The Afrotropical robber fly genus Hermannomyia Oldroyd, 1980 is reviewed. A new species, H. ukasi sp. n., is described from the biologically interesting Ukasi region of the Eastern Province of Kenya, while all known locality records are provided for previously described species, H. engeli (Hull, 1962) and H. oldroydi Londt, 1981. An identification key and distribution map are provided.

The Afrotropical species of the genus Paralimosina L. Papp, 1973, are discussed. Six new species, Paralimosina australis sp. n. (Rwanda, Burundi, South Africa), P. congoensis sp. n. (Republic of Congo), P. flavifacies sp. n. (Tanzania), P. heteroneura sp. n. (South Africa), P. paraustralis sp. n. (South Africa), and P. sinelineata sp. n. (South Africa) are described. The morphological variety among the Afrotropical species of Paralimosina seems to be the widest. Therefore, it is expected that many other new species will be described from the region in the future. An identification key to the new taxa is provided.

The genus Karliella Michelsen, gen. n., is described to accommodate Pegomyia sexpunctata Karl, 1935 (syn.: Pegomyia abdominalis Emden, 1941). The peculiar morphology of Karliella makes it difficult to find a closer relationship to any particular anthomyiid genus or group of genera, which suggests that it represents the only extant member of an ancient lineage. The type species and only included species, Karliella sexpunctata (Karl, 1935), comb, n., appears to be locally abundant in dry and mesic woodland of Namibia and South Africa, but has also been found in Botswana and Zambia. The larvae probably develop in dung from large herbivorous mammals. The female has been observed laying eggs on newly formed, unburied scarab dung-balls, but whether this is customary behaviour is unknown.

The structure of the male gonopods of millipedes has been considered to be species-specific. As such, gonopods—which aid in copulation and sperm transfer—are used in the taxonomic diagnosis and description of species. However, it was recently demonstrated that gonopod morphology is not always characteristic of species. Diagnoses based on gonopod morphology can therefore result in underestimation of taxonomic diversity amongst millipedes. On the basis of this observation, we examined genetic variation in two populations (approximately 250 km apart) of a widely distributed and colour-polymorphic southern African millipede, namely Bicoxidens flavicollis Attems, 1928. An analysis of genetic divergence based on 520 nucleotides of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene, and 684 nucleotides of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, demonstrated high levels of divergence (19.09% for cytochrome oxidase 1 and 6.66% for 16S rRNA) between the two populations. These results suggest the presence of cryptic species in B. flavicollis and, furthermore, corroborate observations that taxonomy based on gonopod morphology may be too inclusive.

Ten species of Phoridae reared from fungi in Benin are reported, including the descriptions of the following: Megaselia cakpoae Disney, sp. n., Megaselia fuscilobulorum Disney, sp. n., Megaselia kurinai Disney, sp. n. and Megaselia tedersooi Disney, sp. n. Megaselia termitomyca Disney, 1989 is synonymised with Megaselia labiata Borgmeier, 1967.

The new genus and species, Gondwanascorpio emzantsiensis, are described in Scorpiones incertae sedis on the basis of fragments from the Famennian (Late Devonian) Waterloo Farm locality near Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. This finding adds to the sparse record of Late Devonian scorpion taxa and provides the first evidence of Palaeozoic scorpions from Gondwana. Material includes a complete chela with associated patella as well as a telson with associated metasomal segment V, resembling those of the Mesoscorpionina. This is the first record of a scorpion occurring at high latitudes. Its close resemblance to contemporary taxa from Laurasia and China is consistent with evidence from the type locality for increasingly uniform terrestrial ecosystems by the end of the Devonian, characterised by cosmopolitan plant genera such as the progymnosperm tree Archaeopteris. In part, this may reflect increasing proximity between Laurasia and Gondwana towards the end of the Devonian. These specimens also provide the earliest record of terrestrial animals in Gondwana.

The Asian and Indo-Australasian fig tree species Ficus microcarpa and F. religiosa are widely-planted street and garden ornamentals in southern Africa and elsewhere. Like other fig trees, they depend for pollination on host specific fig wasps (Agaonidae). Their pollinators have also been widely introduced, and this allows the trees to become naturalised weeds. Both trees also support numerous non-pollinating fig wasps that can reduce seed or pollinator numbers, and a sub-set of these assemblages also now have wide distributions outside their native range. Two South African pollinators (Elisabethiella baijnathi, E. stuckenbergi), a galler (Otitesella uluzi) and a parasitoid (Sycoryctes species) occasionally succeed in reproducing in the figs of F. microcarpa, but in very small numbers. The tree's usual pollinator is absent but three Asian gallers of F. microcarpa are now widely established (Odontofroggatia corneri, Odontofroggatia galili and Walkerella microcarpae), and a fourth native species has expanded its host range and is developing as a parasitoid of the Odontofroggatia species (Sycophila punctum). In contrast, the Asian pollinator of F. religiosa (Platyscapa quadraticeps) has colonised South Africa and Zambia and is likely to be present throughout southern Africa. No non-pollinator associates have been recorded in the region. Without its usual pollinator, F. microcarpa cannot reproduce, but F. religiosa may eventually become established in areas with a suitable climate.

An extensive collection of Muscidae, amassed through recent expeditions to Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Namibia and South Africa, is now deposited at the National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Twenty-five specimens of 14 species impaled with the eggs of Stylogaster Macquart (Diptera: Conopidae) were discovered among this material. New records of Stylogaster eggs are presented for four muscid genera: Afromydaea Malloch, 1930, Coenosia Meigen, 1826, Hebecnema Schnabl, 1889 and Pseudohelina Vockeroth, 1972, and for eight species: Afromydaea debilis (Stein, 1913), Coenosia ruwenzorica (Emden, 1940), Hebecnema semiflava Stein, 1913, Limnophora obsignata (Rondani, 1866), Pseudohelina nigritarsis (Jaennicke, 1867), Pseudohelina phaeoxantha (Emden, 1951), Pyrellina abdominalis Zielke, 1971 and Pyrellina versatilis (Villeneuve, 1916). A brief discussion of these associations is presented.

Trigonuropoda (Foveolatatrigon) mahunkaorum sp. n. is described and illustrated on the basis of two females and one male collected in Madagascar. This is the first record of the genus in the Malagasy region. The new species differs from the other known Trigonuropoda (Foveolatatrigon) species by the shapes of ventral setae, genital shield of female and peritremes. A new key to the Afrotropical Trigonuropoda species is given.

Eudicella trimeni is reportedly one of the most endangered species of the genus, having been declared virtually extinct until recently. Present research has shown that the species occurs in an area wider than previously known. However, its habitat is disappearing at a fast rate and the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal populations appear to be sufficiently different from each other to warrant at least subspecies status and further investigation. Third instar larvae of the northern population were collected recently in the Karkloof Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal. They were reared to adulthood under environmentally controlled conditions and are here described.

Musca albina is reported as kleptoparasitic on dung-rolling scarab beetles in Namibia, where female flies were observed following dung-rolling Scarabaeus damarensis and ovipositing in partially buried dung balls. This is a first record of kleptoparasitism in the Muscidae.

Forty-two specimens of African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus (Clariidae) were collected from a number of localities in the Okavango Delta in Botswana and examined for digenean parasites. The morphology of these parasites was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. Six digenean species, four represented by adults and two by metacercariae, belonging to five different genera were collected from various organs within the fish. Clinostomoides brieni is described from the branchial chamber; a Neodiplostomum type metacercariae from the musculature; Phyllodistomimi bavuri and Phyllodistomum vanderwaali from the urinary bladder; Glossidium pedatum from the intestine and one new species, Thaparotrema botswanensis sp. n. from the gall bladder. These are all new geographical records for southern Africa.

The genus Heriaeus Simon, 1875 is revised in the Afrotropical Region. Ten new species are described: H. allenjonesi (♂♀ South Africa), H. antoni (♀♂ Yemen), H. copricola (♂♀ South Africa), H. foordi (♂♀ South Africa), H. madagascar (♂ Madagascar), H. muizenberg (♂ South Africa), H. peterwebbi (♂♀ South Africa), H. sossusvlei (♀ Namibia), H. xanderi (♂♀ South Africa) and H. zanii (♂♀ South Africa and Tanzania). Heriaeus fimbriatus Lawrence, 1942 is redescribed and recognized as the male of H. crassispinus Lawrence, 1942, and synonymized here. Two other previously known Afrotropical species are redescribed: H. transvaalicus Simon, 1895 (including the first male description) and H. latifrons Lessert, 1919.

Tritogenia zuluensis (Beddard, 1907) is re-described and the taxonomic position of this species is verified. Limited knowledge of South African earthworms at the time of the original species description and a misleading specimen illustration led to difficulty in the establishment of its true identity. Thanks to protection of the type material at the Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway, this species can be redescribed and illustrated, and its lectotype and paralectotype are designated. Types of Microchaetus zulu Michaelsen, 1907, a junior synonym of Tritogenia zuluensis, safely stored for more than a hundred years in the Göteborg Natural History Museum, Sweden, was most helpful in the process of re-description. The significant role played by museums and similar organizations in protecting past and present natural resource treasures for the future, is highlighted. The crucial function of natural history collections in supporting traditional taxonomy, the key to understanding biodiversity, is clearly demonstrated.

Despite the large number of surveys of ticks that have been carried out, there are almost no recent records of ixodid ticks from the Waterberg area, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Free-living ticks on a commercial game farm in the Thabazimbi District, Limpopo Province, South Africa, were captured via 432 drags in eight sample sites from September 2003 to August 2008. The seasonal variations in occurrence of the ticks and details of their populations on a game farm, are described. Eight tick species have been collected, viz. Amblyomma hebraeum, Haemaphysalis elliptica, Hyalomma rufipes, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evert si, Rhipicephalus zambeziensis and Rhipicephalus sp. The most abundant was the blue tick Rh. (B.) decoloratus. The data on the seasonal variations in tick numbers on the game farm can be used to determine the optimal time for applying tick control.

DNA barcoding was used to investigate laboratory and commercial stocks of Eisenia species from four provinces of South Africa. The COI gene was partially amplified and sequenced in selected earthworms from eight local populations (focal groups) and two European laboratory stocks (non-focal groups). Only nine COI haplotypes were identified from the 224 sequences generated. One of these haplotypes was found to belong to the megascolecid Perionyx excavatus. The remaining eight haplotypes belonged to the genus Eisenia, although only a single E. fetida haplotype, represented by six specimens, was found in one of the European populations. The other seven haplotypes, all occurring in South Africa, were E. andrei. One of the commercial stocks from South Africa and a laboratory culture from Europe were mixtures of E. andrei-P. excavatus and E. andrei-E. fetida, respectively. Previous allozyme studies have helped to suggest that some of the populations included in this study may be suffering from inbreeding depression, which could result in adverse consequences for both the vermiculture industry and ecotoxicological research in South Africa.

The East African country of Tanzania was surveyed extensively for its fauna of saucer bugs (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae) in July and August 2010 and August 2013. Previously, two subfamilies, three genera and six species were known from the country. All taxa previously recorded from Tanzania were re-collected, with the exception of two species, Neomacrocoris karimii Poisson and N. usambaricus (Montandon). We added three genera (Aneurocoris, Ctenipocoris, and Laccocoris) and eight species; thus, the known naucorid fauna of Tanzania now includes six genera and 14 species. Included in the collections were two undescribed species of Neomacrocoris. An annotated list and illustrated key to the species are presented.

Tunisia has many Artemia populations, but little information is available concerning their taxonomy, biometry and morphology. This work is an updated systematic inventory of Artemia populations in Tunisia, based on the comparison of different morphometric parameters measured in cultured adult individuals. Sixteen Tunisian Artemia populations were examined. The study included reference samples of two Artemia franciscana (San Francisco Bay, California, USA; and Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA) populations. The variability among the diverse populations was studied by statistical treatment of data through the analysis of variance. This analysis did not unveil any particular similarity among the Artemia populations studied, apart from the width of the head of male specimens (F=1.088, P=0.360). Biometrical analysis of these data was performed via multivariate discriminant analysis, and using the origin of each population as a separation factor. Results revealed that all the Tunisian Artemia populations studied can be classified as Artemia salina, with the exception of the Artemia population from Sabkhet Halk El Menzel, which belongs to Artemia franciscana.

A complete list of the peer-reviewed journal articles, books and book chapters authored or co-authored by Richard Neil Kilburn is provided. In addition, an inventory of all new taxa described by him is given, together with a list of the taxa named in his honour.

Coenosia macrotriseta sp. n. is described from the Western Cape, South Africa, with C. globuliseta Pont being redescribed and new illustrations provided. As judged by external morphological characters, particularly the presence of globular setae, the two species are very closely related. They are, however, very widely separated geographically and differ clearly as regards genital structure.

A revision of the world-wide available material of the Afrotropical streptaxid subgenus Avakubia Pilsbry, 1919, prompted the change in status to independent genus and the detection of undescribed species. In addition to the two earlier described species, A. avakubiensis (Pilsbry, 1919) and A. acuminata (Thiele, 1933), the genus Avakubia is found to embrace at least seven new species, viz., A. crystallum de Winter, sp.n. from Gabon; A. fruticicola de Winter & Vastenhout, sp. n., A. semenguei de Winter & Vastenhout, sp. n. and A. subacuminata de Winter & Vastenhout, sp. n. from Cameroon; A. ortizdezarateorum de Winter & Vastenhout, sp. n. and A. biokoensis de Winter & Vastenhout, sp. n. from Bioko I., Equatorial Guinea, and A. occidentalis de Winter, sp. n. from Ghana. Of some other potentially new Avakubia species insufficient material is available to allow a formal description. For a West African radiation with remarkably similar shells, but differing from true Avakubia in protoconch and teleoconch characters, a new genus Pseudavakubia de Winter & Vastenhout, gen. n. is erected with four new species, viz., P. atewaensis de Winter, sp. n., P. majus de Winter & Vastenhout, sp. n. (type species), P. ghanaensis de Winter, sp. n., and P. liberiana de Winter, sp. n. Avakubia avakubiensis has been reported in the literature from Uganda to Liberia, a range of 4750 km. Study of this material restricts the range of this species to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, the remaining records were found to refer to five other species of Avakubia or Pseudavakubia described in this paper, each with a much more restricted range. The genital anatomy of both Avakubia and Pseudavakubia is found to deviate from most other members of the family Streptaxidae in the absence of chitinous spines in the penis. Both genera are ovoviviparous. In the penis of a specimen of A. acuminata a spermatophore-like structure was found. Some aspects of the ecology of these rainforest-dwelling snails are described. An identification key to the species of Avakubia and Pseudavakubia is provided.