Revision of the southern African genera Nemopterella Banks and Nemia Navás (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae: Nemopterinae), with descriptions of new genera and species Author Abdalla, Ishtiag H. Author Mansell, Mervyn W. Author Sole, Catherine L. text Zootaxa 2019 2019-07-12 4635 1 1 89 journal article 26219 10.11646/zootaxa.4635.1.1 de5c3cc9-9773-4e79-aaaf-0e964d7262f8 1175-5326 3335102 E1AC3BD4-6FCB-49F9-8069-624760C2CAF7 Afroptera bitis ( Tjeder, 1967 ) comb. nov. ( Figs 64 , 89 , 104 , 146 , 152 ) Synonymy Nemopterella bitis Tjeder, 1967: 465 . Etymology. From the town of Pofadder ( type locality) that was named after a well known and widespread African snake, Bitis arietans , whose common Afrikaans name is “Pofadder” or “puff adder” in English. Type locality. SOUTH AFRICA , Northern Cape Province . Pofadder , 29°07’S 19°23’E . Type depository. ZILS . Diagnosis. Adults of A. bitis resemble those of A. dyscrita in their large body size and broad forewings ( Fig. 89 ), but A. bitis can easily be distinguished from A. dyscrita by a combination of the following characters: A. bitis has dense white hairs over the whole thorax ( Fig. 104 ) while in A. dyscrita the prescutum is covered in stiff black hairs ( Fig. 102 ). Moreover, A. bitis has long antennae that reach the pterostigma ( Fig. 89 ) while in A. dyscrita they do not ( Fig. 129 ). Size (mm). Male: body length 9.8 (8–11.7); forewing 23.6 (18.7–27.0); hind wing 55.7 (41.1–64.8); antenna 21.7 (17–25.5); Female: body length 11.2 (9.3–13.7); forewing 22.7 (19.2–26.3); hind wing 49.4 (42–55.6); antenna 15.2 (12.3–18.2). (N = 319). Type material examined. SOUTH AFRICA , Northern Cape Province . Holotype ♂ ( Fig. 89 ) labelled: Cape Prov , Pofadder , 9.XI.1950 , P.Brinck , G.Rudebeck , På lijus [on light] / Holotypus ♂ Nemopterella bitis Tjed, Bo Tjeder 1966 ’ (red printed label) / MZLU Type no. 3845:1 ( ZILS ) . Paratypes : 4♀ , TMSA02062 , Paratype Neu 094, Nemopterella bitis Tjeder (yellow printed label) / Pofadder [ 29°07’34’’S 19°23’44’’E ], 17.x.1954 , A.J.T.Janse (white printed label) / Paratypus , Nemopterella bitis Tjed, Bo Tjeder, 1966 (red handwritten label). ( TMSA ) . Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA , Northern Cape Province . 2♂ , TMSA00729 , Richtersveld , 7 km SW Claim Peak , 28°26’S 17°10’E , 23.ix.1991 , M.Krüger / Nemopterella bitis Tjeder, 1967 , Det. M.W.Mansell 2013; 1♂ 1♀ , TMSA00753 , Pofadder [ 29°07’34’’S 19°23’44’’E ], 17.x.1954 , A.J.T.Janse / Nemopterella bitis Tjed- er, 1967, Det. M.W.Mansell 2013; 1♂ 1♀ , TMSA00758 , Kenhardt 6 km W [ 29°20’57’’S 21°09’03’’E ], 12.x.54 , A.J.T.Janse. ( All TMSA ) . 9♂ , NEUR09772 and 16♀ , NEUR09783 , Kabas Farm , 10 km NE Pofadder , 29°02’S 19°26’E , 800m , 1.xi.1986 , M.W.Mansell ; 143♂ 47♀ , NEUR08925 , Richtersveld , Die Koei , 28°17’S 16°59’E , 400m , 1–6.x.1991 , M.W.Mansell , R.G.Oberprieler / Collected at light ; 50♂ 33♀ , NEUR08927 , Richtersveld , De Hoop turnoff, 3 km E Die Koei , 28°17’S 17°02’E , 450m , 6.x.1991 , M.W.Mansell / Collected at light ; 1♀ , NEUR08928 , Richtersveld , Hakkiesdoringhoek , 28°25’S 17°11’E , 500m , 2.x.1991 , M.W.Mansell , R.G.Oberprieler . NAMIBIA , Karas Region . 7♂ 2♀ , NEUR10209 , ‘ Boom River Canyon 4 km N Orange ( ESE of Rosh Pinah ), 28°00’S 17°03’E , 200m , 25.x.1996 , E.Holm , at gas light . Distribution and habitat. Afroptera bitis is endemic to the Northern Cape Province , South Africa , from localities mainly centred in the Richtersveld and Bushmanland Bioregions ( Fig. 152 ). The Bioregions fall mainly within the Succulent and Nama Karoo Biomes. The habitats vary from arid mountainous desert with a succulent vegetation type and winter rains in the Richtersveld Bioregion to arid habitats dominated by shrubs and grass, characterized by late summer rains in Bushmanland ( Mucina & Rutherford 2006 ).