Development of a multi-entry identification key for economically important fruit fly larvae (Diptera, Tephritidae, Dacinae).

Identification of fruit fly larvae is difficult due to the limited morphological characteristics present. However, this is the stage at which fruit flies are intercepted at ports of entry through horticultural imports. Molecular tools are useful but are time-consuming and expensive compared to morphological identifications.

A checklist of Nigerian ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): a review, new records and exotic species.

Background: Ants are one of the most ubiquitous, widespread and abundant groups of animals on Earth. They are eusocial and are well noted for their important ecosystem services such as nutrient recycling, seed dispersal, engaging in mutualistic associations with other organisms, as well as serving as predators and scavengers. Although Africa has been recognised as a global hotspot for ant diversity, African ant genera are not as well-known when compared with other regions.

Description of a new montane freshwater crab (Arthropoda, Malacostraca, Decapoda, Potamonautidae) from the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

A new species of freshwater crab, , is described from the Winterberg-Amathole mountain range in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Morphologically, Peer & Gouws, most closely resembles but can be distinguished by key morphological characters including the variation in the shape of the subterminal segment of gonopod 2 between both species. Genetically, Peer & Gouws, is placed within the clade of small-bodied, mountain-dwelling crabs including , , , , , and .

(Indigofereae, Fabaceae), a new species from the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

In this study, , a new species of from the Agulhas Plain Region of the Western Cape Province, South Africa, is described. A composite photographic plate is included along with a distribution map, description of habitat and ecology and proposed IUCN conservation status. is unique in the group by having digitately compound (vs.

Barcoding pest species in a biodiversity hot-spot: the South African polyphagous broad-nosed weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae).

Polyphagous broad nosed weevils (Curculionidae: Entiminae) constitute a large and taxonomically challenging subfamily that contains economically significant agricultural pests worldwide. South Africa is a hot-spot for biodiversity and several species of indigenous and endemic genera of Entiminae have shifted on to cultivated plants, with some being phytosanitary pests. The sporadic pest status of many species (where the species has an occasional economic impact on the agricultural industry, but is not encountered often enough that is is readily recognisable by researchers and agricultural extension workers) and the presence of pest complexes and cryptic species represent an identification challenge to non-specialists.

Revision of the endemic Afrotropical genus (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) with an identification key to genera of Banchinae for the region.

The Afrotropical banchine fauna comprises 12 genera: Morley, Kriechbaumer, Taschenberg, Gravenhorst, Morley, Schmiedeknecht, Gravenhorst, Szépligeti, Cameron, Förster, Seyrig, and Viktorov. A well-illustrated revised key to the genera using high definition images is provided, and the endemic Afrotropical genus is revised, previously represented by two described species. Four new species are described: , , , and The first species-level identification key is provided for this rare genus.

Molecular evidence for cryptic species in the common slug eating snake (Squamata, Lamprophiidae) from South Africa.

We examined the impact of climatic fluctuations on the phylogeographic structure of the common slug eating snake () throughout its distribution in South Africa. The evolutionary history within the taxon was examined using partial DNA sequence data for two mitochondrial genes (ND4 + cyt ) in combination with a nuclear locus (SPTBN1). Phylogenetic relationships were investigated for both the combined mtDNA and total evidence DNA sequence data.