Sepedon ruficeps is a widespread species among Sciomyzidae in the Afrotropical Region. Its general distribution, and more specifically that in Benin, is mapped. The complete life-cycle, from egg to adult, and descriptions of all immature stages are presented. Larval predation of freshwater molluscs is analyzed, with the main objective of discovering biological control agents for snail intermediate hosts of trematodes, principally Schistosoma and Fasciola species which affect man and domestic animals. The results reported here relate to Radix natalensis, snail host of Fasciola gigantea. In the absence of sufficient mollusc-prey, however, the fly larvae show alternative predation at the expense of the freshwater snail Aulophorus furcatus. This particularity could allow intensive laboratory rearing, before release of all stages of the fly in the field for biocontrol of distomiasis. S. ruficeps is undoubtedly polyphagous and multivoltine.

Ovigerous females of the species Geograpsus crinipes (Dana, 1851) were collected from the Rabigh coast of the Red Sea. The morphology of the first zoëal stage is illustrated and described in detail from laboratory-hatched material. The characteristic features of this stage are compared with those of the closely related first zoëal stage larva of G. lividus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) from the Pacific coast of Panama, the Gulf of Mexico and Jamaica. Morphological differences with respect to the larvae of G. lividus populations are discussed.

The present study is based on oribatid mite material collected during October and November 2012 in the course of a Russian-Ethiopian expedition to southern Ethiopia. An annotated checklist of identified taxa is provided, with 22 species, 19 genera and 15 families recorded. A new species, Perscheloribates paratranslamellatus sp. n., from xerophytic forest litter is described. It is most similar morphologically to Perscheloribates translamellatus (Pérez-Iñigo & Baggio, 1991), but differs from the latter by larger body size, presence of a rudimentary translamellar line, absence of prolamellar lines, longer setae p₁ and elongate openings of sacculi Sa, S1. A supplementary description of Paroppia breviseta (Balogh, 1962) based on Ethiopian specimens is presented.

The St Lucia Estuary is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is characterised by instability and experiences ongoing anthropomorphic change, both of which have a significant impact on the biodiversity of the estuary and surrounding area. Brachyurans (true crabs) play an integral role in the functioning and maintenance of this ecosystem. They are a food source for organisms at higher trophic levels, maintain nutrient balance, regulate trophic flow and aerate dense mud through the construction of burrows. However, since the early survey of Millard and Broekhuysen (1970), no study has focussed on this taxon, the identification of which is confounded by the existence of cryptic and pseudocryptic species. This study provides a census of the brachyuran species inhabiting the St Lucia estuarine lake, highlighting the changes in diversity that have occurred in this region between 1948 and 2012. A total of thirty species were found in the area during this period, five of which have not been recorded in previous literature. The extent to which regional endemic species, such as Paratylodiplax blephariskios, have been affected by the dynamics of the system is discussed. The distribution and abundance of three key species, namely P. blephariskios, Neosarmatium africanum and Hymenosoma projectum, are outlined; and possible reasons for observed changes are discussed. Future scenarios regarding the state of the estuary mouth and the stability of physico-chemical variables are also considered. Lastly, an annotated checklist illustrated by photographs is included to aid in identification of species for research and management purposes.

Twenty-nine species new to science are described on the basis of material collected in Togo, viz. Acerotella tschirnhausi, Amblyaspis tschirnhausi, Ceratacis afrotropica, Euxestonotus (Cylindrostonotus subg. n.) lissogastrus, Fidiobia filicornis, F. semirufa, F. tschirnhausi, Inostemma tschirnhausi, Leptacis cylindrica, L. elongaticeps, L. nigrotrochanterica, L. quadrilineata, L. sensillosa, L. togoensis, L. trilineata, L. tschirn-hausiana, Platygaster danyiensis, P. liga, P. lobata, P. otandjoboliensis, P. planivertex, P. subanguliceps, P. tricarinata, P. tschirnhausi, Synopeas basipubens, S. meieri, S. togoense, S. tschimhausi, and S. watsoni. New records from Togo of 22 known species are given.

This paper reports the capture of a specimen of Musca (Byomya) conducens Walker, 1859 from Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa, with two living lice (Linognathus sp.) attached to the legs, one to the left fore tarsus and another to the right mid tarsus. Phoresy in the Anoplura as a whole is extremely rare, and this case represents only the tenth record of phoresy of Anoplura on Diptera and only the fifth record on members of the family Muscidae. This case further represents the first recorded case of the same genus of lice being transported phoretically by more than one dipterous family, i.e., Culicidae and Muscidae. A photograph of one of the lice attached to the right mid tarsus is provided and previous records of anopluran phoresy are reviewed and discussed.

The anatomy and taxonomy of two western African nassariids are explored, based on samples collected in Morocco. The species are Dorsanum miran, the type species of the genus, and Bullia granulosa, a characteristic member of Bullia. Both possess the typical morphological and anatomical features of the family, including a pair of metapodial tentacles, a well-developed proboscis, elongated odontophore with fusion of cartilages, and highly concentrated central nervous system. Both species have in common the socket-like heads, bifid columellar muscles, and reduction of the gland of Leiblein. D. miran has well-developed eyes, cement gland, and preputial protection at the penis tip. B. granulosa lacks eyes, has multiplicity of some buccal mass muscles (transverse muscles and main dorsal tensor muscles — m2), and a thick-walled and broad anterior oesophagus. The characters are discussed in the light of present knowledge concerning caenogastropod taxonomy.

Aristobatina Verbeke is redefined and reviewed, and four new species, namely A. melasma, A. metamelasma, A. morogoro and A. udzungwa from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania are described. The diagnosis of Aristobatina is expanded to include species with outer vertical setae. Aristobatina is compared to Tanypomyia Verbeke and the latter genus is removed from synonymy with Mimegralla Rondani.

Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae: Luciliinae) have medical, veterinary and forensic importance. Knowing their distribution in South Africa would allow more effective management and utilisation of these flies. Their predicted geographic distributions in South Africa were modelled using maximum entropy analysis of selected climatic variables. The most important environmental variables in modelling the distributions were the magnitude of monthly rainfall and the magnitude of the monthly maximum temperature for L. sericata and the seasonal variation in monthly mean humidity and magnitude of monthly rainfall for L. cuprina. A clear geographical bias was shown in museum records and supports the need for focused surveys. There was no correlation between the predicted distribution of L. cuprina and sheep farming in South Africa, nor between the predicted distribution of L. sericata and human population density. Although their patterns of occurrence differed, both species are widely distributed in South Africa and therefore one cannot identify these flies by locality alone — morphological or molecular identification is necessary.