Nemia costalis ( Westwood, 1836 )

Abdalla, Ishtiag H., Mansell, Mervyn W. & Sole, Catherine L., 2019, Revision of the southern African genera Nemopterella Banks and Nemia Navás (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae: Nemopterinae), with descriptions of new genera and species, Zootaxa 4635 (1), pp. 1-89 : 76-77

Nemia costalis ( Westwood, 1836) .

( Figs 158 , 165 , 168 , 173 )

Synonomy

Nemoptera costalis Westwood, 1836: 75 .

Nematoptera costalis (Westwood) : Westwood 1841: 12.

Halter costalis (Westwood) : Kirby 1900: 458.

Eretmoptera costalis (Westwood) : Navás 1910: 361.

Nemopterella costalis (Westwood) : Navás 1911: 226.

Nemia costalis (Westwood) : Navás 1915: 36.

Nemopterella sp.: Acker 1958: 106, f.7–8, 10, 12–18, 20, 22.

Etymology. Unknown, probably from the characteristic costal area in the forewings.

Type locality. South Africa, Western Cape Province. Cape of Good Hope (“ CGH ”) . Type locality subsequently designated by Tjeder (1967): Clanwilliam, 32°10’S 18°53’E.

Type depository. OXUM .

Diagnosis. Nemia costalis resembles N. elongata by the same head colouration and abdominal pubescence patterns. Nemia costalis can easily be distinguished from N. elongata by the broad forewings with rounded apex ( Fig. 165 ), while in N. elongata the forewings are more slender and the apex is short and acute ( Fig. 163 ).

Size (mm). Male: body length 10.9 (9.1–14.1); forewing 24 (21.6–28.4); hind wing: 52.2 (41.3–63.6); antenna 20.7 (14–24.2). Female: body length 10.4 (10.2–15); forewing 23.6 (20.4–27.9); hind wing 51 (41–61.4); antenna 15 (10.2–19.7). (N = 118).

Type material. SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape Province. Holotype ♀ (photo), ( Fig. 158 ), labelled: “C.G.H.” [Cape of Good Hope] ( White handwritten label) / ‘W’ [Westwood] (blue handwritten label) / Nemopt. costalis Westw., Trans. Ent. Soc. (white handwritten label). ( OXUM).

Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape Province. 1♀, TMSA00739 , Zeekoeivlei Farm near Clanwilliam [32°08’23’’S 18°44’08’’E], 29.x.2002, M.V. Light, Farm Staff leg / Nemia costalis ( Westwood, 1836) , Det. M.W.Mansell 2013; 2♀, TMSA00738 , same locality and collectors, 29.xi.2002 / Nemia costalis ( Westwood, 1836) , Det. M.W.Mansell 2013; 1♀, TMSA00740 , same locality and collectors, 21.xi.2002 / Nemia costalis ( Westwood, 1836) , Det. M.W.Mansell 2013; 2♀, TMSA02052 , Clanwilliam [32°10’S 18°53’E], 11̶– 12.XI.1949, Dr. C. Koch, Nemia costalis Westw. , / det. Bo Tjeder 1966; 2♀, TMSA00765 , Diepkloof Farm near Clanwil- liam, 12.xii.2003 / M.V. Light, Farm Staff Leg / Nemia costalis ( Westwood, 1836) , Det. M.W.Mansell 2013. (All TMSA) . 25♂ 26♀, NEUR00702 , Biedouw Farm, Biedouw Valley , 32°08’S 19°14’E, 29.ix.1986, M.W.Mansell, J.H.Hoffmann, Light ; 4♂ 6♀, NEUR01473 , Graafwater , 32°08’S 18°36’E, 190m, 15.xi.1990, M.W. Mansell, R.B. Miller, L.A.Stange ; 3♂ 3♀, NEUR09821 , Seekoevlei Farm, Clanwilliam Dist. , 32°09’S 18°45’E, 360 m, 27.xi.1996, R.G. Oberprieler ; 2♀, NEUR08890 , Williston , 14.ix.1985, C.Quickelberge, J.G.H.Londt, At night light trap ; 1♀, NEUR09590 , Clanwilliam [32°10’S 18°52’E], 10.xii.1996, E. Anderson ; 1♂, NEUR09591 , Eliza- bethfontein Farm, Cedarberg , 32°03’S 19°03’E, 25.xi.1996, J. Colville ; 1♀, NEUR08888 , 20 km SE Calvinia , 17.xi.1986, 3119 Db, 1050 m, J.G.H.Londt, C. Quickelberge, Flat scrubland ; 1♂, NEUR08889 , 31 km N Matjiesfon- tein, 20.xi.1986, 3220 Dc, 1230m, J.G.H.Londt, C. Quickelberge, Flat open area with flowers ; 7♂ 6♀, NEUR09682 , Dwarsrivier Farm, Clanwilliam Dist. , 32°13’S 18°59’E, 26–27.x. 2006, 337m, A.K.Brinkman ; 1♀, NEUR08891 , Kromrivier Farm , 32°33’S 19°18’E (3219 Cb), 875m, 4–5.i.1975, M.W.Mansell ; 1♂ 11♀, NEUR1119 , Clanwil- liam, Owls Hoot B &B, 32°10’12’’S 18°53’52’’E, 87m, 18.xi.2001, M.W. Mansell, J.B. Ball. (All SANC) . 2♂ 1♀, SAM-NEU–A001227, Olifantsriver between Citrusdal and Clanwilliam / Nemia costalis Westw. , det. Bo Tjeder 1966; 1♂, SAM-NEU–A001228, Clanwilliam, Coefobes , 1959 / Nemia costalis Westw. , det. Bo Tjeder 1966; 2♂ 5♀, SAM-NEU–A001229, Bulshoek, Klaver, Clanw. , Oct. 1950, Museum Staff / Nemia costalis Westw. , det. Bo Tjeder 1966. (All SAMC) .

Distribution and habitat. This species is confined to the Western Cape Province, South Africa ( Fig. 173 ). The collection sites fall within the greater Cederberg Region. This area stretches from the town of Clanwilliam in the North to Citrusdal in the south in the Olifants River valley. The habitat in this region is typified by a Mediterranean climate with cold, wet winters and hot, dry summers ( Cowling et al. 1996). The vegetation is composed of strandveld, renosterveld and fynbos.

Remarks. Westwood (1836) described Nemoptera costalis (= Nemia costalis ) and Nemoptera angulata (= Nemia angulata ) in the same paper as two distinct species. However, this classification was disputed by Hagen (1866) who synonymised N. costalis with N. angulata and, inversely, Kirby (1900) and Navás (1910) synonymised N. angulata with N. costalis . Tjeder (1967) recognised that they represented two distinct species and consequently redescribed both in his paper ( Tjeder 1967).

Figures

FIGURE 158. Nemia costalis (Westwood), holotype and associated labels. (Photo: OXUM).

FIGURES 162–166. Nemia spp. Male forewings. 162, N. angulata (Westwood); 163, N. elongata Tjeder; 164, N. karrooa (Péringuey); 165, N. costalis (Westwood); 166, N. lata Tjeder.

FIGURES 167–168. Nemia spp. Thorax. 167, N. angulata (Westwood); 168, N. costalis (Westwood).

FIGURES 172–177. Distribution maps of Nemia spp. 172, N. angulata (Westwood); 173, N. costalis (Westwood); 174, N. elongata Tjeder; 175, N. karrooa (Péringuey); 176, N. lata Tjeder; 177, N. zebra Tjeder.