Revision of the southern African genera Nemopterella Banks and Nemia Navás (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae: Nemopterinae), with descriptions of new genera and species
Author
Abdalla, Ishtiag H.
Author
Mansell, Mervyn W.
Author
Sole, Catherine L.
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-07-12
4635
1
1
89
journal article
26219
10.11646/zootaxa.4635.1.1
de5c3cc9-9773-4e79-aaaf-0e964d7262f8
1175-5326
3335102
E1AC3BD4-6FCB-49F9-8069-624760C2CAF7
Afroptera pilosa
(
Tjeder, 1967
)
comb. nov.
(
Figs 71
,
98
,
132
,
140
,
156
)
Synonymy
Nemopterella pilosa
Tjeder, 1967: 478
.
FIGURES 146–149.
146, Abdomen of
A. bitis
with white pubescence on dorsum and black on venter; 147, Abdomen of
A. munroi
with white pubescence on dorsum and venter; 148, Forewing of
A. parva
;
149, Forewing of
A. remifera
.
Etymology.
Unknown, but probably from the Latin word
pilosa
(hairy) for its hirsute thorax and abdomen.
Type
locality.
South Africa
,
Western Cape Province
.
Dikbome
,
32°53’S
21°22’E
.
Type
depository.
SAMC
.
Diagnosis.
Large species with striped thorax. Morphologically resembles
A. obtusa
.
A comparison of these two species is provided in the diagnosis of
A. obtusa
.
Size
(mm). Male: body length 9.7 (8.3–12.6); forewing 23.8 (21.5–27.4); hind wing 53.7 (48.1–62.1); antenna 19.8 (16.5–24.3); Female: body length 10.8 (8.7–12.1); forewing 22.8 (18.7–25); hind wing 46.8 (35.3–56.1); antenna 13.5 (10.8–16.2). (N = 48).
Type material examined
.
SOUTH AFRICA
,
Western Cape Province
.
Holotype
♂
(
Fig. 132
), SAM–NEU– A001273, Dikbome, Merweville Koup [
32°53’S
21°22’E
] C.P (white printed label)
/
Holotypus
♂
,
Nemopterella pilosa,
Bo Tjeder 1966
(red handwritten label). (
SAMC
)
.
Other material examined.
SOUTH AFRICA
,
Western Cape Province
.
4♂
2♀
,
NEUR12538
,
Wamakerskraal Farm
,
Laingsburg Dist
,
33°01’24’’S
21°36’43’’E
,
350m
,
11.x.2008
,
J.B.Ball
,
A.P.Marais
,
At
light /
Nemopterella pilosa
Tjeder, 1967
,
Det. M.W.Mansell
2017
;
11♂
8♀
,
NEUR10048
,
Oorlogskloof Farm
,
Klaarstroom District
,
33°21’48’’S
22°43’34’’E
,
897m
,
21.xi.2008
,
At
light,
A.P.Marais
;
4♂
2♀
,
NEUR10229
,
Koup Siding
,
Laingsburg District
,
33°07’40’’S
21°16’36’’E
,
741m
,
At
light,
17.x.2009
,
A.P.Marais
;
3♀
,
NEUR10121
,
Miertjieskraal Farm
,
Ladysmith District
,
33°49’09’’S
21°08’01’’E
,
299m
,
26.xi.2008
,
At
light,
A.P.Marais
;
2♂
5♀
,
NEUR12585
, Mid- deldrif
Farm
,
Laingsburg District
,
33°03’13’’S
21°16’14’’E
,
708m
,
At
light,
18.x.2009
,
A.P.Marias
.
Northern Cape Province
.
5♂
2♀
,
NEUR09742
,
Williston Farm
,
30°51’S
21°26’E
,
20.x.2001
,
H.S.Staude.
(
All
SANC
)
.
Distribution and habitat.
Afroptera pilosa
has been recorded from the Northern and
Western Cape
Provinces (
Fig. 156
). In the former province, it is confined to the Bushmanland Bioregion in the Nama Karoo Biome where the habitat comprises salty, mud-stone soils and receives predominantly late summer / early autumn rains with an average of
100–200 mm
per year. Dwarf succulent and spiny shrubs are dominant. While in the latter province, the distribution is in the Rainshadow Valley Karoo, Lower Karoo and Renosterveld Bioregions of the Succulent Karoo, Nama Karoo and Fynbos Biomes, respectively. Two populations have been reported from the Rainshadow Valley Karoo; one seems to be associated with the Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo vegetation
type
(see description of the vegetation
type
under distribution of
A. obtusa
). Another population has been recorded from Prince Albert Succulent Karoo vegetation unit to the west of Prince Albert (see description of the unit under distribution of
N. remifera
). In the Lower Karoo Bioregion the species has been found in association with Gamka Karoo vegetation
type
(see description of the vegetation
type
under distribution of
A. exigua
). In the Renosterveld Bioregion the vegetation cover is mostly comprises Montagu Shale Renosterveld
type
and includes
Acacia karoo
, succulent shrubs.