[Entomology • 2018] Garreta australugens & G. namalugens • Two New Species of Garreta Janssens, 1940 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from Southern Africa

Garreta namalugens

 Davis & Deschodt, 2018

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4450.2.4 

Abstract

Two new, putative, closely-related species of dung beetles are described in the genus Garreta Janssens, 1940 (tribe Gymnopleurini). Garreta australugens new species, is known from various dung types in the southeast lowlands of Africa (validated for South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe with a probable record from Botswana). It is, here, separated at species level from its putative closest relative, Garreta lugens (Fairmaire, 1891), recorded from the lowlands of northeast Africa (validated for Kenya with additional records from Ethiopia, Somalia and Tanzania). These two taxa were formerly considered to comprise a single species. All specimens in the type series of Garreta namalugens new species, were recorded at low altitude in arid, rocky mountains from west central to northwest Namibia, mostly on dung in communal middens of the Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis (Pallas, 1766)).

Keywords: Coleoptera, dung beetle, Namibia, Garreta, new species, northeast Africa, Scarabaeinae, southeast Africa

Adrian L. V. Davis and Christian M. Deschodt. 2018. Two New Species of Garreta Janssens, 1940 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from Southern Africa. Zootaxa. 4450(2); 242–248. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4450.2.4

[Herpetology • 2017] Arthroleptis troglodytes Poynton, 1963 • The Rediscovery of A Lost Frog

 Arthroleptis troglodytes  Poynton, 1963

Becker & Hopkins, 2017 

DOI:  10.1080/15627020.2017.1370982

 earthtouchnews.com

Abstract

The cave squeaker Arthroleptis troglodytes Poynton, 1963 was first collected in 1961/62, and not observed again for 54 years despite several attempts to locate it. We rediscovered this species near the type locality in the Chimanimani mountain range in eastern Zimbabwe. We describe for the first time the call and colour in life, and highlight several morphological and habitat features not previously recorded for this species.

Keywords: amphibian, Arthroleptis, high altitude, Possibly Extinct, taxonomy, Zimbabwe

Adult male Arthroleptis troglodytes.

Francois S. Becker and Robert W. Hopkins. 2017. The Rediscovery of A Lost Frog: Arthroleptis troglodytes Poynton, 1963.  African Zoology. 52(3); 183-187. DOI:  10.1080/15627020.2017.1370982

After 54 years in hiding, 'extinct' frog rediscovered in Zimbabwe   earthtouchnews.com/conservation/endangered/after-54-years-in-hiding-extinct-frog-rediscovered-in-zimbabwe/

Rare 'cave squeaker' frog seen in Zimbabwe for first time in 55 years  theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/05/return-of-zimbabwes-cave-squeaker-as-rare-frog-found-fifty-years-on
The "cave squeaker," a tiny frog not seen in decades, has been found in Zimbabwe  huffingtonpost.com/entry/cave-squeaker-frog-zimbabwe  via @HuffPostGreen

  

  

[Mammalogy • 2017] Neoromicia stanleyi • A New Species of Neoromicia (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from southern Africa: A name for “N. cf. melckorum”

 Neoromicia stanleyi 

 Goodman, Kearney, Michèle, Ratsimbazafy & Hassanin, 2017 

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4236.2.10 

Abstract

The taxonomy of sub-Saharan small insectivore bats of the family Vespertilionidae is unresolved and currently five named species of the genus Neoromicia are recognized from southern Africa, with N. melckorum considered a synonym of N. capensis. Since several years, the name “N. cf. melckorum” has been used in the literature to designate an apparently undescribed and moderately large bodied vespertilionid bat known from different localities in southern and southeastern Africa. Using new data from molecular genetics, bacular morphology, and cranio-dental characters, we conclude that N. melckorum sensu stricto is indeed nested within N. capensis and obtain the needed evidence to formally describe “N. cf. melckorum”, named herein as Neoromicia stanleyi sp. nov. On the basis of molecular and bacular evidence, N. stanleyi is found in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, and using a combination of other characters is presumed to occur in northern South Africa and Malawi. Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses based on 12S rRNA sequences indicate that it belongs to a clade containing four species of Neoromicia (N. capensis, N. malagasyensis, N. matroka, and N. robertsi) and Laephotis. Neoromicia stanleyi shows at least 3.2% nucleotide divergence from its closest relatives. It is larger in cranial characters than other members of the capensis group occurring in the southern portion of Africa, and a number of bacular characters distinguish N. stanleyi from N. capensis.

Keywords: Mammalia, taxonomy, morphology, molecular genetics, Neoromicia, new species, southern Africa

 Steven M. Goodman, Teresa Kearney, Malalatiana Michèle, Ratsimbazafy and Alexandre Hassanin. 2017. Description of A New Species of Neoromicia (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from southern Africa: A name for “N. cf. melckorum”.
Zootaxa. 4236(2); 351–374. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4236.2.10

[Entomology • 2015] Holocacista capensis • A New Leafminer on Grapevine and Rhoicissus (Vitaceae) in South Africa within an expanded Generic Concept of Holocacista (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae)

Figures 1 Holocacista capensis: Male holotype, RMNH.INS.24622 Figures 76–80. Holocacista capensis, life history. 76 Trunk of Vitis with many cocoons with exuviae, De Anker, Paarl, 14 February 2013 77 grapes with fresh cocoons attached, Paarl, 25 January 2013 78 larva in cocoon, going down on silken thread, Paarl, 16 January 2013 79 Leafmines in Rhoicissus digitata, reared in laboratory from adults that originated on Vitis from Wellington, 2014 80 Live adult males, reared from Vitis vinifera, from Paarl 80 EvN2013004, 28 January

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.507.9536

Abstract

A grapevine leafminer found recently in table grape orchards and vineyards in the Paarl region (Western Cape, South Africa) is described as Holocacista capensis sp. n. It has also been found on native Rhoicissus digitata and bred on that species in the laboratory. It is closely related to Holocacista salutans (Meyrick, 1921), comb. n. (from Antispila), described from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, but widespread in southern Africa and a native leafminer of various Vitaceae: Rhoicissus tomentosa, R. digitata, R. tridentata and Cissus cornifolia. Holocacista capensis has been found on Vitis vinifera both in Gauteng and Western Cape, the earliest record being from 1950 in Pretoria. The initial host shift from native Vitaceae to Vitis must have occurred much earlier. The species is sometimes present in high densities, but hitherto no sizeable damage to the crops has been noted. 

The genus Holocacista Walsingham & Durrant, 1909, previously known from the single European grapevine leafminer H. rivillei (Stainton, 1855), is expanded and redescribed and for the first time reported from Africa, East and South-East Asia and Australia. It comprises seven named species and at least 15 unnamed species. The following species are also recombined with Holocacista: transferred from Antispilina: South-African H. varii (Mey, 2011), comb. n., feeding on Pelargonium, transferred from Antispila: the Indian species H. micrarcha (Meyrick, 1926), comb. n. and H. pariodelta (Meyrick, 1929), comb. n., both feeding on Lannea coromandelica, and H. selastis (Meyrick, 1926), comb. n. on Psychotria dalzelii. We also remove the following from Antispila: Heliozela anna (Fletcher, 1920), comb. n. and H. argyrozona (Meyrick, 1918), comb. n., whereas the following Indian Vitaceae feeding species are confirmed to belong in Antispila s. str.: Antispila argostoma Meyrick, 1916 and A. aristarcha Meyrick, 1916. Holocacista salutans and H. varii are redescribed and diagnosed against H. capensis and other South African Heliozelidae. DNA barcodes are provided for 13 species of Holocacista.

Keywords: Host shift, leafminers, Vitaceae, viticulture, table grapes, Rhoicissus, Cissus, DNA barcode, genitalia, Holocacista, Antispilina, Antispila, Afrotropics, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India

Figures 1–4. Holocacista species, adult habitus.
1–3 Holocacista capensis: 1 Male holotype, RMNH.INS.24622 2 Female, Western Cape, Paarl, RMNH.INS.24624 3 Male, Western Cape, Wilderness, reared from Rhoicissus digitata, Genitalia slide EvN4381
4 H. salutans, male, Kwazulu-Natal, Umhlanga Rocks, reared from R. revoilii, Genitalia slide EvN 4383. Scales 1 mm.

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.507.9536

Figures 76–82. Holocacista capensis, life history.
76 Trunk of Vitis with many cocoons with exuviae, De Anker, Paarl, 14 February 2013 77 grapes with fresh cocoons attached, Paarl, 25 January 2013 78 larva in cocoon, going down on silken thread, Paarl, 16 January 2013 79 Leafmines in Rhoicissus digitata, reared in laboratory from adults that originated on Vitis from Wellington, 2014 80–82 Live adult males, reared from Vitis vinifera, from Paarl 80 EvN2013004, 28 January 81 Windmeul, reared in Leiden, 23 February 2012 82 EvN2013005, 4 February.

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.507.9536

Figures 70–75. Holocacista capensis, leafmines on Vitis vinifera, Paarl (70–73) and Rhoicissus digitata, Wilderness (74, 75) 70 EvN2013029, 25 January 2013 71 16 January 2013 72 EvN2013029, 25 January 2013 73 2013003, 15 January 2013 74, 75 Vári Ac. No. 1093, 15.iii.1954 (dried leafmines).

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.507.9536

Erik van Nieukerken and Henk Geertsema. 2015. A New Leafminer on Grapevine and Rhoicissus (Vitaceae) in South Africa within an expanded Generic Concept of Holocacista (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Heliozelidae). ZooKeys. 507: 41-97. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.507.9536

New species of leafminer on grapevine in Western Cape came from wild grapes
http://bit.ly/1Qll6FB via @Pensoft @EurekAlertAAAS