Two Asian freshwater gastropods, Radix rubiginosa (Michelin, 1831) (Lymnaeidae) and Gyraulus chinensis (Dunker, 1848) (Planorbidae) are reported from a facility supplying fish and plants to the aquarium trade in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Neither species has been found in South Africa previously. Both are considered potentially invasive. Updated keys for Lymnaeidae and Gyraulus spp. in South Africa are presented. An analysis of data on the dates of first collection and regions of origin for all 14 freshwater snails known to have been introduced into the country, regardless of whether or not they have survived, shows three phases of introduction. These are (i) from North America between the 1940s and 1960s, (ii) from South America during the 1970s and 1980s and (iii) from Asia between the 1990s and the present. Further research may show two species long regarded as indigenous to also be introductions.

Nonalatus epigaeus sp. n., a new wingless species from Mt. Hanang in Tanzania, is described, figured and briefly compared with its sister taxon Nonalatus brevis (Schenkling, 1908). The new species has been collected from forest litter samples and therefore seems to be epigeous.

Examining a small collection of earthworms from the highlands of Cameroon resulted in clarifying the taxonomic status of Eminoscolex franzi Zicsi & Csuzdi, 1986 stat. n. and discovering a new eudrilid genus Okudrilus gen. n. containing three new species: O. monticolus, O. sulcatus and O. nyosensis spp. n. The new genus is similar to Metascolex Michaelsen, 1903; however, it differs from it in the position of the gizzard, the structure of the ovo-spermathecal system and furthermore in the presence of penial setae. It also resembles Vomia Segun, 1976 but differs from it in the metandric condition of the male genitalia and the long backward running vesicles. Apart from the new eudrilid taxa the material also contained a new acanthodrilid species, Dichogaster (Diplothecodrilus) asymmetrica sp. n., characterised by the asymmetric position of its spermathecal duct-ampulla junction. All members of this new genus were collected in North West Region, with O. monticolus endemic to the summit grasslands of Mount Oku, and is possibly threatened by climate change, and soil degradation through overgrazing and fire.

Five new species of ptyctimous oribatid mites are described, identified and illustrated from the Afrotropical Region: Plonaphacarus paramachadoi sp. n. and Protophthiracarus turianiensis sp. n. from the Nguru Mountains of Tanzania, Hoplophthiracarus paratryssos sp. n. and Atropacarus (Atropacarus) primus sp. n. from Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar, and Notophthiracarus dispersus sp. n. from Vohidrazana Forest in Madagascar. A comparison with the most closely related species is also presented.

The east African millipede genus Obelostreptus Attems, 1909 is revised to include four species, new distribution records are given, and a new combination is established. In addition, the genus is removed from the family Harpagophoridae and placed in the Spirostreptidae. A new species, O. bilamellatus VandenSpiegel sp. n. from Kenya is described, and Mardonius nakitawa (Silvestri 1907) is removed from the genus Mardonius Attems, 1914 to become the fourth known species, O. nakitawa comb. n., in Obelostreptus. An identification key to the species of Obelostreptus based on male gonopod structure is also presented.

Five new species of the genus Notophthiracarus are described, identified and figured from sifted soil and leaf litter samples from different parts of Madagascar: N. liratus sp. n., N. lineatus sp. n., N. micidus sp. n., N. obliquus sp. n., and N. quasisimilis sp. n. Comparisons with the most closely related species of the genus are also presented.

The external morphology of Isomerocera Enderlein, an Afrotropical genus of Stratiomyidae, is discussed and illustrated with special regard to specific structures on the antenna, surface cover, and male and female terminalia. The species of Isomerocera are re-examined, based on 524 specimens (including four types) from 15 institutions, and two species were distinguished. The rare species I. heteraspis James, 1949 is characterised by some unusual autapomorphic characters. The common I. quadrilineata varies remarkably in colour characters, and the extent and density of hair patches. Isomerocera maculiventris (Macquart, 1850) is considered to be a junior synonym of I. quadrilineata (Fabricius, 1787) as is I. natalensis (Gerstaecker, 1857). Isomerocera quadrilineata var. melecta, as originally described by Speiser (1908), is identical with the nominal form. Generic characters are compared with the related genus Ptilocera from the Oriental and Australasian regions. Distribution data are summarised on the basis of the reliable published records and/or extensive material that we examined and collected in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville), Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe. I. heteraspis is known only from two localities in Burundi and Uganda. The known distribution of I. quadrilineata essentially covers the vast area of savannahs and the zone of lowland tropical moist broadleaf forests in Africa.

The South African species of Caecidae are revised on the basis of the material stored in the KwaZulu-Natal Museum (Pietermaritzburg, South Africa). Twenty species are recognized, 10 of which are described as new: Caecum austrafricanum, C. incisum, C. intortum, C. Knysnaense, C. leilae, C. lindae, C. maraisi, C. morgan, Parastrophia avaricosa and P. ornata. The lectotype of Caecum subquadratum Carpenter, 1859 is herein selected.

Five new species of plume moths, viz. Agdistis iversoni sp. n., A. vansoni sp. n., A. buffelsi sp. n., A. samknotti sp. n. and A. kaunda sp. n., are described from South Africa. Previous records of Agdistis species from southern Africa are summarised.

Certain groups of invertebrates are becoming mainstreamed in conservation activities in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly groups that have many species endemic to the province and that are confined to small distribution ranges. As a result of this there is a need to assign common (English) names where these are unavailable. A list of scientific names and standardised common names is presented for species of millipede occurring in KwaZulu-Natal.

One new species of Afrothaumalea is described from South Africa (A. stuckenbergi sp. n.). The pupa of Afrothaumalea is described for the first time and a key to all three species of Afrothaumalea is provided.

Aspects of the ecology and life history of the little known theraphosid Nesiergus insulanus are determined on Frégate Island in the Seychelles archipelago. The general behaviour of this species is revealed to be comparable to that of other theraphosids, with field and captive observations establishing that they are a generalist and opportunistic species. The defensive behaviour of the species is determined to be based primarily on the avoidance of conflict situations, with overt aggressive behaviour seldom displayed. Although the opportunistic existence that this species has developed is probably obligatory due to their sedentary lifestyle and limited availability of resources, this behaviour nonetheless allows the species to occupy diverse habitats and exploit niches unavailable to more specialized species.

Coelometopon glenavoni sp. n. and Oomtelecopon disjunctum sp. n., two madicolous hydraenid beetles are described from the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa respectively. Diagnostic notes are provided for both species, together with a discussion of the ecology and biogeography of the two genera.

Four established genera of Afrotropical Asilidae: Laphriinae, Choerades Walker, 1851, Laphria Meigen, 1803, Nannolaphria Londt, 1977 and Notiolaphria Londt, 1977 are discussed, and a new genus, Ericomyia gen. n. described. As no true Laphria are known from the afrotropics the following nine species are newly combined with Choerades pending review: auricorpus (Hobby, 1948) comb. n., ctenoventris (Oldroyd, 1970) comb. n., fortipes (Walker, 1857) comb. n., hera (Bromley, 1935) comb. n., luctuosa (Macquart, 1847) comb. n., metalli (Walker, 1851) comb. n., ricardoi (Bromley, 1935) comb. n., rueppelii (Wiedemann, 1828) comb. n., schoutedeni (Bromley, 1935) comb. n. This brings the number of recognised Afrotropical Choerades species to 25.

New records are provided for the monotypic Nannolaphria, known only from South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Provinces).

Notiolaphria is reviewed with many new records provided. Six species are recognised, four transferred from Laphria and two new to science: (1) No. coerulescens (Macquart, 1834) comb. n., a widely distributed species (Indian Ocean Islands and African Mainland), and six species newly synonymised with it (Laphria albimaculata Macquart, 1838, Laphria breonii Macquart, 1838, Laphria cyaneogaster Macquart, 1838, Laphria submetallica Macquart, 1838, Laphria macra Bigot, 1859 (with existing synonym Laphria nusoides Bromley, 1931), No. africana (Londt, 1977); (2) No. dimidiatifemur (Oldroyd, 1960) comb. n. (Madagascar); (3) No. microtheres sp. n. (Madagascar); (4) No. miltothorax sp. n. (Madagascar); (5) No. rufitibia (Oldroyd, 1960) comb. n. (Madagascar); (6) No. stuckenbergi (Oldroyd, 1960) comb. n. (Madagascar). The species are well illustrated and a key for their separation is provided along with distribution maps.

Ericomyia gen. n. is described and illustrated based on Madagascan material previously assigned to Laphria atomentosa Oldroyd, 1960.

The considerable variation in size of No. coerulescens specimens and the species' wide distribution, presently involving five Indian Ocean islands and a number of African countries, is discussed. It is suggested that oceanic currents are responsible for the distribution, while deforestation may have resulted in a decreased size of individuals.

The Afrotropical species of Deinodryinus Perkins, 1907 are revised and in part redescribed. A new species, D. sofiensis, is described from Sofia District, Mahajanga Province, Madagascar. A new key to the females and males of the Afrotropical species of Deinodryinus is presented.

Megaselia guentermuelleri sp. n. with a remarkable wing pattern is described from Mali. The new species readily differs from all other Megaselia, including those with ornamented wings, by the presence of a large pigmented swelling in its wing, among other features.