sp. nov. ♀, ♂, S. punctatus sp. nov. ♀, ♂, S. pygmaeus sp. nov. ♀, S. roggeveldi sp. nov. ♀, ♂, S. spinipes sp. nov. ♀, ♂ and S. ulrikae sp. nov. ♀, ♂. For S. acanthophorus Davies, 2005 and S. sittybon Davies, 2005 the female is here described for the first time. A key to all species is provided.
The South African endemic bee genus Redivivoides Michener, 1981 is revised and redefined. The genus comprises seven species, six of which are described here as new: Redivivoides capensis sp. nov. ♀♂, R. eardleyi sp. nov. ♀, R. kamieskroonensis sp. nov. ♀, R. karooensis sp. nov. ♀♂, R. namaquaensis sp. nov. ♀♂ and R. variabilis sp. nov. ♀♂. A key to species is provided.