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Observer

nosekamva

Date

September 9, 2024 09:40 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

hannah68082

Date

September 2, 2024 11:20 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Piebald Longleg Toktokkie (Stenocara eburnea)

Observer

skyoshana

Date

August 29, 2024 12:25 PM CAT

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Observer

cecileroux

Date

August 28, 2024 04:10 PM SAST

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Observer

cecileroux

Date

August 27, 2024 01:42 PM SAST

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Observer

michael_sojo

Date

September 4, 2024 06:13 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Serrated Winter Katydid (Brinckiella serricauda)

Observer

andreass1

Date

August 28, 2024 12:38 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

andreass1

Date

August 28, 2024 03:28 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Brooklet Milkweed Bug (Spilostethus rivularis)

Observer

felix_riegel

Date

December 12, 2017 12:33 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

arnovandervyver

Date

September 5, 2024 04:31 PM SAST
Insects

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What

Insekten (Class Insecta)

Observer

sallyslak

Date

September 2, 2024 03:48 PM SAST

Place

Top Dam (Google, OSM)

Description

Larvae in shelters constructed of pieces of leaf secured to the underside of leaves of Nymphaea nouchali.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

nadsyg

Date

June 29, 2024

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mariedelport

Date

March 31, 2023 09:18 AM SAST

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Observer

elize34

Date

August 31, 2024 09:39 AM SAST

Description

@traianbertau , these on a different foodplant than previous observations .
Arctotis arctotoides , see
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/238957333

Photos / Sounds

Observer

botswanabugs

Date

August 30, 2024

Description

under rock basalt hillside

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mariedelport

Date

June 30, 2023 06:50 PM SAST

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Observer

elize34

Date

August 28, 2024 09:26 AM SAST

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Observer

andrewdeacon

Date

December 5, 2023 01:52 PM SAST

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What

Gall Midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae)

Observer

cecileroux

Date

August 14, 2024 10:06 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Snake Viooltjie (Lachenalia anguinea)

Observer

andrewmorton

Date

August 23, 2024 04:05 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Speckled Tortoise (Chersobius signatus)

Observer

tezzolds

Date

August 2024

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mariedelport

Date

January 2, 2022 10:27 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mariedelport

Date

June 2021

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cecileroux

Date

August 22, 2024 11:47 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mariedelport

Date

October 26, 2019 10:37 PM SAST

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Observer

mariedelport

Date

October 4, 2019 10:51 PM SAST

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Observer

jambobwana

Date

May 2, 2022 02:49 PM CAT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

andrewdeacon

Date

February 12, 2024 07:58 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

talibzuo

Date

July 2024

Photos / Sounds

What

Planthoppers (Infraorder Fulgoromorpha)

Observer

cecileroux

Date

August 17, 2024 03:51 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cgmayers

Date

October 15, 2023 07:40 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Streaktails (Genus Allograpta)

Observer

christopher1201

Date

August 18, 2024 12:01 PM SAST

Description

On a Honey Euryops.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

berniedup

Date

May 18, 2024 03:41 PM SAST

Description

S82 Road South of Lower Sabie, Kruger NP, Mpumalanga, SOUTH AFRICA

Photos / Sounds

What

Protea Red Scale (Furcaspis proteae)

Observer

kyle_campbell1

Date

August 16, 2024 10:05 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

phil183

Date

August 6, 2024 01:38 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

skuakanga

Date

October 4, 2018 07:50 AM CAT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cecileroux

Date

August 6, 2024 04:21 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

alexanderr

Date

August 9, 2024 03:43 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Planthoppers (Infraorder Fulgoromorpha)

Observer

wesselpretorius

Date

August 3, 2024 11:24 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

arnovandervyver

Date

August 3, 2024 05:02 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cecileroux

Date

August 2, 2024 11:12 AM SAST

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Observer

brianrode

Date

August 8, 2024 01:12 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cecileroux

Date

August 2, 2024 11:11 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cecileroux

Date

August 2, 2024 05:05 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Sea-pumpkin Lady Beetle (Chazeauiana undulata)

Observer

cecileroux

Date

August 2, 2024 05:10 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

elize34

Date

August 7, 2024 10:13 AM SAST

Description

On Deinbollia oblongifolia

Photos / Sounds

What

Sea-pumpkin Lady Beetle (Chazeauiana undulata)

Observer

cecileroux

Date

August 2, 2024 12:29 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

ilzejoubert

Date

May 18, 2024 01:54 PM SAST

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Observer

ilzejoubert

Date

November 27, 2022 09:53 AM SAST

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Observer

andrewdeacon

Date

February 17, 2024 10:25 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Bees (Epifamily Anthophila)

Observer

botswanabugs

Date

July 25, 2024

Description

group of bees on a piece of wood on ground. Roadside in village. Basalt hillside

Bees flew away one by one when disturbed

Photos / Sounds

Observer

christopher1201

Date

July 1, 2023 11:04 AM SAST

Description

Small 3mm specimen. Looks like a platynaspis with smudged spots.

Photos / Sounds

What

Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Order Hymenoptera)

Observer

natanaelndilenga

Date

July 19, 2024 03:09 PM CAT

Description

Wasps mating inside a !nara flower.

Photos / Sounds

What

Burrowing River Crab (Maritimonautes calcaratus)

Observer

andre_vm15

Date

December 28, 2023 04:43 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

nikiescott

Date

July 8, 2018

Description

Mombasinia superba (Photos 1 to 19). Note: I numbered the photos from 1 to 19 (on the lower right hand side of each photo), but the reference to these numbers in my text below do not follow this chronological order.

Background
The species is described in this publication:
De Lotto, G. 1964. A new species of Mombasinia (Hom.: Pseudococcidae) from South Africa. Proceedings of the Linnaean Society of London 175(2): 135-136. I cannot access it – is someone maybe lucky to have a copy that they can share – thanks (@traianbertau, you are good at finding obscure and old publications, can you kindly help).
According to: "Millar, I. 2002. Mealybug genera (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) of South Africa: Identification and review. African Entomology 10(2): 185-233", (of which I have a copy), there are only two species in the genus, with M. superba occurring in South Africa, and the other one occurring in Kenya. He does not mention the other species, and iNaturalist only lists M. superba.
The only host plants recorded for the genus are Flacourtia indica and Scolopia zeyheri. I have posted pictures of the host plant on which I found the mealybugs here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/230669447

My observations
Massive “colonies” may occur on the undersides of leaves. I did not do a study to determine their life cycle, nor their occurrence over a long period. During winter the leaves of the trees start to dry out and curl, showing their undersides, and in the process revealing the mealybugs on infested trees. Small trees may be infested so badly that they appear white from a distance in winter (16; 17). The dorsal parts of lower leaves, as well as some stems and twigs, and the area below the trees, were typically covered in a black sooty mould (17). Fallen, dry leaves retain the snow white colour of the mealybug scales, below the trees (17), and are very conspicuous, even revealing the position of the smallest inconspicuous trees growing low between the grasses. I did not investigate whether the mealybugs inflict any damage to the leaves or trees. Apart from the wax structures on the bodies of the mealybugs, it seems that they produce extra loose wax plates, roughly in the shape of “bent” rectangles - visible on some photos (11; 12; 13;) that they use to cover the entire colony on a leaf (eggs, nymphs and adults). Photo 6 may give an indication of the location on the mealybug body from where these wax plates are produced (in pairs from the sides). These wax plates are kept in place (as a roof) above the colony (14) by sticky filaments (maybe honeydew); they are not firmly fixed, but impossible to remove with forceps or micro brushes – if you try, everything comes off as a sticky entangled mess (18). You cannot blow off the wax filaments, they just “flutter”, but stay in place.
Eggs: They are laid singularly, but may occur in groups, hidden under the wax layers, but not in egg sacks (15, black arrow). They are very small, I think approx. 0,1 mm. I found them in early winter, but do not know whether they start to appear earlier.
Nymphs: They occur with the adults under the wax layers, even in winter (July in Pretoria) (3, 5, 11, 12, 13). They are approx. 0,5 to 0,75 mm in length. The smallest nymphs are orange/yellow, and some portions of wax extensions are visible on some. Nymphs were seen walking on stems of trees in the winter, presumably looking for hiding/overwintering places to wait the cold months out and for new growth to appear in spring.
Adult females: They are approx. 1,2 mm in length, excluding the long wax extensions. The wax extensions are very characteristic: four pairs of long thin extensions anteriorly, and two similar pairs posteriorly (clearly visible in 8 and 9). Sometimes these extensions may be twice the length of the body (7), but mostly breaks off easily and are mostly shorter. There is an additional shorter tail visible on some individuals (5). There are also spiralling wax disks on the dorsal abdomen and thorax. It looks like three pairs, but it is not always clear. The two anterior spirals may be extended with up to five curls (9). The other spirals are broader and flatter.
Adult males: During winter I only found a few males, maybe more are produced earlier. They are winged, and just over 1 mm in length (19).
Disclaimer: The above description is by myself, and not on a professional taxonomic standard (I am not a taxonomist). I could not find any publication that gave descriptions of the live (alive) stages, if anybody find some, kindly share so that we can compare my observations/descriptions with those of other observers, and make corrections if needed.
The submission of the tree on which the mealybugs were found can be found here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/230669447.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

alandmanson

Date

July 10, 2024 02:57 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

robert_taylor

Date

July 6, 2024 05:02 PM CAT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

rcswart

Date

July 19, 2024 11:18 AM SAST

Description

reared from Afrocarpus falcatus. Dip10

Photos / Sounds

Observer

botswanabugs

Date

November 23, 1991

Description

attracted to light

Photos / Sounds

Observer

hennie3

Date

November 5, 2023 11:53 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Striped Lady Beetle (Cheilomenes propinqua)

Observer

cecileroux

Date

April 28, 2023 08:14 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Striped Lady Beetle (Cheilomenes propinqua)

Observer

andrewdeacon

Date

January 16, 2024 11:05 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

wynand_uys

Date

October 8, 2020 02:30 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mariedelport

Date

March 29, 2022 12:59 PM SAST

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Observer

akarani

Date

July 1, 2024 04:47 PM EAT

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Observer

andrewdeacon

Date

January 17, 2024 07:21 AM SAST

Description

https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA090799001_18 endrody-younga-1988-revision-of-the-genus-anomalipus-latreille-1846-(coleoptera-tenebrionidae-platynotini)-plates

Photos / Sounds

Observer

bushboy

Date

January 13, 2017

Description

The princess charmed all with her table manners


The girls seemed keener on feeding than breeding

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Observer

magdastlucia

Date

April 10, 2022 01:45 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Rainbow Skink (Trachylepis margaritifera)

Observer

andrewhart266

Date

February 1, 2024 12:42 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Flea Beetles (Tribe Alticini)

Observer

andrewdeacon

Date

January 4, 2024 11:44 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cecileroux

Date

June 27, 2024 12:15 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Observer

cecileroux

Date

June 24, 2024 01:30 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

altagray

Date

June 22, 2024 11:17 AM SAST

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Observer

cecileroux

Date

June 22, 2024 01:12 PM SAST

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Observer

vats

Date

April 28, 2024 02:27 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

louws

Date

April 24, 2024 11:21 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Variegated Lady Beetle (Hippodamia variegata)

Observer

wilmarivanstaden

Date

May 17, 2024 11:37 AM SAST

Description

Lady Beetle guarding some sort of cocoon, possible example of parasitism.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

suncana

Date

May 16, 2024 05:35 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

melchaney

Date

April 26, 2024 07:52 AM SAST

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Observer

tuli

Date

April 28, 2024 10:32 AM CAT

Description

Observations for City Challenge that didn't make the time limit for submissions

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Observer

wicus

Date

February 24, 2024 09:50 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cecileroux

Date

May 9, 2024 01:53 PM SAST

Description

On the back of Quercus robur leaves.

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes)

Observer

ianelvey

Date

May 8, 2024 07:58 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

rosshawkins

Date

April 26, 2024 07:53 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Wide Red-edged Quadrate Toktokkie (Bouchardium mariae)

Observer

vireolanius

Date

November 21, 2014 06:41 AM SAST

Place

Mankwe (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Woodpecker Flies (Genus Medetera)

Observer

rouxnebotha

Date

April 28, 2024 04:37 PM SAST

Description

The fly

Photos / Sounds

What

Picture-winged Robber Fly (Lasiocnemus lugens)

Observer

kellyabram

Date

April 27, 2024 10:36 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Pincer Wasps (Family Dryinidae)

Observer

cecileroux

Date

April 28, 2024 10:10 AM SAST

Description

Parasite

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cecileroux

Date

April 28, 2024 05:36 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

suncana

Date

April 26, 2024 10:45 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

agellis

Date

January 3, 2022 08:20 AM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

tonyrebelo

Date

April 27, 2024 12:01 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Poltys Tailed Orb-Web Spider (Poltys furcifer)

Observer

hendrikmc

Date

April 28, 2024 12:45 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mariedelport

Date

April 27, 2024 10:04 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

lendebeer

Date

April 28, 2024 09:38 AM EAT

Photos / Sounds

What

South African Mantis (Miomantis caffra)

Observer

lezanne_rossouw

Date

April 29, 2024 02:37 PM SAST

Description

Mantis busy eating a lady bug

Photos / Sounds

What

Lily Weevils (Genus Brachycerus)

Observer

suncana

Date

April 27, 2024 09:23 PM SAST

Photos / Sounds

What

Common White-legged Quadrate Toktokkie (Bouchardium cubicum)

Observer

kyle_campbell1

Date

March 11, 2023 07:41 AM SAST