Remarks on some interesting African Pamphagidae and Acrididae (Insecta: Orthoptera: Acridoidea)

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4751 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-54
Author(s):  
BRUNO MASSA

The author reports about the results of a study of Porthetinae (Pamphagidae) and other Acridoidea preserved in some European museums. The taxonomy of African Porthetinae is still poorly known; some genera were established on variable characters (e.g.: the number of the flagellum segments, the shape of the hind femora or the prosternal tubercle) and collections generally hold only few specimens of this group. These insects are characterized by a remarkable sexual dimorphism, the males generally are winged while females are apterous. Because many species were described only from one sex (sometimes the female sex), there are objective difficulties to identify them correctly. The following synonymies are proposed here: Pagopedilum Karsch, 1896 = Stolliana Bolívar, 1916; Pagopedilum brevis (Walker, 1870) = Pagopedilum martini Bolívar, 1915; Cultrinotus poultoni Bolívar, 1915 = Cultrinotus luanensis Uvarov, 1953. The male of Pagopedilum bradyanum (Saussure, 1887) and adults male and female of Pagopedilum brevis (Walker, 1870) (known only from the nymph) are described. The distinction of the genera Lobosceliana Dirsh, 1958 and Xiphoceriana Dirsh, 1958 is revealed to be very difficult and they are probably synonyms, but more material should be studied. The stridulatory system found in different genera of Porthetinae is briefly described. Further, the South African Batrachotetrix cantans Saussure, 1888 (Pamphagidae: Akicerinae) is recorded for the first time in Namibia, Barombia tuberculosa sublaevis Bolívar, 1905 (Acrididae: Catantopinae) is synonymized with B. t. tuberculosa Karsch, 1891, a probable new brachypterous species of Rhachitopis (Acrididae: Euryphyminae) is reported from Angola, the Namibian Pycnodictya herero Karny, 1910 (Acrididae: Oedipodinae) is recorded for the first time from Angola, and the Tanzanian Tmetonota dispar Miller, 1929 (Acrididae: Oedipodinae) is recorded for the first time from Kenya. 

1906 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 301-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Cowper Reed

A Small collection of fossils from the Bokkeveld Beds has recently been sent to me for identification by the South African Museum, and some of them have been generously presented to the Sedgwick Museum. Amongst this material it is interesting to find some genera not previously recorded from the Cape and some new species. The majority of the specimens are in the condition of internal casts, and hence present especial difficulties in their determination, so that in a few cases some uncertainty must remain as to the generic position of the fossils. However, I am able to record for the first time from these beds the occurrence of the well-known lamellibranchiate genus Buchiola, and of a shell which may be identified with Nyussa arguta, Hall, of the North American Devonian. The genus Buchiola occurs in argillaceous nodules from the Zwartberg Pass crowded with individuals of the species which I have named B. subpalmata and with a few examples of an undetermined species. No other associated fossils can be recognised in these nodules, but I am informed that an abundant fauna is found in the beds at this locality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-143
Author(s):  
Ronald J. Clarke ◽  
Travis Rayne Pickering ◽  
Jason L. Heaton ◽  
Kathleen Kuman

The earliest South African hominids (humans and their ancestral kin) belong to the genera Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and Homo, with the oldest being a ca. 3.67 million-year-old nearly complete skeleton of Australopithecus (StW 573) from Sterkfontein Caves. This skeleton has provided, for the first time in almost a century of research, the full anatomy of an Australopithecus individual with indisputably associated skull and postcranial bones that give complete limb lengths. The three genera are also found in East Africa, but scholars have disagreed on the taxonomic assignment for some fossils owing to historical preconceptions. Here we focus on the South African representatives to help clarify these debates. The uncovering of the StW 573 skeleton in situ revealed significant clues concerning events that had affected it over time and demonstrated that the associated stalagmite flowstones cannot provide direct dating of the fossil, as they are infillings of voids caused by postdepositional collapse.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4577 (2) ◽  
pp. 361
Author(s):  
JIŘÍ JANÁK

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. 


1997 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 82-87
Author(s):  
Alwyn P. Du Plessis ◽  
Christo Boshoff

This study analyses marketing and marketing activities from a consumer's point-of-view. It measures consumer attitudes towards the so-called 4 Ps (product, price, promotion and retailing) and converts these scores to an overall 'attitude towards marketing' index. It also compares the results of similar studies conducted in previous years. A survey of randomly selected South African consumers reveals that the South African Marketing Index is +22.28 (in the range -200 to +200) suggesting reasonably favourable perceptions of marketing and marketing practices. This is the first time since the commencement of this longitudinal study that the overall marketing index has been positive. The most favourable individual index is the retailing index (+22.91), followed by the price index (+13.11). Both the product and the advertising indices are, however, negative (-5.49 and -1.33 respectively).


Author(s):  
Evert Kleynhans

Abstract Mountainous terrain has distinctly influenced combat operations throughout history. Warfare at high altitude often takes place in extreme weather conditions and over difficult terrain, which is largely considered to be inaccessible, inhospitable, and at times lacking any apparent strategic or operational value. As a result, combat operations at high altitudes are traditionally infantry affairs. The South African deployment to East Africa during the Second World War was for the most part characterised by highly mobile operations, across deserts and scrubland, where infantry, armour and artillery deployed in a mutually supportive role. The penultimate battles of the East African campaign were, however, fought in extremely severe terrain, where the South African troops would experience the harsh realities of mountain warfare for the first time during the war. This article broadly investigates the exigencies of mountain warfare, and critically reflects on the South African wartime experience of mountain warfare in East Africa.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4254 (2) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
DAVID T. BILTON

The riffle beetle genus Leielmis Delève, 1964 is redescribed and shown to contain three species, all of which are apparently endemic to the South African Cape, where they live in permanent mountain streams with cold running water. A lectotype is designated for Helmis georyssoides Grouvelle, 1890, and two additional species (L. gibbosus sp. nov. and L. hirsutus sp. nov.) are described for the first time. Following study of the type series, L. georyssoides is shown to be endemic to Table Mountain; most specimens previously assigned to this taxon representing an additional species (L. gibbosus sp. nov.), widespread in the interior Cape Fold Mountains. The record of Leielmis from Angola is considered highly doubtful. Comparative notes and a key are provided to allow the identification of known species of the genus. 


Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Zhu ◽  
Nan Wu ◽  
Jolanta Brożek ◽  
Wu Dai

The rice spittlebug Callitettix versicolor (Fabricius) is an important pest of rice and maize in South Asia and causes severe economic damage. To provide background information for chemical ecology studies, the fine morphology of antennae and the types and distribution of the sensilla on the male and female antennae of Callitettix versicolor (Fabricius) are investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results show that the antenna is filiform and composed of three segments: a scape, a pedicel, and a flagellum. The female antennae are slightly shorter than the male antennae. In both sexes, four types and nine subtypes of sensilla were observed: sensilla basiconica (SB1, SB2), sensilla campaniformia (SCa1, SCa2 and SCa3), sensilla coeloconica (SCo1, SCo2 and SCo3) and sensilla trichodea (ST). In addition, sensilla coeloconica (SCo1) are observed on the membrane of the top of the pedicel in Cercopidae for the first time. Sexual dimorphism mainly occurs in variation in the number of sensilla coeloconica (SCo2, SCo3) on the bulb-shaped portion of the flagellum and in the shape of sensilla basiconica (SB2). There are significantly more sensilla coeloconica in males than in females. The external structure and distribution of these sensilla are compared to those of other cercopids and possible functions of the antennal sensilla are discussed.


Bothalia ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. Stirton

The generic status of Thuranthos C. H. Wr. is discussed. A key separating the two species is provided. The genus is reported to occur in Natal for the first time. Field studies in Natal have yielded additional information on the habitat, phenology, fruit morphology and pollination biology of  T. macranthum (Bak.) C.H. Wr. Phalaenophily is reported for the second time in the South African Liliaceae. The relationship of T. macranthum with the moth  Diaphone eumela (Cramer)—Noctuidae, Hadeniae, is discussed.


Bothalia ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 15 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 591-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Spies ◽  
H. Du Du Plessis

The geographical distribution of 14 of the Rubus species in South Africa is presented. Chromosome numbers of nine of the species were determined: six for the first time, one is confirmed and additional polyploid levels are described for the other two species. It is demonstrated that the South African species of the subgenus Idaeobatus contain less diploid specimens and more polyploid specimens than their extra-African counterparts. This phenomenon could be attributed to hybridization between the subgenera Eubatus and  Idaeobatus.


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