Nemopterella africana (Leach, 1815)

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 : 9-10

Nemopterella africana (Leach, 1815)

( Figs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8, 9, 10 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 31 )

Synonymy

Nemopteryx africana Leach, 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.

Type locality. South Africa, Western Cape Province. Worcester , 33°38’23’’S 19°26’41’’E .

Type depository. BMNH .

Etymology. Unknown, most likely from the word Africa because the species originates from Africa.

Diagnosis. Nemopterella africana is externally similar to N. kabas sp. nov. It resembles N. kabas by having the same body patterns ( Fig. 11 ). However, N. africana can easily be distinguished from N. kabas by a combination of the following characteristics: N. africana is characterised by slender forewings with short rounded tip ( Figs 11 , 17 ) while in N. kabas the forewings are broader and taper towards acute apex ( Figs 13 , 18 ). Also, N. africana has shaded costal cells beyond pterostigma ( Fig. 17 ) while in N. kabas the costal cells are not shaded ( Fig. 18 ). Moreover, N. africana has brown-tinged subcostal and radial areas ( Fig. 17 ) while in N. kabas the subcostal and radial areas are not tinged ( Fig. 18 ). Vertex in N. africana bears two dark transverse sub-triangular spots along the postfrontal suture ( Fig. 5 ) while the transverse spots in N. kabas are yellow ( Fig. 13 ). In addition, the male antennae in N. africana are long, extending beyond pterostigma and are approximately same length as forewing while in N. kabas the 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 , Gevang by 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 Hoot B&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 / At light ; 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♀, TMSA00736 and 5♀, TMSA00764 , Diepkloof Farm near Clanwilliam , [32°01’32’’S 18°51’20’’E], 12.xii.03, to M.V. light, Farm staff / Nemopterella africana (Leach, 1815) ♀, Det. M.W.Mansell 2013 (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 Springbok and Pella [29°11’S 18°50’E] / Nemopterella africana (Leach) , det. Bo Tjeder, 1966 ( SAMC) . 4♂ 1♀, NEUR02142 , Kliprand 40 km S., 30°58’S 18°40’E, 400 m, 3.xii.1988, M.D.Picker ( SANC) . NAMIBIA, Karas Region. 16♂ 16♀, NEUR08900 , Diamond Area no. 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 Africa and Namibia ( Fig. 31 ). In South Africa, the species is known from the Northern and Western Cape Provinces 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 africana has 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 Cape thicket, 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.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Nemopterella africana (Leach), male habitus. Forewing length = 26.9 mm.

FIGURE 13. Nemopterella kabas Mansell & Abdalla sp. nov., male habitus. Forewing length= 28 mm.

FIGURES 3–7. Nemopterella africana (Leach). 3, Abdomen male, lateral view; 4, Apex of male abdomen. 5, Parameres and gonarcus; 6, Gonarcus dorsal view showing bases of parameres. 7(a), Pterostigma in forewing; 7(b), Anal area. Abbreviations: 1–9 = Abdominal tergites, An = Anal area, Epr = Ectoproct, Cc = Callus cerci, Mu = Mediuncus, Pa = Parameres, Pt = Pterostigma, Gs = Gonarcus, Gss = Gonosetae.

FIGURES 8–10. Nemopterella africana (Leach). 8, Antennal apex; 9, Head; 10, Apical white portion of hind wing.

FIGURES 14–15. Nemopterella spp. Thorax. 14, Nemopterella africana; 15, Nemopterella cedrus

FIGURES 17–19. Nemopterella spp., male forewings. 17, N. africana; 18, N. kabas; 19, N. cedrus Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURES 30–31. 30, Terrestrial Biomes in South Africa; 31, distribution of Nemopterella. africana (Leach).