The genus Kermia Oliver, 1915, is recorded for the first time from South Africa. New species described are: Kermia geraldsmiithi sp. n., K. clathurelloides sp. n., K. drupelloides sp. n. and K. eugenei sp. n. New records for southern Africa are: Kermia melanoxytum (Hervier, 1896), K. edychroa (Hervier, 1897), K. pumila (Mighels, 1845), K. daedalea (Garrett, 1873) and K. producta (Pease, 1860). New synonymies established are: Clathurella birtsi Preston, 1908 and Mangelia chrysolitha Melvill & Standen, 1896 under Kermia punctifera Garrett, 1873; Pleurotoma gracilis Folin, 1871 and Mangelia anxia Hedley, 1909 under Kermia edychroa (Hervier, 1897); Pseudodaphnella punicea Hedley, 1922 under Clathurella blanfordi pullula Hervier, 1897 = Pseudodaphnella pullula; Defrancia mauritiana Sowerby, 1893 and Clathurina foraminata pyrgodea Melvill, 1917 under Clathurella producta Pease, 1860; Clathurella spelaeodea Hervier, 1897 under Clathurella infrasulcata Garrett, 1873 (currently Pseudodaphnella subgenus Qii). Type specimens of the following species are also illustrated: Pleurotoma apicalis Montrouzier in Souverbie, 1861; Pleurotoma cavernosa Reeve, 1845; Pleurotoma margaritifera Reeve, 1846; Glyphostoma melanoxytum Hervier, 1896; Clavatula tessellata Hinds, 1843. New combinations are established: Clathurella blanfordi G. & H. Nevill, 1875 transferred to the genus Paramontana Laseron, 1954, and Clathurella martensi G. & H. Nevill, 1875 to Pseudodaphnella Boettger, 1895. Pleurotoma pustulosa Folin, 1867 and Pleurotoma foraminata Reeve, 1845 are considered nomina dubia. A lectotype is designated for Clathurella daedalea Garrett, 1873.

The microchaetid species with spermathecal pores anterior to the testicular segment, intrasegmental or intersegmental, in 8/9, 9, or 9/10 and 10/11, were studied, These characters were observed in species of three genera: in proandric Proandricus (8 spp.), and holandric Geogenia (3 spp.) and Tritogenia (1 sp.). Some irregularities in setal arrangement, seldom observed in South African microchaetids but occurring in these proandric species, are considered in the lesothoensis species-group, Unusual for the South African microchaetids, although known in the South American glosscoscolecids, the locations of the spermathecae and their pores, a discrepancy in the arrangement of setae, and the species' geographical distribution all suggest a relationship with the Glossoscolecidae and a presumed Gondwanan origin. The distribution of the species in Gondwana ancestral to the Drakensberg is discussed. Two holandric species with spermathecae and their pores in the testicular and post-testicular segments are compared.

Nine species of tardigrades (Phylum Tardigrada) were found in moss and lichen samples in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with two species being also present in Lesotho. Macrobiotus richtersi, Minibiotus intermedius, Hypsibius convergens, Ramazzottius theroni, Milnesium tardigradum, and Echiniscus duboisi were previously known to be part of the southern African fauna, Macrobiotus iharosi has not been reported before from this region. One species, Macrobiotus cf. echinogenitus, could be identified only to species complex because eggs were not found. One South African species, Minibiotus harrylewisi sp. n., is new to science and is described and illustrated. It differs from other Minibiotus species in its adult cuticle and its egg ornamentation. It most closely resembles M. furcatus, from which it differs in having smooth lunules on leg IV, smaller eyes, smaller and more rounded posterior cuticular pores, and eggs with a smooth shell and much longer, non-bifurcate processes. These new records bring to 61 the number of tardigrade species reported from southern African mosses, lichens and soil.

A new monotypic genus of dark sac spiders is described from the western Soutpansberg Mountains in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Vendaphaea gen. n., with the type species V. lajuma sp. n., can be recognised by a peculiar genitalic morphology, closely situated posterior median eyes, lateral eyes on slight tubercles and the densely setose and heavily spined anterior legs. The genus is provisionally placed in Corinnidae incertae sedis and may be most closely related to the South African genera Pronophaea Simon, 1897 and Austrophaea Lawrence, 1952, and tropical African genus Mandaneta Strand, 1932, Vendaphaea lajuma sp. n. occurs in leaf litter and amongst grasses in montane savannah habitats.

A new genus and species of the grylloblattid family Chaulioditidae, Iphikozulu kwayayaensis Aristov & Mostovski, gen. et sp. n., is described from the Lopingian locality of KwaYaya in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This is the first record of the Chaulioditidae in Gondwanan deposits. The genera Triadosialis Handlirsch, 1906, Protomia Aristov, 2004 and Miralioma Aristov, 2004 are transferred to the family Chaulioditidae, and the genus Kargalella Martynov, 1937 is transferred to the Liomopteridae. Neoliomopterum picturatum Riek, 1976 from the Lopingian locality at Emakwezini Railway Station in KwaZulu-Natal is redescribed and transferred from Grylloblattida incertae sedis to the family Liomopteridae. The subfamily Kargalellinae Aristov, 2004 is synonymised under Liomopteridae Sellards, 1909.

Moraniella bella sp. n. is added to the hitherto monotypic Afrotropical genus Moraniella. The new species from South Africa is described, illustrated and compared with M. calodendri. On the basis of the new species an emended diagnosis of Moraniella is provided. M. bella is associated with Protorhus longifolia (Anacardiaceae), a host family typical for the Rhinocolinae. The single available larva was parasitised by an unidentified chalcidoid wasp.

The flies of the genus Pachycerina Macquart (Diptera: Lauxaniidae) in the Afrotropical region are taxonomically revised. Eleven species of Pachycerina are found in the Afrotropics (including Madagascar) with seven new species: P. atrimela sp. n., P. gabela sp. n., P. micropunctata sp. n., P. nigrivittata sp. n., P. pellocera sp. n., P. potentilla sp. n., and P. stuckenbergi sp. n. The Afrotropical fauna is relatively conservative in coloration and morphological variation; variation most affecting prefrontal (facial) spot size, abdomen colour, wing infuscation and male terminalia. All male Afrotropical Pachycerina have the protandrium partially fused to tergite 6 and possess simplified genitalia lacking an aedeagus and hypandrium. The absence of the aedeagus is an apparently unusual condition for lauxaniids, only otherwise recorded in Minettia Robineau-Desvoidy (Lauxaniinae) and beetle fly genera (Celyphinae). The male sternite 5 shows notable variability across species and is a useful aid to identification. A generic diagnosis and species identification key to Pachycerina males are provided. Two rearing records of larval Pachycerina from bird nests in South Africa are reported.

An account is provided of the family Chyromyidae in the Afrotropical Region and taxonomic characters are re-examined and discussed. A division of the family into two subfamilies, Chyromyinae and Aphaniosominae subfam. n., is proposed and a cladistic analysis corroborates the generic concepts. Illustrated keys are provided to aid identification of both sexes of all included species. African species in the genus Gymnochiromyia Hendel have been reviewed elsewhere (Ebejer 2008b) and are not included in the current revision. Five new genera are described, viz. Krifomyia gen. n., Oroschyromya gen. n., Notiochyromya gen. n., Paraphaniosoma gen. n. and Tethysimyia gen. n. Aphaniosoma sexvittatum Lamb, 1914, is newly assigned to Paraphaniosoma gen. n. and Aphaniosoma deemingi Ebejer, 1996, to Tethysimyia gen. n. Rhicnoessa minutissima Bezzi, 1908, previously removed from Canacidae (as Tethininae) and placed in Chyromyidae by Munari in 1994, is re-examined and newly assigned to Krifomyia gen. n., Chyromya dubia Lamb, 1914, to Oroschyromya gen. n. and C. sexspinosa Lamb, 1914 to Notiochyromya gen. n. The following 27 species are described as new: Oroschyromya affinis sp. n., O. bicolor sp. n., O. elgonae sp. n., O. elongata sp. n., O. fusciceps sp. n., O. gracilipes sp. n., and O. peruncinata sp. n.; Notiochyromya filigera sp. n., N. lucida sp. n., N. monticola sp. n., and N. tripunctata sp. n.; Somatiosoma awashensis sp. n., S. grandicornis sp. n., S. messumensis sp. n., and S. setipygum sp. n.; Aphaniosoma aethiops sp. n., A. aldabrensis sp. n., A. atriceps sp. n., A. conspicuum sp. n., A. flavescens sp. n., A. frequens sp. n., A. gaiasicum sp. n., A. kirkspriggsi sp. n., A. micropygum sp. n., A. pullum sp. n., A. trilobatum sp. n., and A. ugabensis sp. n.

Katydids of the genus Ewanella Naskrecki (Mecopodinae) and stick-like katydids of the genus Conocephalus Thunberg (Conocephalinae) are reviewed. The latter representatives are included in the subgenus Megalotheca Karny, stat. n., which was formerly considered a separate genus but is here reduced to a subgenus of Conocephalus. Three new species from South Africa are described: E. breviuscula sp. n., C. (M.) namibius sp. n., and C. (M.) zlobini sp. n. Identification keys to all species of Ewanella and Megalotheca are given.

The following new species of Dryinidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) are described from South Africa: Aphelopus mostovskii, A. vernonensis, Anteon sanyatense, A. ngoyense, Dryinus daviesi, Gonatopus ntumenensis. A checklist of Dryinidae known in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is presented. New host records are made for Gonatopus nearcticus, G. communis, and G. guigliae.

Five new Somoplatus species, Somoplatus depilis sp. n., S. pilicollis sp. n., S. morettoi sp. n., S. ivoirensis sp. n. and S. genierorum sp. n. from Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso are described and illustrated. Paralophidius septentrionalis (Burgeon, 1936) is reinstated in the genus Somoplatus Dejean, 1829, and the new synonymy Paralophidius Basilewsky, 1986 = Somoplatus Dejean, 1829 is proposed. All specimens from the Ivory Coast were collected in abandoned termite hills in savannah habitats. One specimen of S. pilicollis sp. n. and the specimens of S. genierorum sp. n. were collected using light traps and flight interception traps in Burkina Faso. Basilewsky's key of the genus Somoplatus Dejean (Basilewsky, 1986) is updated to include the new species.