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The genus Afronurus has several very common mayfly species in China and they are widely distributed in this country. Some of them are quite similar to each other in both imaginal and nymphal stages. However, these species have not been systematically compared and reviewed so far. In this study, six species are recognized. All nymphs of them share the following characters: gills V–VI with additional arrow-like accessory lobes, branched dentisetae, two rows of bristles and setae on hindtibiae and spotted abdominal terga. The males have divergent penes and clearly expressed titillators. The nymphs of the new species A. drepanophyllus sp. nov. have sickle-like gills I, spotted and striped body color, and males have unique genitalia. The nymphal stages of A. furcatus and A. hunanensis, which are associated and described for the first time, have similar body color to A. drepanophyllus sp. nov., but their pale dots on the head capsules and the shape of the hypopharynx are different. Keys to males and nymphs of the six species are provided.
Acacia mearnsii De Wilde is on the top 100 of the world’s most invasive alien species and has successfully invaded many areas around the world. However, its distribution and expansion is seldom reported in China. This study for the first time conducted a survey on the new distribution of A. mearnsii at the Kunming Changshui Airport (Yunnan Province, China), through monitoring on population characteristics (number, density, height and ground diameter) and spatial distribution (spread distance). Our survey results show that A. mearnsii has spread rapidly across the airport. This study discusses three factors of environmental factors, human disturbance and weed characteristics behind this successful invasion. The species invasion has a strong potential to change the local vegetation structure, enhances the probability of bird strikes at the airport, and is vulnerable to invade new biogeographic regions if it is not controlled. Currently, eradication combined with mechanical control is considered to be the best option for control. Our study helps improve awareness about the potential risk of A. mearnsii invasion in other airports around China and the world.