Afroptera sabuleti (Tjeder, 1967) comb. nov.

(Figs 72, 90, 114, 118, 153)

Synonymy

Nemopterella sabuleti Tjeder, 1967: 474.

Etymology. Unknown, but most likely to have been derived from the Latin word sabulet (sandy, sandstone, smoothed) referring to the sandy habitat from which the species was collected.

Type locality. South Africa, Northern Cape Province. Richtersveld, Brakfontein, 28°56’S 17°06’E.

Type depository. TMSA.

Diagnosis. This species is very similar to A. munroi and A. nigrosetosa. It can be separated from A. munroi by the following combination of characters: A. sabuleti has distinct brown thoracic stripes, while in A. munroi the thoracic stripes are faint, also the hairs on the prescutum disc of A. sabuleti are black, while in A. munroi they are white. Afroptera sabuleti is further characterised by the distinct yellow body colour, while in A. munroi the colour is less pronounced. Afroptera sabuleti also has slender, less acute forewings and smaller eyes. Comparisons between A. sabuleti and A. nigrosetosa are provided under the diagnosis of A. nigrosetosa.

Size (mm). Male: body length 10.4 (10–10.7); forewing 23.2 (22.9–23.4); hind wing: 54 (49.6–56); antenna 20.4 (19.2–21.6); Female: body length 10.9 (10.7–11); forewing 20.3 (19.7–24); hind wing 46 (43.2–54); antenna 11.3 (11–11.5). (N = 4).

Type material examined. SOUTH AFRICA, Northern Cape Province. Holotype ♂ (Fig. 114), TMSA00728, HOLOTYPE Neu 060, Nemopterella sabuleti Tjeder (red printed label) / Brakfontein, Richtersveld [28°56’S 17°06’E], 20.X.1933, G.van Son (white handwritten label) / Holotypus ♂, Nemopterella sabuleti Tjed., Bo Tjeder 1966 (red handwritten label). Paratype: 1♀, same data as holotype. (Both TMSA).

Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA, Northern Cape Province. 1♂ 1♀, TMSA00770, Richtersveld, Eksteinfontein Valley, [28°50’S 17°15’E], 28.ix.1991, M.Krüger; 1♂ 1♀, Richtersveld, Brakfontein [28°56’S 17°06’E], 20.x.1933, G.van Son. (All TMSA).

Distribution and habitat. This species is limited to a small range of distribution within the Succulent Karoo Biome in the Northern Cape Province (Fig. 153). The known distribution falls mainly within the Lekkersing Succulent Shrubland in the Richtersveld Bioregion (Mucina & Rutherford 2006). This habitat is dominated by dwarf leaf-succulents, small trees, herbaceous climbers and geophytic herbs. The area receives predominantly winter rains with an average of 60–120 mm per year (Mucina & Rutherford 2006).