African Entomology - Volume 14, Issue 2, September 2006

Recent studies on Afrotropical fruit flies (Tephritidae) have endeavoured to place the known genera of the flower-infesting subfamily Tephritinae into a classification of tribes, subtribes and generic groups, as well as resolve some of the questions of synonymy and nomenclature at generic and specific levels (Hancock 2001, 2003a, b; Hancock et al. 2001, 2003). Such studies form a necessary precursor to an understanding of the biogeography of the group.

The present work reports on tabanid species diversity and seasonal abundance from two areas observed during tsetse fly research in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal province. Both areas are included in the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, a World Heritage Site where the insect diversity is of conservation interest.

A sample of bugs collected from Cape serotine bats, Neoromicia [Eptesicus] capensis (A. Smith 1829), in March 2002 were identified as belonging to the obligate bat parasite, Cacodmus villosus (Stål, 1855), a representative of the bed bug family.

Fulmekiola serrata (Kobus) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was recorded on sugarcane on mainland Africa for the first time during 2004. Specimens have been collected from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumpalunga provinces.

Namibia is the driest country in the southern African subregion, with 92 % of the total surface area classified as arid. However, in the northern regions of Kavango and Caprivi, high average temperatures, rainfall, humidity and permanent rivers are features making this area ideal for mosquito breeding and malaria transmission (De Meillon 1951).