A revision and key to the genera of Afrotropical Mantispidae (Neuropterida, Neuroptera), with the description of a new genus

Abstract

The Afrotropical Mantispidae genera have previously been neglected and are poorly known. The genera are revised and redescribed. A new genus Afromantispa Snyman and Ohl is described with Afromantispa tenella comb. n.as type species. Perlamantispa (Handschin, 1960) is synonymised with Sagittalata Handschin, 1959. The new combinations within the genus include Sagittalata austroafrica comb. n., Sagittalata bequaerti comb. n., Sagittalata dorsalis comb. n., Sagittalata girardi comb. n., Sagittalata nubila comb. n., Sagittalata perla comb. n., Sagittalata pusilla comb. n., Sagittalata similata comb. n., Sagittalata royi comb. n., Sagittalata tincta comb. n. and Sagittalata vassei comb. n. An illustrated key to the genera Afromantispa gen. n., Sagittalata Handschin, 1959, Mantispa Illiger, 1798, Cercomantispa Handschin, 1959, Rectinerva Handschin, 1959, Nampista Navás, 1914, and Pseudoclimaciella Handschin, 1960 is provided. The wing venation of Mantispidae is redescribed. Similarities between the genera are discussed. Subsequent studies will focus on revising the taxonomic status of species, which are not dealt with in this study.

On Afromantispa and Mantispa (Insecta, Neuroptera, Mantispidae): elucidating generic boundaries

“…The elongated line on the procoxa of Sagittalata suggested by Snyman et al (2012) was considered as a weak character by the authors. Sagittalata lacks the greatly enlarged gland present between the V and VI tergites.…”

“…The former is characterised by an elongated prothorax, elongated procoxa protruding from the anterior pronotal margin and conspicuous raptorial forelegs. Recently, one of the genera, Mantispa Illiger, 1798 has been the focus of taxonomic studies (Snyman et al 2012; Monserrat 2014). Mantispa was originally described by Illiger (1978) and quickly became the most speciose genus with a cosmopolitan distribution.…”

“…Mantispa was originally described by Illiger (1978) and quickly became the most speciose genus with a cosmopolitan distribution. Studies by Lambkin (1986a; b), Hoffman (2002), Machado and Rafael (2010) and Snyman et al (2012) excluded Mantispa ’s distribution from much of the world and consequently Mantispa is no longer thought to occur in the Neotropics, Nearctic, Afrotropics or Australasia. Mantispa , according to the morphology of the type species Mantispa pagana (Fabricius, 1775) (synonymised with Mantispa styriaca (Poda, 1761)), is thus probably a small genus from the Palearctic.…”

“…In their study on the Afrotropical mantispid genera, Snyman et al (2012) proposed that the majority of the Mantispa -like species from the Afrotropics and south western parts of Europe can be defined as a separate genus and consequently described Afromantispa . The authors unfortunately did not provide a list of species belonging to the newly erected genus claiming it would be best left until a full revision of the genus could be launched.…”

South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA): review of current knowledge, constraints and future needs for documenting spider diversity (Arachnida: Araneae)

“…Despite a rich diversity of Mantispidae (Neuroptera) in the Afrotropical Region, little remains known of the biology and hosts of individual species (Snyman et al, 2012). While mantispids are widely regarded as important predators of spider eggs (Redborg, 1998), only Croeser (1996 has reported Climaciella erichsoni Guérin-Méneville and other unidentified predators of Palystes eggs in South Africa, while Pseudoclimaciella spp.…”