A taxonomic revision of the genus Bocatella Villiers, 1948 with redescription and notes on the systematic position of Sphedanolestes nigripennis (Fairmaire, 1858) (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae)
The African genus Bocatella Villiers, 1948 is revised. The type species of Bocatella by original designation is Harpactor nigripennis (non Fairmaire, 1858): Villiers, 1948 (misidentification). A lectotype is designated for H. nigripennis and the new combination Sphedanolestes nigripennis (Fairmaire, 1858), comb.n. is proposed. The taxonomic species Harpactor nigripennis (non Fairmaire, 1858): Villiers, 1948 is recognized as representing an undescribed species and is described as Bocatella nigra sp.n. Since the type species of Bocatella was misidentified, B. nigra sp.n. is fixed as the type species of Bocatella. An additional new species, B. femorata sp.n. is described, both species and S. nigripennis are illustrated, species of Bocatella are keyed. Sphedanolestes fenestriculatus Karsch, 1892, erroneously synonymized with H. nigripennis (non Fairmaire, 1858): Villiers, 1948 by Villiers (1948) is synonymized with H. nigripennis Fairmaire, 1858.