Insect or Invertebrates Identification - DONE

[Klipspringer]

you think is the same... male and female
again Klipspringer

Yes, in this species the sexes look very different.

So no objections and we can add it to the books

Another one done

[Klipspringer]

Antistia Parva, Kaltenbach 1996.jpg

Bark Mantid Tarachodes sp.
Family Tarachodidae. Subfamily Tarachodinae. Tribe Tarachodini

There are 9 similar looking species found in South Africa.


Attracted to the outdoor light at KTC in KTP in Nov. 2013


Habitat
Usually on tree trunks in the warmer parts of the region. Range extends to Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Biology
Tarachodes sp. move about on the trunks of trees in search of caterpillars and other prey. Several African species show maternal care, with females guarding the egg case for up to 70 days until the nymphs hatch.

Body structure
Their head is triangular and extraordinarily mobile with large compound eyes set very high on the upper corners and three simple eyes called ocelli on top of the head (between the compound eyes).



Behavior
Most mantids sit quietly and wait for prey to come within reach, but a few species actually chase down their victims. After feeding, they always spend a great deal of time grooming. They use their forelegs to wipe their eyes, heads, and antennae.

I think, this is not Tarachodes, but



Antisdia parva or a Galepsus male



head of Galepsus here, page 40 - looks very similar in shape
http://verlag.nhm-wien.ac.at/pdfs/100B_ ... enbach.pdf

**********************************
I can't find much info. at all on Antistia, but the few pics I see certainly appear very similar. HOWEVER, as I know only too well, that is in no way a scientifically valid ID component. As per my usual, I'll have to rely on your best judgement, and I certainly have no problem having its ID changed. Obviously, I can't read German, so most of that literature was not decipherable to me. Big help, I know, as per my usual. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.

Here is an Antistia species identified by an expert
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11008713

ID (Antistia) suggested by R. Ehrmannn; In the observation area only 2 species are at home, Antistia maculipennis and A. robusta, which are very much alike. It is not totally clear from my picture, which of them I have observed.

[Klipspringer]

The Kaltenbach figure https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/ANNA_98B_0193-0346.pdf

We could also consider the species from Clanwilliam, the face pattern look more similar

A. vicina is recorded from the Northern Cape and Luderitz, Namibia, so might have a wide distribution in the arid west.


The Kaltenbach description (I have highlighted the relevant parts)

Antistia vicina sp.n. (Abb. 22, 26, 182)
Locus typicus: Algeria Forestry, Südafrika.
Material: Holotypus (d): SÜDAFRIKA: Cape Province, Algeria Forestry, Clanwilliam Dist., 4.-
I0.III. 1969, Potgieter & Strydom, TMSA; Paratypen: 2 66 vom gleichen Fundort, TMSA und NHMW. -
NAMIBIA: 1 6. Plateau 38, Lüderitz, 16.- 18.X.1970, S.M. H 10054, SMWN.

Diagnose: (d; ç unbekannt): Antistia vicina sp.n. ist in Größe und Gestalt A. maculipennis ähnlich.
Frontalschild 1,7 - l,9mal so breit wie hoch, Frontalschild-Oberrand flach bogenförmig, Scheibe ohne medianem Querwulst.
Pronotum wie bei den anderen Antistia-Arten mit sehr schwach ausgeprägter Supracoxalerweiterung, 2,0 - 2,2mal so lang wie breit. Mediankiel nur angedeutet. Metazona 1,7 - 1,8mal so lang wie die Prozona, gegenüber dieser verschmälert, mit einer Querfurche im basalem Drittel. Pronotum-Scheibe flach gewölbt, Rand nur spärlich bewimpert.
Elytren 4,2 - 4,4mal so lang wie das Pronotum. Vordertibien mit 9-10 Außenranddornen. Schreitbeine stark pubeszent. Körperfärbung bräunlich, schwarzbraun punktiert. Elytren und Alae transparent, mit brauner Aderung, ohne dunkle Fleckenzeichnung im distalen Feld. Nur im proximalem Teil der Elytren ein kleines Flügelstigma.

Maße in mm: Long, corp.: 22,0 - 24,0; Long, pronoti: 4,2 - 4,3; Long, metazonae: 2,7 -
2,8; Lat. pronoti: 2,0 - 2,1; Long, elytr.: 18,2 - 18,5.

Differentialdiagnose: Von den drei anderen Arten der Gattung durch den höheren Frontalschild, die fehlende Flügelzeichnung und besonders durch den Bau des Kopulationsorgans gut unterscheidbar.

Obviously I can read German, but the science lingo of yesteryear is not really German. However - I understand the highlighted bits: A. vicina can be told from the other species in the Genus by the lack of dark patches on the the elytra. If you compare with the photos above, you can see the dark markings on the elytra, which your Antistia does not sport.

The other Kaltenbach document from 1998 reads in the key-section:

3) Elytren im distalen Teil des Diskoidalfeldes mit einer schräg verlaufenden Reihe dunkelbrauner Längsmakeln (Abb. 23, 24). Diskoidalfeld der Alae distal mit dunkelbraunem Querstreifen; wenn transparent ohne dunkle Zeichnung ist der Pseudophallus kurz und gedrungen.

5(4) Alae des Männchen hyalin mit kurzem braunen Querstreifen (Abb. 23), der bei A. vicina Kaltenbach manchmal fehlt.

Again the "Längsmakeln" in the distal section of the forwing or the lack thereof and the spots on the hindwings. As the hind wings ("alae") are hyaline, the dark spots should be visible if present when the wings are folded at rest.


How is that for a diagnosis?

[Klipspringer]

Photos of Antistia vicina

https://specimens.mantodearesearch.com/specimens/1670

Two male specimens from Olifantshoek (between Uptington and Kuruman)
https://www.google.com/maps/search/olif ... 3012966,8z

Also a very good match - I think



Exfmem, you have a similar one from Kruger here
viewtopic.php?p=355055#p355055

[nan]

no objection, well done
ant thank you too for the Bembix sp. above

[ExFmem]

I received this Christmas present reply today:
Yes, sure, this is Chauliooestrus denudatus. Great photo!
Like a Christmas gift

/Thomas



Will write it up this week.

Klippies

[Klipspringer]

I received this Christmas present reply today:
Yes, sure, this is Chauliooestrus denudatus. Great photo!
Like a Christmas gift

/Thomas



Will write it up this week.

Klippies

Indeed a great present, I love the "yes sure" - as if there was never any doubt and everyone would know at first glance

ExFmem and Thomas Pape

[Richprins]

A small bee?

It mimics a bee

A wasp?

[Klipspringer]

A small bee?

It mimics a bee

A wasp?

No, most members of this family mimic wasps others as yours are bee-mimics They visit flowers and many of them (the wasp mimics) are yellow with dark stripes or marks.

[Lisbeth]

Hoverfly?