Nemopteryx africana Leach, 1815: 74 Nemoptera africana (Leach) Westwood 1836: 75 Klug, 1836: 95 Walker 1853: 474 Nematoptera bacillaris (Klug) Burmeister 1839: 986 Burmeister, 1839: 986 Westwood 1841: 12 Nematoptera africana (Leach) Westwood 1841: 12 Kirby 1900: 458 Navás 1910: 359 Navás 1912: 9 Navás 1915: 35 Revision of the southern African genera Nemopterella Banks and Nemia Navás (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae: Nemopterinae), with descriptions of new genera and species Abdalla, Ishtiag H. Mansell, Mervyn W. Sole, Catherine L. Zootaxa 2019 2019-07-12 4635 1 1 89 468VD 1265330 (Leach, 1815) Leach 1815 [151,601,153,180] Insecta Nemopteridae Nemopterella Animalia Neuroptera 8 9 Arthropoda species africana  ( Figs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 17, 31) Synonymy    Nemopteryx africanaLeach, 1815: 74.    Nemoptera africana(Leach):  Westwood 1836: 75.    Nemoptera bacillaris  Klug, 1836: 95;  Walker 1853: 474.    Nematoptera bacillaris(Klug):  Burmeister 1839: 986.    Nematoptera latipennis  Burmeister, 1839: 986;  Westwood 1841: 12.    Nematoptera africana(Leach):  Westwood 1841: 12.     Halter africanus(Leach):  Kirby 1900: 458.    Eretmoptera africana(Leach):  Navás 1910: 359.    Nemopterella africana(Leach):  Navás 1912: 9.    Nemeva africana(Leach):  Navás 1915: 35.     Typelocality. South Africa,  Western Cape Province. Worcester, 33°38’23’’S 19°26’41’’E.    Typedepository. BMNH.   Etymology.Unknown, most likely from the word Africa because the species originates from Africa.   Diagnosis.  Nemopterella africanais externally similar to  N. kabas  sp. nov.It resembles  N. kabasby having the same body patterns ( Fig. 11). However,  N. africanacan easily be distinguished from  N. kabasby a combination of the following characteristics:  N. africanais characterised by slender forewings with short rounded tip ( Figs 11, 17) while in  N. kabasthe forewings are broader and taper towards acute apex ( Figs 13, 18). Also,  N. africanahas shaded costal cells beyond pterostigma ( Fig. 17) while in  N. kabasthe costal cells are not shaded ( Fig. 18). Moreover,  N. africanahas brown-tinged subcostal and radial areas ( Fig. 17) while in  N. kabasthe subcostal and radial areas are not tinged ( Fig. 18). Vertex in  N. africanabears two dark transverse sub-triangular spots along the postfrontal suture ( Fig. 5) while the transverse spots in  N. kabasare yellow ( Fig. 13). In addition, the male antennae in  N. africanaare long, extending beyond pterostigma and are approximately same length as forewing while in  N. kabasthe antennae are very long, longer than forewing.  Size(mm). Male: body length 9.7 (7–12.7); forewing 24.7 (20.5–27.6); hind wing 54.0 (42.4–61.8); antenna 17.6 (15.5–25.1). Female: body length 11.2 (8.7–15.1); forewing 25.3 (17.5–25.8); hind wing 50.1 (34.5–58.8); antenna 13.4 (14.5–19.8). (N = 143)   Type material. Holotype ♀(not examined).  Material examined.  SOUTH AFRICA,  Western Cape Province, 22♀, NEUR09680,  Doornfontein Farm, Tan- qua Karoo, 32°35’S 19°33’E,  20–21.x. 2006, 432 m, A.K.Brinkman;  1♂, NEUR09681,  Dwarsrivier Farm, Clan- william Dist., 32°13’S 18°59’E,  26–27.x. 2006, 337 m, A.K.Brinkman;  1♂ 1♀, NEUR02145,  Sanddrift Farm, Cedarberg Mts., 32°29’S 19°16’E,  19–24.xii.1994, E.Grobbelaar, Collected at light;  2♂ 4♀, NEUR00419, Cit- rusdal, [ 32°35’24’’S 19°00’4’’E], M.v.d. Berg,  12.xi.1981, ACH1184,  Gevangby ligval / Nemopterella africana (Leach), det. M.W.Mansell;  1♂ 5♀, NEUR00701,  Biedouw Farm, Biedouw Valley, 32°08’S 19°14’E,  29.ix.1986, M.W.Mansell, J.H.Hoffmann/ Collected at light;  1♂, NEUR11193,  Clanwilliam, Owls HootB&B, 32°10’12’’S 18°53’52’’E,  87 m,  18.xi.2001, M.W.Mansell, J.B.Ball;  1♂, NEUR11809,  Kelkiewyn Farm, Calvinia District, 31°12’01’’S 19°41’33’’E,  25.x. 2011, 681 m, C.H.Scholtz;  1♂ 7♀, NEUR09922, same locality and collector, but  1–3.xii.2008/ Atlight;  2♀, NEUR12305,  Sarisam Farm, 30°34’50’’S 17°32’15’’E,  3–6.xii.2013, R.D.Stephen( All SANC).  1♂ 1♀, SAM–NEU–A001248, Bulhoek, CLW. [Clanwilliam], [ 32°00’03’’S 18°46’43’’E], S.A.M., 12.56 /  Nemopterella africana(Leach), det. Bo Tjeder, 1965;  1♀, SAM–NEU–A001247 / Upper Source Olifants River, Ceres, [ 33°22’00’’S 19°19’00’’E] /  Nemopterella africana(Leach), det. Bo Tjeder, 1965 ( All SAMC).  2♂ 1♀, TMSA00736and  5♀, TMSA00764,  Diepkloof Farmnear Clanwilliam, [ 32°01’32’’S 18°51’20’’E],  12.xii.03, to M.V. light, Farmstaff /  Nemopterella africana(Leach, 1815)  ♀, Det. M.W.Mansell2013 ( All TMSA).   Northern Cape Province, 1♀, TMSA02059,  Lekkersing[ 29°00’06’’S 17°05’58’’E],  17.xi.1933, G.van Son/  Nemopterella africana(Leach), det. Bo Tjeder, 1965 ( TMSA);  19♂ 24♀, NEUR01471,  Concordia, 29°32’41’’S 17°56’04’’E,  1000 m,  9–10.xi.1990, M.W.Mansell, R.B.Miller, L.A.Stange/ Collected at light ( SANC).  2♀, SAM–NEU–A001246 / Aggeneys, Bushmanland, Btw Springbokand Pella[ 29°11’S 18°50’E] /  Nemopterella africana(Leach), det. Bo Tjeder, 1966 ( SAMC).  4♂ 1♀, NEUR02142,  Kliprand 40 kmS., 30°58’S 18°40’E,  400 m,  3.xii.1988, M.D.Picker( SANC).  NAMIBIA,  Karas Region. 16♂ 16♀, NEUR08900,  Diamond Areano. 1, Klinghardtberge, 27°19’S 15°46’E, (2715 Bd), 20 /  21.x.1974, M.W.Mansell/ Collected at mercury vapour light, arid rock terrain ( SANC).   Distribution and habitat.This species has a wide distribution but is endemic to South Africaand Namibia( Fig. 31). In South Africa, the species is known from the Northern and Western CapeProvinces in localities mainly centred in the Succulent Karoo, Nama Karoo and Fynbos Biomes. In the Succulent Karoo, the species has been reported from the Rainshadow Valley Karoo Bioregion occurring in the Tankwa Karoo and Agter-Sederberg Shrubland vegetation units ( Mucina & Rutherford 2006). Both regions are dry, characterised by winter rains. The former unit is dominated by scattered dwarf succulent shrubs while the latter is vegetated mostly with tall shrubs of a mixture of succulent and non-succulent elements. The species has also been recorded from the Namaqualand Hardeveld and Strandveld Bioregions, where it seems to be associated with two different vegetation units: Namaqualand Blomveld and Namaqualand Strandveld. The habitat in the former unit is represented by sparse dwarf shrubs with succulent or ericoid leaves, while in the latter it is dominated by low shrubs of creeping succulents, and perennial plants when there is rain.  Nemopterella africanahas also been recorded from the Richtersveld Bioregion where the species has been found associated with Lekkersing Succulent shrubs. (The description of the habitat in this unit is given under the distribution of  A. sabuleti). Within the Fynbos Biome, the range of distribution is centred in the Olifants Sandstone Fynbos and the Sandstone Fynbos Bioregions. In the former bioregion, the species is associated with the Sandstone Fynbos vegetation unit where the habitat is predominated by proteoid and restioid fynbos with mixtures of Capethicket, asteraceous fynbos and tall shrubs. In the latter bioregion, the species seems to be associated with the Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos vegetation unit. The habitat in this unit is represented by asteraceous, restioid and proteoid fynbos ( Mucina & Rutherford 2006). Another population has been collected from the Shale Renosterveld and Sand Fynbos Bioregions where the species is associated with Ceres Shale Renosterveld and Leipoldtville Sand Fynbos vegetation types( Mucina & Rutherford 2006). In the Nama Karoo, the collection localities fall mainly within the Bushmanland Sandy Grassland in the Bushmanland Bioregion. (See the description of the habitat in this vegetation unit under the distribution of  A. munroi). In Namibia, the distribution is known only from the extension of the Succulent Karoo Biome in southern Namibia. It is a dry region represented by succulent vegetation and predominantly receives winter rains. 2274830006 [151,1160,629,656] South Africa -33.639725 Worcester 19 19.444721 8 9 1 Western Cape holotype 2274830211 [199,491,665,692] BMNH 8 9 1 holotype 2274830131 [440,1144,1241,1268] NEUR South Africa Western Cape Province 8 9 NEUR09680 22 22 Western Cape 2274830019 2006-10-20 2006-10-21 2006-10-20 A. K. Brinkman South Africa -32.583332 Karoo 1209 19.55 Doornfontein Farm 8 9 1 Western Cape Province 2274829997 [941,1142,1277,1303] NEUR South Africa 8 9 NEUR09681 1 1 Western Cape Province 2274829979 2006-10-26 2006-10-27 2006-10-26 A. K. Brinkman South Africa -32.216667 Dist. 1212 18.983334 Dwarsrivier Farm 8 9 1 Western Cape Province 2274830000 [989,1238,1313,1340] NEUR South Africa 8 9 NEUR02145 2 1 1 Western Cape Province 2274829982 1994-12-19 1994-12-24 1994-12-19 E. Grobbelaar South Africa -32.483334 Cedarberg Mts. 1210 19.266666 Sanddrift Farm 8 9 1 Western Cape Province 2274830033 [1131,1378,1349,1375] NEUR South Africa 8 9 NEUR00419 6 4 2 Western Cape Province 2274830178 1287890793 1981-11-12 ACH Berg South Africa https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1287890793 -32.59 20 19.001112 8 9 ACH1184 1 Western Cape Province 2274830056 South Africa M. W. Mansell Gevang 8 9 1 Western Cape Province 2274830160 [471,713,1421,1448] NEUR South Africa 8 9 NEUR00701 6 5 1 Western Cape Province 2274830179 1986-09-29 M. W. Mansell & J. H. Hoffmann South Africa -32.133335 Biedouw Valley 1212 19.233334 Biedouw Farm 8 9 1 Western Cape Province 2274830009 [722,921,1457,1483] NEUR South Africa 8 9 NEUR11193 1 1 Western Cape Province 2274830005 2001-11-18 M. W. Mansell & J. B. Ball South Africa 87 -32.170002 Owls Hoot 20 18.897778 Clanwilliam 8 9 1 Western Cape Province 2274829998 [808,1010,1493,1519] NEUR South Africa 8 9 NEUR11809 1 1 Western Cape Province 2274829985 2011-10-25 C. H. Scholtz South Africa -31.20028 Calvinia District 20 19.6925 Kelkiewyn Farm 8 9 1 Western Cape Province 2274830036 [821,1065,1529,1556] NEUR South Africa 8 9 NEUR09922 8 7 1 Western Cape Province 2274830201 2008-12-01 2008-12-03 2008-12-01 NEUR At South Africa 8 9 1 Western Cape Province 2274830053 [413,610,1565,1592] NEUR South Africa 8 9 NEUR12305 2 2 Western Cape Province 2274830076 2013-12-03 2013-12-06 2013-12-03 SANC R. D. Stephen & All South Africa -30.580557 Sarisam Farm 20 17.5375 8 9 1 Western Cape Province 2274830011 T.S. Acker South Africa Bo Tjeder -32.00083 Bulhoek 20 18.77861 8 9 2 1 1 Western Cape Province 2274830055 SAMC All South Africa Bo Tjeder -33.366665 Ceres 20 19.316668 Upper Source Olifants River 8 9 1 1 Western Cape Province 2274829976 TMSA South Africa 8 9 TMSA00736 3 1 2 Western Cape Province 2274830074 [359,561,1709,1736] TMSA South Africa 8 9 TMSA00764 5 5 Western Cape Province 2274830003 2003-12-12 Farm South Africa -32.025555 Clanwilliam 20 18.855556 Diepkloof Farm 8 9 1 Western Cape Province 2274830071 [857,1321,1745,1772] TMSA All South Africa Det. M. W. Mansell 8 9 1 1 Western Cape Province 2274829975 TMSA South Africa Northern Cape Province 8 9 TMSA02059 1 1 Northern Cape 2274830030 1933-11-17 TMSA G. van Son South Africa Bo Tjeder -29.001667 Lekkersing 20 17.099445 8 9 1 Northern Cape Province 2274830001 [677,944,1817,1843] NEUR South Africa 8 9 NEUR01471 43 24 19 Northern Cape Province 2274830125 1990-11-09 1990-11-10 1990-11-09 SANC M. W. Mansell & R. B. Miller & L. A. Stange South Africa 1000 -29.544722 Concordia 20 17.934444 8 9 1 Northern Cape Province 2274830059 SAMC South Africa Aggeneys Bo Tjeder -29.183332 Btw Springbok 1228 18.833334 Bushmanland 8 9 2 2 Northern Cape Province 2274830020 [413,653,1925,1951] NEUR South Africa 8 9 NEUR02142 5 1 4 Northern Cape Province 2274830161 1988-12-03 SANC M. D. Picker South Africa 400 -30.966667 Kliprand 1218 18.666666 8 9 1 Northern Cape Province 2274830002 [264,864,1961,1988] NEUR Namibia Karas Region 8 9 NEUR08900 32 16 16 //Karas 2274830054 1974-10-21 SANC Bd & M. W. Mansell Namibia -27.316668 Klinghardtberge 1237 15.766666 Diamond Area 8 9 1 Karas Region