An overview of the South African tangle-veined flies (Diptera: Nemestrinidae), with an annotated key to the genera and a checklist of species

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1277 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID A. BARRACLOUGH
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
The South ◽  
African Species ◽  
North West ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Closed Canopy

The South African Nemestrinidae are reviewed. Regional family characteristics, biology and the importance of long-proboscid species in pollination biology are discussed. Long-proboscid species (proboscis 15 mm or longer) are important pollinators in most provinces, but particularly in the Western Cape; all have specialised pollination interactions with long-tubed flower species. Five pollination guilds centered on long-proboscid species are briefly discussed.        A detailed, annotated key to the six genera is presented; in it particular attention is given to the problematic distinction between Prosoeca Schiner and Stenobasipteron Lichtwardt. A checklist of all described species considered to have a South African provenance is provided. A total of 43 described species is recorded in the following genera: Moegistorhynchus Macquart (4 species); Prosoeca (35 species); Stenobasipteron (1 species); Atriadops Wandolleck (1 species); Nycterimyia Lichtwardt (1 species); Trichopsidea Westwood (1 species).        Moegistorhynchus is restricted to the west coast (Western Cape, Northern Cape). Three of its species have a remarkably elongate proboscis, the best known and most widespread being M. longirostris (Wiedemann, 1819). Its proboscis reaches 90 to 100 mm in length in some specimens, this being the longest proboscis of all known Diptera. Two new species have been identified in the fauna.        Prosoeca dominates the fauna, and is the only genus likely to be represented in all nine provinces. It appears to occur in all habitats except closed-canopy forest. Prosoeca major Bezzi, 1924 is newly synonymised with P. robusta Bezzi, 1924. The likely South African provenance of P. nigripes (Macquart, 1840) is confirmed. Nemestrina obscura Westwood, 1835, previously referred to Prosoeca, is considered not to be an Afrotropical species. Prosoeca rhodesiensis Bequaert, 1925a, is recorded from South Africa for the first time.        Although Stenobasipteron is restricted to only one named South African species, namely S. wiedemanni Lichtwardt, 1910 from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, several undescribed species occur in Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Stenobasipteron wiedemanni occurs in closed-canopy forest, but species from Mpumalanga may occur in other habitats such as grassland and savanna.        There are at least two species of Atriadops, one almost certainly being A. vespertilio (Loew, 1858). The genus is recorded from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. A taxonomic revision is recommended. Nycterimyia is represented by one species only, namely N. capensis Bezzi, 1924 from KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. Trichopsidea is represented by one species, T. costata (Loew, 1858), recorded from North West, Gauteng and Limpopo.

scholarly journals Early transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa: An epidemiological and phylogenetic report

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Giandhari ◽  
Sureshnee Pillay ◽  
Eduan Wilkinson ◽  
Houriiyah Tegally ◽  
Ilya Sinayskiy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Medical Research Council ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
The South ◽  
Transmission Potential ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Whole Genomes ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

BackgroundThe emergence of a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, in December 2019, progressed to become a world pandemic in a few months and reached South Africa at the beginning of March. To investigate introduction and understand the early transmission dynamics of the virus, we formed the South African Network for Genomics Surveillance of COVID (SANGS_COVID), a network of ten government and university laboratories. Here, we present the first results of this effort, which is a molecular epidemiological study of the first twenty-one SARS-CoV-2 whole genomes sampled in the first port of entry, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), during the first month of the epidemic. By combining this with calculations of the effective reproduction number (R), we aim to shed light on the patterns of infections that define the epidemic in South Africa.MethodsR was calculated using positive cases and deaths from reports provided by the four major provinces. Molecular epidemiology investigation involved sequencing viral genomes from patients in KZN using ARCTIC protocols and assembling whole genomes using meticulous alignment methods. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian trees, lineage classification and molecular clock calculations.FindingsThe epidemic in South Africa has been very heterogeneous. Two of the largest provinces, Gauteng, home of the two large metropolis Johannesburg and Pretoria, and KwaZulu-Natal, home of the third largest city in the country Durban, had a slow growth rate on the number of detected cases. Whereas, Western Cape, home of Cape Town, and the Eastern Cape provinces the epidemic is spreading fast. Our estimates of transmission potential for South Africa suggest a decreasing transmission potential towards R=1 since the first cases and deaths have been reported. However, between 06 May and 18 May 2020, we estimate that R was on average 1.39 (1.04–2.15, 95% CI). We also demonstrate that early transmission in KZN, and most probably in all main regions of SA, was associated with multiple international introductions and dominated by lineages B1 and B. The study also provides evidence for locally acquired infections in a hospital in Durban within the first month of the epidemic, which inflated early mortality in KZN.InterpretationThis first report of SANGS_COVID consortium focuses on understanding the epidemic heterogeneity and introduction of SARS-CoV-2 strains in the first month of the epidemic in South Africa. The early introduction of SARS-CoV-2 in KZN included caused a localized outbreak in a hospital, provides potential explanations for the initially high death rates in the province. The current high rate of transmission of COVID-19 in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape highlights the crucial need to strength local genomic surveillance in South Africa.FundingUKZN Flagship Program entitled: Afrocentric Precision Approach to Control Health Epidemic, by a research Flagship grant from the South African Medical Research Council (MRC-RFA-UFSP-01- 2013/UKZN HIVEPI, by the the Technology Innovation Agency and the the Department of Science and Innovation and by National Human Genome Re- search Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number U24HG006941. H3ABioNet is an initiative of the Human Health and Heredity in Africa Consortium (H3Africa).Research in context Evidence before this studyWe searched PubMed, BioRxiv and MedRxiv for reports on epidemiology and phylogenetic analysis using whole genome sequencing (WGS) of SARS-CoV-2. We used the following keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, 2019-nCoV or novel coronavirus and transmission genomics, epidemiology, phylogenetic or reproduction number. Our search identified an important lack of molecular epidemiology studies in the southern hemisphere, with only a few reports from Latin America and one in Africa. In other early transmission reports on SARS-CoV-2 infections in Africa, authors focused on transmission dynamics, but molecular and phylogenetic methods were missing.Added value of this studyWith a growing sampling bias in the study of transmission genomics of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it is important for us to report high-quality whole genome sequencing (WGS) of local SARS-CoV-2 samples and in-depth phylogenetic analyses of the first month of infection in South-Africa. In our molecular epidemiological investigation, we identify the early transmission routes of the infection in the KZN and report thirteen distinct introductions from many locations and a cluster of localized transmission linked to a healthcare setting that caused most of the initial deaths in South Africa. Furthermore, we formed a national consortium in South Africa, funded by the Department of Science and Innovation and the South African Medical Research Council, to capacitate ten local laboratories to produce and analyse SARS-CoV-2 data in near real time.Implications of all the available evidenceThe COVID-19 pandemic is progressing around the world and in Africa. Early transmission genomics and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 throw light on the early stages of the epidemic in a given region. This facilitates the investigation of localized outbreaks and serves to inform public health responses in South Africa.

Taxonomic revision of South African Memecylon (Melastomataceae—Olisbeoideae), including three new species

Phytotaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 418 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-257
Author(s):  
ROBERT DOUGLAS STONE ◽  
IMERCIA GRACIOUS MONA ◽  
DAVID STYLES ◽  
JOHN BURROWS ◽  
SYD RAMDHANI
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
African Species ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
The Status ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
Vegetative Characters

Earlier works recognised two South African species Memecylon bachmannii and M. natalense within M. sect. Buxifolia, but recent molecular analyses have revealed that M. natalense as previously circumscribed is not monophyletic and includes several geographically outlying populations warranting treatment as distinct taxa. In this revision we recognise five endemic South African species of which M. bachmannii and M. natalense are both maintained but with narrower circumscriptions, and M. kosiense, M. soutpansbergense and M. australissimum are newly described. Memecylon kosiense is localised in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal (Maputaland) and is closely related to M. incisilobum of southern Mozambique. Memecylon soutpansbergense, from Limpopo Province, was previously confused with M. natalense but is clearly distinguished on vegetative characters. Memecylon australissimum occurs in the Eastern Cape (Hluleka and Dwesa-Cwebe nature reserves) and has relatively small leaves like those of M. natalense, but the floral bracteoles are persistent and the fruit is ovoid as in M. bachmannii. We further designate a lectotype for M. natalense, provide an updated key to the South African species of Memecylon, and provisionally assess the status of each species in accordance with International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria.

Revision of the South African genus Neopimus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4577 (2) ◽  
pp. 361
Author(s):  
JIŘÍ JANÁK
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
The South ◽  
Additional Material ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
First Time ◽  
African Genus

A revision of the south African genus Neopimus Özdikmen, Demir & Türkeş, 2008 is presented. Based on revision of the type and additional material, three species are recognised. The genus Neopimus is redescribed and all species are described or redescribed and illustrated, two of them for the first time: Neopimus capensis Janák, sp. nov., from Eastern Cape Province, South Africa and N. zulu Janák, sp. nov., from KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The distribution of the genus is mapped and a key of species is presented. 

A Taxonomic Revision of the Othonna bulbosa Group (Asteraceae: Senecioneae: Othonninae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 515-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon L. Magoswana ◽  
James S. Boatwright ◽  
Anthony R. Magee ◽  
John C. Manning
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
The South ◽  
Winter Rainfall ◽  
African Species ◽  
Taxonomic Treatment ◽  
Rainfall Region

Othonna L. (Asteraceae: Senecioneae: Othonninae) is a genus of some 120 species concentrated in the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of South Africa, with a few species extending into southern Namibia, Angola, and Zimbabwe. The South African species of Othonna were last revised more than a century ago, and many species, particularly from the southern African winter rainfall region, remain poorly understood. This study focused on the geophytic species comprising the O. bulbosa group, distinguished by their tuberous rootstock and annual, leafy, aerial stems. A comprehensive taxonomic treatment is presented, including descriptions, complete nomenclature and typification, illustrations, and geographical distribution. Twenty-five species are recognized, of which four are newly described (O. lilacina Magoswana & J. C. Manning, O. nigromontana Magoswana & J. C. Manning, O. revoluta Magoswana & J. C. Manning, and O. sinuata Magoswana & J. C. Manning), and 18 names are reduced to synonymy. The species differ in habit, shape and incision of foliage, capitulum type (radiate vs. disciform), number of involucral bracts, pappus length, and cypselae (myxogenic vs. nonmyxogenic). We place the species into four morphologically diagnosable series (series Heterophyllae Magoswana & J. C. Manning, series Disciformes Magoswana & J. C. Manning, series Perfoliatae Magoswana & J. C. Manning, and series Undulosae Magoswana & J. C. Manning) based on habit and capitulum type.

New species and new collection records of aquatic beetles in the genus Ochthebius Leach from southern Africa (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 3093 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
PHILIP D. PERKINS
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Western Cape Province ◽  
African Species ◽  
North West ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Water Beetle ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

The southern African species of the water beetle genus Ochthebius Leach, 1815, are reviewed. Eight new species are described, and new collection records are given for eight previously described species, based on the examination and databasing of 8,919 specimens from 253 localities/events. Male genitalia of the new species are illustrated, and high resolution habitus images of the holotypes of new species are provided. Distribution maps are given for the 18 species of Ochthebius now known from southern Africa, including Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, the extreme southern part of Angola, and the southern part of Mozambique. New species of Ochthebius are: O. anchorus (South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Oribi Gorge); O. bicomicus (South Africa, Western Cape Province, 22 mi. N. Nelspoort); O. bupunctus (Namibia, Kaokoveld, Kunene River, Swartbooisdrift); O. endroedyi (South Africa, North West Province, Barberspan); O. granulinus (South Africa, Western Cape Province, Elandsdrift); O. involatus (South Africa, Western Cape Province, near Kommetje); O. sitiensis (Namibia, Okau Fountain, 12.5 km inland); and O. zulu (South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Nqutu).

scholarly journals Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among blood donors in Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Free State provinces of South Africa in January 2021.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Sykes ◽  
Laurette Mhlanga ◽  
Ronel Swanevelder ◽  
Tanya Nadia Glatt ◽  
Eduard Grebe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Free State ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
The South ◽  
Short Supply ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Northern Cape

Abstract Background: Population-level estimates of prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity (seroprevalence) is a crucial epidemiological indicator for tracking the Covid-19 epidemic. Such data are in short supply, both internationally and in South Africa. The South African blood services (the South African National Blood Service, SANBS and the Western Cape Blood Service, WCBS) are coordinating a nationally representative survey of blood donors, which it is hoped can become a cost-effective surveillance method with validity for community-level seroprevalence estimation.Methods: Leveraging existing arrangements, SANBS human research ethics committee permission was obtained to test blood donations collected on predefined days (7th, 10th ,12th ,15th ,20th ,23th and 25th January) for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, using the Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay on the cobas e411 platform currently available in the blood services’ donation testing laboratories. Using standard methods, prevalence analysis was done by province, age and race, allowing age to be regarded as either a continuous or categorical variable. Testing was performed in the Eastern Cape (EC), Free State (FS), KwaZulu Natal (ZN) and Northern Cape (NC) provinces.Results: We report on data from 4858 donors - 1457 in EC; 463 in NC; 831 in FS and 2107 in ZN. Prevalence varied substantially across race groups and between provinces, with seroprevalence among Black donors consistently several times higher than among White donors, and the other main population groups (Coloured and Asian) not consistently represented in all provinces. There is no clear evidence that seroprevalence among donors varies by age. Weighted net estimates of prevalence (in the core age range 15-69) by province (compared with official clinically-confirmed COVID-19 case rates in mid-January 2021) are: EC-63%(2.8%), NC-32%(2.2%), FS-46%(2.4%), and ZN-52%(2.4%).Conclusions: Our study demonstrates substantial differences in dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 infection between different race groups, most likely explained by historically based differences in socio-economic status and housing conditions. As has been seen in other areas, even such high seroprevalence does not guarantee population-level immunity against new outbreaks – probably due to viral evolution and waning of antibody neutralization. Despite its limitations, notably a ‘healthy donor’ effect, it seems plausible that these estimates are reasonably generalisable to actual population level anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, but should be further verified.

scholarly journals Longidorus jagerae sp.n., another longidorid species with globular inclusions in the prerectum (Nematoda: Longidoridae)

Koedoe ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Heyns ◽  
Antoinette Swart
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
The South ◽  
Western Cape Province ◽  
African Species

Longidorus jagerae sp.n. is described from the Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is characterised by the possession of globular inclusions in the prerectum, expanded lip region, posteriorly situated guiding ring, and distinct flanges at the odontophore base. It is compared with the South African species L. fursti and L. mobae, from which it differs among other things in the presence of prerectal inclusions, and with L. pisi and L. latocephalus, from which it can be differentiated mainly by the much longer odon- tostyle, more posteriorly situated guiding ring, and shorter tail.

The first records of Polygala westii (Polygalaceae) for South Africa (North-West Province) and a key to the southern African Polygala species in the Section Tetrasepalae

Phytotaxa ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 202 (3) ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Stoffel Petrus Bester ◽  
Jorge Paiva
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
First Record ◽  
The South ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
African Species ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
North West Province

The first record of Polygala westii (Polygalaceae) from the North-West Province (South Africa) is reported on here. The species is very rare and has previously only been collected in two separate gatherings. This species is characterised by having bracts and bracteoles caducous, the anterior sepals connate at least as much as half of their length and seeds pubescent and carunculate. It grows in a habitat that are severely impacted by agriculture and mining. A preliminary assessment of its conservation status is given. A key to the South African species in the subsection (Tetrasepalae) to which P. westii belong is provided. The aim of this paper is to highlight the species in order to stimulate the lookout for more material of this species.

A taxonomic study of the South African terricolous weevil genus Pentatrachyphloeus Voss (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Trachyphloeini)

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4574 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
ROMAN BOROVEC ◽  
JIŘÍ SKUHROVEC
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Free State ◽  
Taxonomic Study ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
North West ◽  
Ecological Information ◽  
Kwazulu Natal

The genus Pentatrachyphloeus Voss, 1974, with two known species, is redefined and compared with related genera. An additional thirty seven new species are described here: P. andersoni sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. baumi sp. nov. (South Africa, Gauteng); P. brevithorax sp. nov. (South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal); P. bufo sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. endroedyi sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. exiguus sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. frici sp. nov. (South Africa, Limpopo); P. grobbelaarae sp. nov. (South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal); P. hanzelkai sp. nov. (South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal); P. holubi sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. howdenae sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. hystrix sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. insignicornis sp. nov. (South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal); P. kalalovae sp. nov. (South Africa, Gauteng); P. kuscheli sp. nov. (South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal); P. laevis sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. lajumensis sp. nov. (South Africa, Limpopo); P. leleupi sp. nov. (Zimbabwe, Manica); P. lesothoensis sp. nov. (Lesotho, Qacha’s Nek); P. machulkai sp. nov. (South Africa, Free State); P. marshalli sp. nov. (South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal); P. muellerae sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. musili sp. nov. (South Africa, Limpopo); P. ntinini sp. nov. (South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal); P. oberprieleri sp. nov. (South Africa, Gauteng, North West); P. pavlicai sp. nov. (South Africa, Free State); P. rudyardi sp. nov. (South Africa, Limpopo); P. schoemani sp. nov. (South Africa, Limpopo); P. soutpansbergensis sp. nov. (South Africa, Limpopo); P. spinimanus sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. stingli sp. nov. (South Africa, Limpopo); P. tenuicollis sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. tuberculatus sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. vavrai sp. nov. (South Africa, Eastern Cape); P. vossi sp. nov. (South Africa, Mpumalanga); P. vrazi sp. nov. (South Africa, Limpopo) and P. zikmundi sp. nov. (South Africa, Free State). All of the species are keyed and illustrated; ecological information is presented only where available. All species seem to be very localised, being known only from one or only a very limited number of localities. Immature stages or host plants are not known for any of the species. The species are distributed as follows: South Africa: Mpumalanga (13), Limpopo (8), KwaZulu-Natal (7), Free State (3), Gauteng (3), Eastern Cape (3), North West (1); Lesotho: Qacha’s Nek (1) and Zimbabwe: Manica (1). 

scholarly journals Disaster Risk Reduction through school learners’ awareness and preparedness

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takalani S. Rambau ◽  
Lukas D. Beukes ◽  
William Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Risk Reduction ◽  
South African ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
International Strategy ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
North West

In 2006, the ISDR (International Strategy for Disaster Reduction) (2007) initiated a campaign called Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School to encourage the integration of disaster risk education into school curricula in countries vulnerable to disasters. A study was initiated to determine how education, in particular curriculum development and teaching, contributes to South African learners’ hazard awareness and disaster preparedness. Mixed method research (consisting of questionnaires, interviews and document reviews) was done to collect data. 150 educators from Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and the Eastern Cape completed questionnaires. Five curriculum coordinators, three disaster specialists and two disaster lecturers were interviewed to record their perspectives. The first finding of the study was that the majority of educators, disaster specialists and curriculum coordinators identified floods, fire, droughts, epidemics, road accidents and storms as the most prevalent disasters in the country. The second finding from the literature and empirical data collection revealed that South African communities, particularly people residing in informal settlements and other poor areas, are more vulnerable to disasters than their counterparts in more affluent areas. The third finding of the study was that teaching learners about hazards and disasters is vital and must be expanded.

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