Phylogeny and biogeography of southern African spoon-winged lacewings (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae: Nemopterinae).

Nemopteridae are a charismatic family of lacewings characterised by uniquely extended hind wings. They are an ancient widespread group in the drier regions of the world. The family comprises two subfamilies, Crocinae (thread-wings) and Nemopterinae (spoon- and ribbon-wings). The present distribution of the family has been largely influenced by the vicariant events of plate tectonics, resulting in relict populations in some parts of the world and extensive evolutionary radiations in others, particularly southern Africa where the vast majority of the species are endemic to the Western and Northern Cape Provinces of South Africa. This study aimed to establish the validity of the 11 currently recognised genera and infer their biogeographic history using molecular sequence data from four gene regions. The hypothesis that the Cape nemopterines co-evolved with certain taxa in the Cape Floristic Region was also tested. Phylogenetic analysis supports seven of the 11 currently recognised genera. The crown age of the Nemopterinae is estimated to be at ca. 145.6 Mya, indicating that the group has been present since the late Jurassic. Most of the genera appear to have diversified during the middle Eocene and into the middle Miocene (ca. 44-11 Mya) with recent rapid radiation of several of the genera occurring during the late Miocene (ca. 6-4.5 Mya). While these data support an initial radiation with the Rushioideae (Aizoaceae) it is recommended that further study including observations and gut content be carried out.

A remarkable new lichenophilous Pamexis species from the Hantam Karoo of South Africa (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Palparini).

A new species of Pamexis Hagen, Pamexis hantam, from the Calvinia District, Northern Cape Province, South Africa, is described and illustrated. It is the second lichenophilous species to be recorded in the family Myrmeleontidae. A review is provided of its known habitat and behavior. Immature stages are unknown.

Description of adult and third instar larva of Trichostetha curlei sp. n. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae) from the Cape region of South Africa.

A new high altitude montane species of Trichostetha Burmeister, 1842 is described from the Elandsberg range of the Western Cape interior. This represents the 14(th) species of the genus and the first to be reported with a description of its larva. It is a significant addition to the growing number of species that exhibit no adult feeding behaviour and a short period of activity restricted to the onset of summer. Larvae dwell in rock crevices, feeding on decomposing plant matter. The genus Trichostetha is heterogeneous and the complex variability observed in some species, especially T. capensis (Linnaeus, 1767), requires the re-instatement of taxa that were recently synonymised. Thus, T. bicolor Péringuey, 1907 is here re-proposed as a separate species and T. capensis hottentotta (Gory & Percheron, 1833) as a separate subspecies. Conversely, T. alutacea Allard, 1994 is recognised as a dark variety of T. signata (Fabricius, 1775) and is, consequently, synonymised with this species.