Revision of the Calotheca nigrotessellata species group from southern Africa, with description of two new species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-182
Author(s):  
Paola D'Alessandro ◽  
Mattia Iannella ◽  
Elizabeth Grobbelaar ◽  
Maurizio Biondi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Flea Beetle ◽  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Forward Stepwise ◽  
New Material ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Republic

Calotheca Heyden is a mostly sub-Saharan flea beetle genus, comprising twenty-seven species previously included in Blepharida Chevrolat. The examination of new material is revealing a high species richness, as there is high intraspecific variability. Calotheca luteomaculata sp. nov. from Zimbabwe and the Republic of South Africa, and C. luteotessellata sp. nov. from the Republic of South Africa are here described and attributed to the C. nigrotessellata (Baly) species group, mainly based on genitalic characters. Photographs of the main diagnostic characters are supplied, including the median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca. A forward stepwise discriminant function analysis, using morphometric variables, has been performed. It supports the attribution of the examined specimens to the three species here considered, thus adding characters useful for their identification. Information on geographical distribution and host plants are also provided.

scholarly journals Taxonomic revision of the Calotheca parvula species group from southern Africa, with descriptions of three new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 315-337
Author(s):  
Paola D’Alessandro ◽  
Mattia Iannella ◽  
Elizabeth Grobbelaar ◽  
Maurizio Biondi
Keyword(s):  
Flea Beetle ◽  
Intraspecific Variability ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Median Lobe ◽  
New Material ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
Available Information

Calotheca Heyden, 1887 is a flea beetle genus that occurs predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa, comprising 29 species. The examination of new material is revealing a significantly higher species richness and high intraspecific variability. A group of five species, occurring in the southernmost portion of the distribution range for the genus, is here attributed to the C. parvula species group: C. parvula (Weise, 1908), C. pallida (Bryant, 1945), C. danielssonisp. nov., C. oberprielerisp. nov., and C. prinslooisp. nov. Species in the C. parvula group have strong similarities in body shape and sculpture on the integument, spermathecal shape, and for most species the morphology of the median lobe of the aedeagus. A key to species of the Calotheca parvula group is provided along with photographs of the habitus, main diagnostic characters, median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca. In addition to the geographic distribution, the available information on the habitat, host plants, and phenology are provided for the five species analysed.

scholarly journals Hesperoides, a new “hairy” flea beetle genus from southern Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

2017 ◽  
pp. 151-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Biondi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Flea Beetle ◽  
Extensor Tendon ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Republic

Hesperoides afromeridionalis gen. nov. and sp. nov. from the Republic of South Africa (Western and Eastern Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal) is described. Despite some similarities with Hespera Weise, it exhibits major affinities with the genera attributed to the subtribe Aphthonini, especially with Aphthona Chevrolat and Montiaphthona Scherer. Data on distribution are supplied, along with preliminary ecological notes. Photomicrographs of main morphological characters, including male and female genitalia, and metafemoral extensor tendon are provided. Key to the six “hairy” flea beetle genera occurring in sub-Saharan African and their habitus photos are also given.

Further studies of African Acylophorus Nordmann (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3168 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
DEREK A. LOTT
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
New Records ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
New Material ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Three New Species

Following examination of new material of Acylophorus from sub-Saharan Africa three new species are described: A.janaki sp. n. from South Africa, A. uhligi sp. n. from Zimbabwe, A. acufer sp. n. from Botswana and Namibia. New records are listed for all species examined. Thirty species are now recognised from the region.

Review of the genus Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005 with the description of fifteen new species from South Africa and observations on its biogeography (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Hopliini)

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4823 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-64
Author(s):  
HOLGER E. DOMBROW ◽  
JONATHAN F. COLVILLE
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
The Body ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Species Complexes ◽  
Northern Cape ◽  
New Material ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Established Species

Fifteen years after establishing the genus Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005 a large amount of new material collected has warranted a critical review of the established species and a revision of the genus. From this process, we describe fifteen new species from the Northern Cape Province and Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa: Beckhoplia bicolor Dombrow, new species, B. caliginosa Dombrow, new species, B. castanea Dombrow, new species, B. dolichiocnemis Dombrow, new species, B. elkeae Dombrow, new species, B. fusca Dombrow, new species, B. gifbergensis Dombrow, new species, B. nigra Dombrow, new species, B. nigrofasciata Dombrow, new species, B. nigrosetosa Dombrow, new species, B. pallidibrunnea Dombrow, new species, B. pulchra Dombrow, new species, B. pumilla Dombrow, new species, B. setosa Dombrow, new species and B. suturalis Dombrow, new species. Two cryptic species complexes within the species B. colvillei Dombrow, 2005 and B. occidentalis Dombrow, 2005 were detected. A revised key of the genus and observations about its biogeography are given. Important details of the morphological characters of the body and the parameres of the species are illustrated and their distributions are mapped. We also provide habitat and host plant information. 

Notes on the annual killifish species Nothobranchius rachovii (Cyprinodontiformes; Nothobranchiidae) with the description of two new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2724 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
KONSTANTIN M. SHIDLOVSKIY ◽  
BRIAN R. WATTERS ◽  
RUDOLF H. WILDEKAMP
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Species Group ◽  
The Other ◽  
Coastal Plains ◽  
East African ◽  
Mtdna Sequences ◽  
Annual Killifish ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
The Republic

Two new species of the East African annual killifish genus Nothobranchius, N. krysanovi and N. pienaari, occurring on the coastal plains of Mozambique and in the Republic of South Africa, are described. Both are members of a clade, herein termed as N. rachovii species group, within the subgenus Nothobranchius. The species N. rachovii is rediagnosed on the basis of cytology, mtDNA analyses, morphology and male colouration. Both new species, N. krysanovi and N. pienaari, can be distinguished from the other species of the group by male colouration, morphology, cytology and mtDNA sequences. Based on mtDNA analyses the subgenus Zononothobranchius is reviewed and presently regarded as containing only one species.

Ammianus pericarti sp. n. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae), the first strictly Palaearctic representative of the genus with a key to the species of the Ammianus junodi group

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4985 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
BARBARA LIS ◽  
JERZY A. LIS
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Group A ◽  
The Republic ◽  
First Time

Ammianus pericarti sp. n., the first strictly Palaearctic representative of the genus, is described from Agadir (Morocco) as new to the science. The species is illustrated and compared to all its morphologically similar representatives of the Ammianus junodi group; a key to this species group is also provided. Moreover, A. vanderijsti (Schouteden, 1923) is reported for the first time from the Republic of South Africa.

Adamastoraltica humicola, new genus and new species: the first example of possible moss-inhabiting flea beetle genus from sub-Saharan Africa (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4763 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAURIZIO BIONDI ◽  
MATTIA IANNELLA ◽  
PAOLA D’ALESSANDRO
Keyword(s):  
New Genus ◽  
Flea Beetle ◽  
Extensor Tendon ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Western Cape Province ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Republic ◽  
External Characteristics

Adamastoraltica humicola gen. nov. and sp. nov. from the Republic of South Africa (Western Cape Province) is described. The new genus, collected in the humus, shows external characteristics typical of the moss-inhabiting flea beetle genera, mainly: very small size, very convex and subglobose body, antennae with enlarged apical antennomeres, strongly reduced hind wings, greatly simplified and shortened mesothorax and metathorax, and elytra lacking humeral calli. Adamastoraltica gen. nov. shows some similarities with the Asian genus Cangshanaltica Konstantinov, Chamorro, Prathapan, Ge & Yang. However, the absence of the scutellum brings this new genus close to Stegnaspea Baly, also occurring in Western Cape Province. For the new flea beetle genus, data on distribution are supplied, along with preliminary ecological notes. Photomicrographs of main morphological characters, including male and female genitalia, and metafemoral extensor tendon are also provided. Finally, the updated distribution of the moss-inhabiting flea beetle genera described so far, excluding the subtribe Monoplatina, is supplied. 

Time and Latitude in South Africa

1972 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
J. Hers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
Royal Observatory ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Astronomical Determination ◽  
Limited Accuracy ◽  
Better Than

In South Africa the modern outlook towards time may be said to have started in 1948. Both the two major observatories, The Royal Observatory in Cape Town and the Union Observatory (now known as the Republic Observatory) in Johannesburg had, of course, been involved in the astronomical determination of time almost from their inception, and the Johannesburg Observatory has been responsible for the official time of South Africa since 1908. However the pendulum clocks then in use could not be relied on to provide an accuracy better than about 1/10 second, which was of the same order as that of the astronomical observations. It is doubtful if much use was made of even this limited accuracy outside the two observatories, and although there may – occasionally have been a demand for more accurate time, it was certainly not voiced.

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