Diario del proyecto Insects - Southern Africa (identified for the 1st time on iNat or difficult to identify)

Diagnosis: primary costa formed by long spines, similar to those in Somaticus (Clinocranion) spinosus, but approximated to suture and situated at about middle of elytron; the epipleural margination double, with the upper edge formed by long spines, together with its submarginal depression entirely visible in dorsal aspect.

Original description in:
Peringuey, L. 1892.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36878898#page/218/mode/1up
Gen. Trachynotus. Latr.
T. Lightfooti.
Oblongus, niger, pilis decumbentibus sericeis tectus; prothorace transverso, lateribus valde angulatis; elytris oblengo-ovatis, sub-deplanatis, postice acuminiatis, disco margineque laterali spinis acutis seriatis in singulo armatis.
Long. 11-13, lat. 4-6 mm.
Oblong, black, covered with short decumbent silky greyish hairs, and also with a white tomentum leaving two rouud denuded spots on each elytron, the postical one the largest of the two; head punctuated, eyes raised; prothorax transverse with the outer sides acute hardly convex; elytra oblongo-ovate, little convex, once and a half as broad in its greatest width as the prothorax, and acuminated behind; each one has on the disk a row of long, sharp spines slightly directed backwards; these spines are equi-distant from one another; the outer margin has also a row of short spines arranged in the same manner and reaching from the shoulder to the apex. Some examples (female) have sometimes traces of an intermediate series of very short spines between the suture and discoidal row. The underside is briefly pilose, the legs very long and slender, the claws and spurs reddish.

Captured near Port Nolloth, Little Naniaqualand, by Mr. R. 'Light-foot, after whom I propose to name it.

Illustrated in: Koch C. 1955. Monograph of the Tenebrionidae of southern Africa Vol I (Tentyriinae, Molurini Trachynotina: Somaticus Hope). Transvaal Museum Memoir 7. Plate V, fig. 9.
https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA0000012_541

iNat observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/240751304
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/240187362

Medium sized, with characteristic leather-like sculpture of elytra. Macrosculpture leather-like, microsculpture consists of a fine and widely spaced granulation. Integument, except for the top of
elevations, densely shagreened, matt.
Inner surface of anterior tibia densely denticulate in male. Posterior half of anal sternite deeply impressed. Posterior margin of anal sternite sharply marginate

Detailled description, distribution map and photo in:
Endrody-Younga, S. 1988. Revision of the genus Anomalipus Latreille, 1846
http://the-eis.com/elibrary/sites/default/files/downloads/literature/Revision%20of%20the%20genus%20Anomalipus%20Latreille.pdf
Photo of holotype Plate 21D: https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA090799001_18

Distribution: South-eastern Cape
Type locality: Uitenhage

iNat observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/240921834

Head thickly clothed with decumbent silky pile. Body sparsely clothed with very elongate, upstanding yellowish hairs. Antennae elongate and slender, fourth segment narrowly fusiform and curved. Pronotum with anterior lobe moderately convex. Hemelytra brachypterous, membrane reduced, mesally not exceeding fifth abdominal tergite, acuminate posteriorly.

Original description (Paradieuches longisetosus) in:
Slater, J.A. 1964. Hemiptera (Heteroptera) Lygaeidae. In: Handstrom, Brinck & Rudebeck (Eds.). South African Animal Life, 10, 15–228.

Photo of holotype (Lund collection): https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=Paradieuches+longisetosus+

Type localiy: South Africa, Western Cape, Swartberg pass, Platberg

iNat observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/240020705

Original description in:
Bezzi, M. 1922. Due nuovi Tripaneidi (Dipt.) infestanti frutti di Olea nell' Africa del Sud. Boll. Lab. Zool. Gen. Agrar. R. Scuola Super. Agric. Portici 15
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8636049#page/304/mode/1up

Detailled description:
http://projects.bebif.be/fruitfly/descriptions/164.pdf
Wing length, 4.2-6.2 mm.
Head. Pedicel+1st flagellomere not longer than ptilinal suture. Face, antennal furrow with a dark spot. Frons, frontal setae 2, orbital seta 1.
Thorax. Scutum predominantly red brown, with a black stripe; postpronotal lobe bicoloured; notopleural callus yellow; notopleural xanthine absent; lateral postsutural vittae present (lateral fairly short, barely extending beyond anterior supra-alar seta); medial postsutural vitta absent. Scutellum with a broad redbrown stripe from base to apex (lateral margin yellow). Anepisternum with a stripe from notopleural callus to (or almost to) katepisternum; extended onto katepisternum. Laterotergal xanthine confined to katatergite.
Thoracic setae. Anterior notopleural seta present; anterior supra-alar seta absent; prescutellar acrostichal seta present; basal scutellar seta absent.
Wing. Basal cells bc and c without an almost complete covering of microtrichia; cell bm without microtrichia. Narrow subbasal raised section of cell br with microtrichia confined to anteriorly half. Crossvein R-M beyond middle of cell dm. Costal band complete; shallow, not extending below vein R2+3 before wing apex; barely expanded at apex. Anal streak present but narrow. Cells bc and c hyaline. Without any crossbanding.
Legs. Femora pale; rarely with mid- and hindfemora bicoloured (pale basally,
red-brown apically).
Abdomen. Red-brown, patterned fuscous; shape and patterning, see image. Tergites II-V separate.
Male. Tergite III with pecten, dense microtrichia adjacent end A1+Cu2, and hindtibia preapical "pad". Basal costal sections without specialised setae.
Female. Aculeus pointed; no torsion; length, 1.04mm.

Key in Copeland 2004
http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/pdf/copeland-etal.pdf

Photo in:
Teixeira da Costa, L., Powell, C., van Noort, S., Costa, C., Sinno, M., Caleca, V., … van Asch, B. (2019). The complete mitochondrial genome of Bactrocera biguttula (Bezzi) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and phylogenetic relationships with other Dacini. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 126, 130–140. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.12.186
https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.12.186

Host plants: wild species of Olea and Noronhia
Olea europaea cuspidata, Olea capensis capensis, Olea woodiana woodiana, Olea woodiana disjuncta, Noronhia foveolata, Noronhia battiscombei

Distribution: Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa

iNat observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/170476802
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/140752268
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/45786327

Quite rare earwig species, endemic to Cape, South Africa (other species of Esphalmenus genus known from South Africa and Andes region of South America only according to Steinmann 1989).
Originally described as Gonolabis peringueyi by de Bormans in 1900. Type and syntypes were collected from Caledon, Cape Colony.
Type stored in NHM, London, UK (no pictures available):
https://data.nhm.ac.uk/record/bb909597-dedf-427d-8c04-4c02b3a24db3/586211/1724112000000

Mentioned by Burr 1909 for different locations location in the Cape Colony (Caledon, Nieuwoudtville, Cape Town, Dunbrody).
Distributed in Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

Drawing by Burr of male specimen:

Observations on iNat:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/225285995 (male from Caledon)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/224161453 (female from Caledon)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/173636787 (male from Ceres)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/26919044 (male from Malmesbury)

Key to differentiate from other Esphalmenus species in South Africa (based on adult males only):

1. Black species; forceps without a dorsal process at the base of each branch, and branches less strongly curved; penultimate sternite
   not excised apically. . . .ecarinatus

2. Reddish-brown or dark reddish-brown species; forceps with a dorsal process at the base of each branch of the forceps, and branches strongly curved; penultimate sternite excised apically. . . .3
3. Abdomen very strongly widened posteriorly, ninth tergite nearly twice as wide as second; each branch of forceps with a large dorsal process at base. . . . capensis
4. Abdomen less strongly widened posteriorly; each branch of forceps with a small dorsal process at base . . . . peringueyi

References:
de Bormans, A. (1900) Quelques Dermaptères du Musée Civique de Génes. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 40, 441–467
BRINDLE, A. (1984). The Esphalmeninae (Dermaptera: Pygidicranidae): a group of Andean and Southern African earwigs. Systematic Entomology, 9(3), 281–292. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.1984.tb00053.x
Burr, M. (1909) Notes on the Forficularia. - XV. The Esphalmeninae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 8(3), 249–257. https://ia802305.us.archive.org/5/items/biostor-58386/biostor-58386.pdf
Steinmann, H. (1989) World Catalogue of Dermaptera. Series Entomologica, 43, 934 pp.

Only the single genus Chaoborus is known from the Afrotropical region, with 8 species described.

Chaoborus microstictus is widespread in Southern Africa.

Original description in:
Edwards, F.W. 1930. Notes on exotic Chaoborinae, with descriptions of new species (Diptera, Culicidae). Annals and Magazine of Natural History (10) 6.
https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933008673243
Head yellowish. Antennse entirely yellowish except for the last segment, which is black; all flagellar segments unusually short, the last two not longer than the others, terminal segment (thirteenth) somewhat stouter and more pubescent; verticils shorter than usual, the whole antenna resembling that of the Chironomid genus Tanypus. Palpi mainly dark brown, but second segment largely yellowish. Thorax pale whitish yellow; pronotal lobes dark brown; four brownish-yellow stripes on scutum. Abdomen yellowish. Legs whitish; femora and tibise without dark rings, even at the tip, but with numerous minute brown dots at the bases of the hairs; tarsi with tips of segments darkened. Wings whitish, with small black dots at the bases of the three forks, at the base of Rs, over the cros-veins, and at tips of all veins except R1 and R3. A small adventitious cross-vein (covered by a black dot) connects R1 with the costa near its tip, the actual tip of Rx being faint. Rs longer than in most species of this subgenus, with short spur at basal angle. Cell R, less than twice as long as its stem, its base level with or slightly beyond that of cell M1. M2 angled and slightly spurred at the base. Spur of Cu2 shorter than in most species of the subgenus.. Halteres chalk-white. Wing-length 3,5 mm.

Type locality: Harrismith, South Africa

Key to afrotropical species and illustrations in:
Verbeke, J. 1958. Chaoboridae (Diptera Nematocera). Exploration du Parc National Albert. Mission G.F. de Witte 94
https://biblio.naturalsciences.be/rbins-publications/institut-des-parcs-nationaux-du-congo/exploration-du-parc-national-albert-exploratie-van-het-nationaal-albert-park-mission-zending-g-f-de-witte-1933-1935/94-1958-mission-g-f-de-witte-chaoboridae/irscnb_p4137_rbins18810_94-5-74-red.pdf

iNat observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188584295

Original description in:
Mulsant, E. 1850. Species des coléoptères trimères sécuripalpes. Annales des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles, d'Agriculture et d'Industrie (2) 2
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/36938#page/378/mode/1up
Translated from French:
Subhemispherical. Prothorax flavous, adorned with a basal border with five teeth, the medial of which forms the foot of an almost cup-shaped spot, black. Elytra decorated with a sutural border, and a marginal and each with a longitudinal black band: the latter without curvature at its base, extended up to three-quarters; adorned on each side of it with a testaceous-red band on a yellow background. Black belly. Femora partly black.

Differential diagnosis by Fürsch:
https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/MittMuenchEntGes_077_0005-0031.pdf
Smaller than D. uncifera and D. olivieri, broadly oval. The black elytral stripe is bordered on both sides with yellow and then red stripes. This black longitudinal stripe reaches the base of the elytra. Reticulation and punctuation on pronotum and elytra clearly pronounced.

iNat observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/235940629

This is one of three South African species with the anterior wing margin black/strongly infuscated.

• Anterior spiracle white
• Genae golden
• Proepimeral seta present
• Frons of female subparallel, fronto-orbital plate with upper part black and lower part bright, reddish

• Eyes in male widely separated, frons at its narrowest point
  measuring 0.5 or more times eye width; without demarcation between dorsal and ventral facets

Original description in:
Villeneuve, J. 1914. Description d'espèces africaines nouvelles du genre Chrysomyia Rob.-Desv. (Dipt.). Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 1914
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8246868#page/234/mode/1up

Photos of female museum specimen:
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1057539012

Photos from Natural History Museum London: https://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/collection-specimens/resource/05ff2255-c38a-40c9-b657-4ccb55ab2feb?q=laxifrons&view_id=6ba121d1-da26-4ee1-81fa-7da11e68f68e&filters=preservative%3ADry+%28pinned%29&field=associatedMediaCount&value=

Distribution in southern Africa: Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa
New record from eSwatini on iNaturalist

iNat observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/234134174

References:

Lutz, L. Williams, K. a., Villet, M. H., Ekanem, M. Szpila, K. 2018. Species identification of adult African blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of forensic importance. International Journal of Legal Medicine.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00414-017-1654-y

Irish, S. R., Lindsay, T, Wyatt, N. 2014. Key to Adults of Afrotropical species of the genus Chrysomya Robineau-Desvoidy. African Entomology 22(2)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276054123_Key_to_Adults_of_Afrotropical_Species_of_the_Genus_Chrysomya_Robineau-Desvoidy_Diptera_Calliphoridae

Specimen from Lund collection, photos by @johan_bogaert

Original description in:
Mulsant, E. 1850. Species des Coléoptères trimères sécuripalpes. Annales des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles, d’Agriculture et d’Industrie, Lyon (2) 2
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9443280#page/1024/mode/1up
Ovale; pubescent; d'un brun noir, en dessus, Elytres ornées chacune de deux taches arrondies, d'un rouge jaunâtre, subdiscales: l'une, au tiers: l'autre, aux cinq septièmes de la longueur.

Long. 0' n ,0036 (1 2/3 '). — Larg. 0' n ,0030 (1 1/31).

Corps ovale; faiblement ou médiocrement convexe; d'un brun noir et garni d'un duvet cendré grisâtre, en dessus : labre d'un rouge testacé obscur, Antennes et Palpes d'un rouge testacé livide sur leur première moitié, bruns sur la seconde. Prothorax en arc dirigé en arrière et bissinueux, à la base: ces sinuosités faisant paraître les angles postérieurs presque en forme de dent. Elytres obtusément arrondies à 1'extrémité; ornées chacune de deux taches d'un rouge jaunâtre, dune teinte peu vive, arrondies, situées presque sur le disque; la première, au tiers de la longueur, un peu plus rapprochée de la suture que du bord externe, égale aux deux septièmes de la largeur: la deuxième, un peu plus petite, aux cinq septièmes de la longueur, à peu près aussi distaute du bord externe que la première, un peu plus rapprochée de la suture. Repli, poitrine , pieds et partie médiaire des trois premiers arceaux du ventre, noirs: reste du ventre, fauve. Plaques abdominales en arc assez régulier, prolongées jusqu'aux trois cinquièmes de l'arceau.

[Oval body; weakly or poorly convex; black-brown and lined with grayish ash down, above: labrum of a dark testaceous red, Antennae and palps of a livid testaceous red on their first half, brown on the second. Prothorax in an arc directed backwards and bisinuate at the base: these sinuosities make the posterior angles appear almost tooth-shaped. Elytra obtusely rounded at the tip; each decorated with two spots of a yellowish red, of a faint tint, rounded, located almost on the disc; the first, a third of the length, a little closer to the suture than the external edge, equal to two-sevenths of the width: the second, a little smaller, five-sevenths of the length, approximately as distant from the outer edge than the first, a little closer to the suture. Fold, chest, feet and medial part of the first three arches of the belly, black: rest of the belly, fawn. Abdominal plates in a fairly regular arc, extended up to three-fifths of the arch.]

Patrie: le cap de Bonne-Espérance (collecl. Westermann)

iNat observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/235158594

This species resembles Eristalinus (Eristalodes) taeniops, but has spotted eyes. Eyes pilose above, male eyes holoptic; third antennal segment elongate, reddish below; facial tubercle shiny black; face strongly produced downward, subconical; antennal tubercle very prominent; posterior tarsi yellowish, with dark apices

Original description in:
Wiedemann, C.R.W. 1830. Aussereuropäische zweiflügelige Insekten. Als Fortsetzung des Meigenschen Werks. Zweiter Theil.
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/88495#page/200/mode/1up
Translated from Latin & German:
Thorax brassy with white vittae, scutellum ferrugineous, abdomen with white bands, eyes simple.
[...]
Female: First abdominal segment not yellowish on the sides; fourth segment apically and fifth segment basally with common white band; a laterally abbreviated band runs through the yellow of the second segment.
[...]
Male: Antennae black with brown arista; lower face white pilose, with black central streak and oblique, straight lateral streaks; genae white with oval black spot; beard white. Eyes grey pilose, forehaed white, above the antennae slightly protruding, black; vertex black; occiput yellowish pilose; thorax (mesonotum) bronzy-greenish (aeneous) with four whitish vittae: the middle stripes are posteriorly abbreviated, the outer ones are interrupted; thorax sides greyish. Second abdominal segment basally brownish-black (band narrowed laterally), otherwise honey-colour, with a blurred whitish transverse spot,behind which there is a second small, almost triangular spot. Third segment broadly white at the base, slightly narrower brown posteriorly, a small indistinct transverse line in the middle of the front border. Fourth segment white, with brown central band. Genitals blackish-violet. All segments thinly whitish pilose; underneath white, with honey-coloured centre.

Photo of male on PINDIP:
https://www.pindip.org/eristalinus-haplops

Type locality: 'Kap' [= Cape of Good Hope]
Distribution: Probably a South African near-endemic (GBIF record from Lesotho]

iNat observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?verifiable=true&taxon_id=664940&place_id=6987