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

By

Snyman, Louwtjie
Ohl, Michael
Mansell, Mervyn W.
Scholtz, Clarke

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2012

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

184

Pages

67-93

Subjects

Afrotropical , key , Lacewings , Mantispidae , Neuroptera

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.184.2489

 

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 S. austroafrica comb. n., S. bequaerti comb. n., S. dorsalis comb. n., S. girardi comb. n., S. nubila comb. n., S. perla comb. n., S. pusilla comb. n., S. similata comb. n., S. royi comb. n., S. tincta comb. n. and S. 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.