Catherine L Sole

University of Pretoria | UP · Department of Zoology and Entomology

The Karoo region of South Africa is a unique and sensitive ecosystem which is facing pressure for development due to economic incentives such as mining, farming and shale gas exploration. The species diversity of many taxa in the area is largely unknown. A phylogenetic analysis of the cork-lid trapdoor spider genus, Stasimopus (Stasimopidae) was un...

A new genus of mygalomorph spider Ekapa gen. nov., is described from South Africa. The new genus was formed to include the species Hermacha curvipes Purcell, 1902 and Hermacha nigra Tucker, 1917. These species are synonymized based on their somatic similarities, such as fovea shape, cheliceral teeth distribution, ocular pattern, presence of preenin...

Progress is required in response to how cities can support greater biodiversity. This calls for more research on how landscape designers can actively shape urban ecologies to deliver contextspecific empirical bases for green space intervention decisions. Design experiments offer opportunities for implemented projects within real-world settings to s...

Regional biogeographical patterns result from a complex combination across habitat, climate and environmental variables. Biotic and abiotic variables strongly influence the diversity and spatial distribution pattterns. However, very few studies analyse the close interaction and effect of environmental variables on diversity at fine spatiotemporal s...

Scarabaeus sevoistra Alluaud, 1902 was previously thought to be extinct. While identifying Scarabaeinae species on the iNaturalist website, photos posted by citizen scientists were discovered and identified as this species by the authors. The importance of the rediscovery of the species is presented here. We provide new biological notes for the spe...

Monitoring the effectiveness of tsetse fly control interventions that aim to reduce transmission of African trypanosomiasis requires highly efficient sampling tools that can catch flies at low densities. The sticky small target (StS-target) has previously been shown to be more effective in sampling Glossina fuscipes fuscipes compared to the biconic...

Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of Leishmania parasites that cause leishmaniases. Both sexes of sand flies feed on plants primarily for sugars, although the chemical cues that mediate attraction to host plants remain largely unknown. Previously, using coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the authors identified several volatile organic...

Background: Black screen fly round (BFR) is a mobile sampling method for Glossina morsitans. This technique relies on the ability of operator(s) to capture flies landing on the screen with hand nets. In this study, we aimed to evaluate a vehicle-mounted sticky panel trap (VST) that is independent of the operator's ability to capture flies against...

Variation in vector traits can modulate local scale differences in pathogen transmission. Here, we compared seasonal variation in the wing length (proxy for body size) and energy reserves of adult wild-caught Aedes aegypti populations from a dengue endemic (Kilifi) and non-endemic (Isiolo) area of Kenya. Vector sampling in the dengue endemic site w...

The role of the geological uplift and climatic changes during the late Cenozoic on the species diversification of southern African dung beetles is not fully understood. Therefore, we use a divergence-time-estimated phylogeny, macroevolutionary analyses and ecological niche modelling under different climatic scenarios to investigate diversification...

The role of the geological uplift and climatic changes during the late Cenozoic on the species diversification of southern African dung beetles is not fully understood. Therefore, we use a divergence-time-estimated phylogeny, macroevolutionary analyses and ecological niche modelling under different climatic scenarios to investigate diversification...

A fundamental understanding of plant sugar feeding behaviour in vector populations can lead to the development of ecologically effective vector monitoring and control strategies. Despite previous studies on mosquito–plant interactions, relatively few have been conducted on the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). The authors studied Ae...

The bioecology of phlebotomine sand flies is intimately linked to the utilization of environmental resources including plant feeding. However, plant feeding behavior of sand flies remains largely understudied for Afrotropical species. Here, using a combination of biochemical, molecular, and chemical approaches, we decipher specific plant-feeding as...

Phlebotomine sand flies transmit many viral protozoan and bacterial pathogens of public health importance. Knowledge of the ecologic factors influencing their distribution at local scale can provide insights into disease epidemiology and avenues for targeted control. Animal sheds, termite mounds and houses are important peri-domestic and domestic h...

Background In a recent study using DNA barcoding, we identified the plants fed upon by four Afro-tropical mosquito species that vector dengue, malaria, and Rift Valley fever. Herein, we have expanded on this study by investigating the role of three of the plants, Pithecellobium dulce (Fabaceae), Leonotis nepetifolia (Lamiaceae), and Opuntia ficus -...

Teratology is the science that deals with the causes and patterns of deformities, abnormalities and defects in the physical development of animals. Teratological occurrences can be due to genetic or environmental conditions. Ocular teratologies are common in hypogean spiders. This communication reports on the occurrence of ocular teratologies of th...

Aim: The high diversity of species in southern Africa has been attributed to geological and palaeoclimatic factors. The timing of radiations in some groups is held to be linked to these geoclimatic trends. Using the Scarabaeinae dung beetle genus, Sisyphus, as a model system, we investigate how geological uplift and climatic changes in the late Cen...

Background: In a recent study using DNA barcoding, we identified the plants fed upon by four Afro-tropical mosquito species that vector dengue, malaria, and Rift Valley fever. Herein, we have expanded on this study by investigating the role of three of the plants Pithecellobium dulce (Fabaceae), Leonotis nepetifolia (Lamiaceae), and Opuntia ficus-i...

Background: In a recent study using DNA barcoding, we identified the plants fed upon by four Afro-tropical mosquito species that vector dengue, malaria, and Rift Valley fever. Herein, we have expanded on this study by investigating the role of three of the plants Pithecellobium dulce (Fabaceae), Leonotis nepetifolia (Lamiaceae), and Opuntia ficus-i...

Background: In a recent study using DNA barcoding, we identified the plants fed upon by four Afro-tropical mosquito species that vector dengue, malaria, and Rift Valley fever. Herein, we have expanded on this study by investigating the role of three of the plants Pithecellobium dulce (Fabaceae), Leonotis nepetifolia (Lamiaceae), and Opuntia ficus-i...

Background In a recent study using DNA barcoding, we identified the plants fed upon by four Afro-tropical mosquito species that vector dengue, malaria, and Rift Valley fever. Herein, we have expanded on this study by investigating the role of three of the plants Pithecellobium dulce (Fabaceae), Leonotis nepetifolia (Lamiaceae), and Opuntia ficus-in...

It is proposed that the genus Stiptopodius Harold, 1871 should be subdivided into two species groups based on the shape of the lateral edge of the pronotum. Three new species are described from southern Africa: Stiptopodius peringueyi Daniel & Deschodt, new species, Stiptopodius savuti Daniel & Deschodt, new species, and Stiptopodius muellerae Dani...

Adult Mantispidae are general predators of arthropods equipped with raptorial forelegs. The three larval instars display varying degrees of hypermetamorphic ontogeny. The larval stages exhibit a remarkable life history ranging from specialised predators of nest-building hymenopteran larvae and pupa, to specialised predators of spider-eggs, to possi...

The pet trade has been a major pathway for the introduction of vertebrate invaders, but little is known about its role in invertebrate invasions. Here we assess the trade in terrestrial invertebrates (excluding spiders) in South Africa and the potential of this trade to result in biological invasions and impacts. Pet stores, websites, and expositio...

Upsa centennial Deschodt, Sole & Scholtz, new genus and species is described, celebrating a century of entomology at the University of Pretoria. This new genus in the dung beetle tribe Endroedyolini (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) occurs in the Albany Coastal Mistbelt forest in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. A distribution map and key for...

The medically important spider genus Latrodectus Walckenaer 1805, commonly referred to as “button spiders” in South Africa, is represented by six species in the country. Using morphology and the COI barcoding gene we describe a new forest dwelling species, Latrodectus umbukwane n. sp. Wright, Wright, Lyle and Engelbrecht. Females have red markings...

The recently described dung beetle tribe Byrrhidiini currently comprises seven genera and nineteen species (Davis et al. 2019). During a recent collecting expedition to the Brandberg Mountain [S21.11° E14.69°] in Namibia, a single male specimen, together with various disarticulated body parts of a new species belonging to this tribe were collected....

We describe four new species in the genus Cymatodera Gray (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Tillinae): Cymatodera acuminata and Cymatodera unica from Mexico, Cymatodera parva from El Salvador and Honduras, and Cymatodera magdalena from Colombia. A distribution map of the new species is given. All relevant diagnostic characters are extensively figured and disc...

Hyalonthophagus Palestrini & Giacone, 1988, from Afrotropical savanna, is raised to generic status having been originally described as a subgenus within the genus Onthophagus Latreille, 1802. Hyalonthophagus pulcher Deschodt & Davis, new species is described from the Northern Cape, South Africa. Maps are provided to show (1) the locally-restricted...

The southern African genera Nemopterella Banks, 1910 and Nemia Navás, 1915 (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae: Nemopterinae) are revised. Nemopterella is split into three genera: Nemopterella sensu stricto with type species Nemopteryx africana Leach, 1815 (= Nemopterella africana), Afroptera gen. nov., with type species Nemopterella munroi Tjeder, 1967, and...

The tribe Sisyphini Mulsant was recently redefined following the transfer of the endemic southern African genus Epirinus Dejean from the polyphyletic tribe Deltochilini Lacordaire. A molecular phylogeny of the southern African members of Sisyphini supports Epirinus as sister to Sisyphus Latreille and recovered three major clades in Sisyphus classif...

Bostrichoclerus bicornus Van Dyke is known from southwest United States and northwest Mexico. To date, only two specimens have been captured: the holotype, collected on Isla Angel de la Guarda, in the Gulf of California, Mexico, and a second individual collected in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The original description of B. bic...

Bostrichoclerus bicornus Van Dyke is known from southwest United States and northwest Mexico. To date, only two specimens have been captured: the holotype, collected on Isla Angel de la Guarda, in the Gulf of California, Mexico, and a second individual collected in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The original description of B. bic...

The genus Macroderes Westwood, 1842 (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae, tribe incertae sedis) is practically endemic to South Africa with only one species that is found little north in southern Namibia. The ranges of the species are limited to the winter-fall and bimodal biomes of South Africa comprising the regions of Richtersveld as extreme points of it...

The genus Macroderes Westwood, 1842 (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae, tribe incertae sedis) is practically endemic to South Africa with only one species that is found little north in southern Namibia. The ranges of the species are limited to the winter-fall and bimodal biomes of South Africa comprising the regions of Richtersveld as extreme points of it...

The Mantispinae (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) genera of the Oriental and Palearctic regions are revised. A morphological key to the genera is generated. Austroclimaciella, Campancella, Mantispa, Mantispilla, Necyla, Stenomantispa and Tuberonotha are redescribed. The Ohl (2004) catalogue is updated for the relevant genera. Sagittalata (= Perlamantispa)...

The tribe Sisyphini sensu stricto Mulsant, 1842 comprises only three genera, the widespread Sisyphus Latreille, 1807 and Neosisyphus Müller, 1942, and the Mauritius endemic, Nesosisyphus Vinson, 1946. In southern Africa, Sisyphus and Neosisyphus are represented by five species groups in each genus. Together, they comprise a total of 33 valid specie...

Erratum to Fig. 16 - Cabralis pallidus n. sp.

The correct version of Figure 16: FIGURE 16. Cabralis pallidus n. sp., habitus, paratype, female, Entabeni Forest Reserve, South Africa, Database no.: NEUR00006.

The global spread of vector-borne diseases remains a worrying public health threat, raising the need for development of new combat strategies for vector control. Knowledge of vector ecology can be exploited in this regard, including plant feeding; a critical resource that mosquitoes of both sexes rely on for survival and other metabolic processes....

List of compounds identified from five host plants of Afro-tropical mosquito species and relative amounts ± SEM (ng). The compounds were identified from headspace volatiles of LN = Lenonotis nepetifolia, RC = Ricinus communis, SA = Senna alata (host plants of Anopheles gambiae), PD = Pithecellobium dulce (host plant of Aedes aegypti) and OFI = Opun...

Mass spectra and chemical structures of electrophysiologically active compounds which were confirmed with synthetic standards. A) hexanal, B) (E)-2-hexenol, C) β-myrcene, D) (E)-β-ocimene, E) (Z)-linalool oxide (furanoid), F) (Z)-linalool oxide (pyranoid), G) indole, and H) benzaldehyde. (TIF)

Stingless bees are important pollinators of cultivated and wild plants, contributing significantly to biodiversity and food security. Conserving pollinator plant interactions is essential to secure these ecosystems services. The use of morphological features in the identification of stingless bees in the genus Hypotrigona is extremely difficult, du...

Afrotropical Psychopsidae Handlirsch are revised based on morphology. Molecular data from a previous study enables updated taxonomy in this revision, and morphology corroborates phylogenetic divergences. The genus Silveira was found to form a lineage separate from Zygophlebiinae based on molecular data and six morphological synapomorphies. In this...

Five new species of Cymatodera from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama are described here based on adult male and female specimens: Cymatodera humeralis sp. n; Cymatodera lorenae sp. n.; Cymatodera crassa sp. n.; Cymatodera depressa sp. n; and Cymatodera nigrofasciata sp. n. Male genitalia and other characters of taxonomic value are...

Fully illustrated identification guide to the extant subfamilies, genera and species of the Afrotropical Psychopsidae. Please follow the link to access: http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/Afrotropical_Psychopsidae/

Psychopsidae (silky winged lacewings) are a small family of Neuroptera characterized by broad hirsute wings that impart a physical resemblance to moths. The fossil record includes many psychopsid-like taxa from the Late Triassic to Early Oligocene from all major continents. Extant species have a disjunct, tripartite distribution comprising Afrotrop...

The Psychopsidae are a small family of Neuropterous insects that possess broad wings – creating a physical likeness to moths. Globally, they show a disjunct tripartite distribution (comprising of sub-Saharan Africa, south-east Asia and Australia) pointing to an ancient Gondwanan origin for the group. This study aims to explore the evolutionary hist...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161118.].

The subfamily Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) may have originated in Gondwanaland, through Mesozoic vicariance or dispersal in association with dinosaur dung, or through Cenozoic dispersal in association with mammal dung. We review evidence from age-calibrated phylogenies, fossil records, biogeographical patterns, and ecological association...

Micro-organisms inhabiting animal guts benefit from a protected and nutrient-rich environment while assisting the host with digestion and nutrition. In this study we compare, for the first time, the bacterial and fungal gut communities of two species of the small desert dung beetle genus Pachysoma feeding on different diets: the detritivorous P. en...

Photographs of P. endroedyi (a) and P. striatum (b) in their natural environment before collection (courtesy of Hennie de Klerk). (TIF)

Rarefactions curves showing gut microbial community richness of all Pachysoma individuals for bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon data of: a) P. endroedyi, b) P. striatum; and c) fungal ITS gene region amplicon data of P. striatum. (TIF)

Small mammals provide ecosystem services, acting, for example, as pollinators and seed dispersers. In addition, they are also disease reservoirs that can be detrimental to human health and they can also act as crop pests. Knowledge of their dispersal preferences is therefore useful for population management and landscape planning. Genetic data were...

The name Phoberus capensis (Scholtz) is applied to a small flightless, keratinophagous beetle endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Its gross distribution stretches from roughly 1000 km from the Cederberg (32°24’22” S, 19°04’50” E) to Grahamstown (33°20’07” S, 26°32’50” E). The populations are spatially discrete, restricted to relic...

Lack of effective vaccines and therapeutics for important arboviral diseases such as Rift Valley fever (RVF) and dengue, necessitates continuous monitoring of vector populations for infections in them. Plant-based lures as surveillance tools has the potential of targeting mosquitoes of both sexes and females of varied physiological states; yet such...

The genus Afromantispa Snyman & Ohl, 2012 was recently synonymised with Mantispa Illiger, 1798 by Monserrat (2014). Here morphological evidence is presented in support of restoring the genus Afromantispa stat. rev. to its previous status as a valid and morphologically distinct genus. Twelve new combinations (comb. n.) are proposed as species of Afr...

Extant genera and subgenera of the Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) are reviewed. Contemporary classifications of this family have been based exclusively on morphological characters. The first molecular phylogeny for the family recently provided strong support for the relationships between morphologically defined genera and subgenera. On the ba...

List and table of species names, updated from Ohl (2004)

Morphometric dissimilarity metrics aim to quantify the variation between compared specimens such that inferences about their relatedness and alpha taxonomy can be made. Recently, the technique has developed metrics that purport to quantify shape dissimilarity between specimens—employing the use of least squares regression analysis. These metrics ha...

Dung beetles of the subfamily Scarabaeinae have a worldwide distribution, with the Afrotropical region, the putative origin of the diversification of Scarabaeinae, having the richest diversity. We use partial sequences from two ribosomal (16S, 28S) and two protein coding genes (COI, CAD) to examine the relationships among 55 genera, representing mo...

The Psychopsidae are a small family of Neuropterous insects that possess broad wings – creating a physical likeness to moths. Globally, they show a disjunct tripartite distribution (comprising of sub-Saharan Africa, south-east Asia and Australia) pointing to a Gondwanan origin for the group. The study aims to: 1) Revise the African taxa and 2) Reco...