All species of Chilodontidae known to occur in the south-western Indian Ocean are discussed (27 species, of which eight new, belonging to nine genera, of which three new). Keys to genera and species are provided. Observations on protoconch form, shell microsculpture, radula morphology, operculum shape and external anatomy are given, together with summary biological observations. The genus Agathodonta Cossmann, 1918 is not considered to be applicable to the extant species for which it has been recently used and a new genus is proposed for these living forms. Type specimens of a number of extralimital species examined for comparative purposes are illustrated.

Bivalves play a vital role in estuarine ecosystems, but are vulnerable to rapid or prolonged changes in the physico-chemical environment. The St Lucia estuarine lake exhibits sub-decadal changes from wet to dry periods, resulting in fluctuating physico-chemical conditions. This paper represents a census of the diversity of bivalve molluscs in this estuary, emphasising changes associated with climate-induced hydrological states. Twenty-four bivalve species were recorded within St Lucia between 1925 and 2011. Twelve that had not been reported previously from St Lucia in the literature were encountered during the present study. These are Anadara natalensis, Anomia achaeus, Arcuatula capensis, Chambardia wahlbergi, Corbicula fluminalis, Dendostrea sandvichensis, Fulvia fragilis, Mactra cuneata, Martesia striata, Meretrix meretrix, Saccostrea forskahlii and Tellina s.l. bertini. Single shells of another two previously unrecorded species, Anodontia edentula and Timoclea lavrani, were also found, although these may have been introduced dead from the ocean through tidal exchange. Meretrix meretrix, an unexpected yet abundant species, represents a new record for South African waters, but the timing and mode of its introduction into the estuary remain unresolved. Extremely large numbers (>100 ind.m^-2)of dead specimens of Barnea manilensis were observed in 2011 along the western shoreline of the estuarine lake, which indicates that the species was a major role-player in the settling of suspended silt within the system. Currently, this function appears to be fulfilled only by Solen cylindraceus. Apart from this species, Brachidontes virgiliae, Dosinia hepatica, Macomopsis moluccensis, Salmacoma litoralis and an undescribed Tellina sp. (reported here as T. cf. rousi) are the only bivalves that were found alive in St Lucia during the latest survey, in March 2011.

A new species of the oopeltid slug genus Ariopelta, A. variegata, is described from South Africa. As this new species exhibits morphological features that differ slightly from those originally described for the subfamily and the genus, new emended diagnoses for both these taxa are provided. Additional information is added to the original descriptions of Ariopelta capensis and Ariostralis nebulosa. The affinities of the two South African subfamilies Ariopeltinae and Oopeltinae are discussed, as well as their relationship to the Indo-Chinese Anadenidae and the Holarctic Arionidae.

A recent survey in selected habitat types in Queen Elizabeth Park (protected area for more than 50 years) resulted in the recording of 1127 specimens of nine earthworm species inhabiting the park, of which only one microchaetid Tritogenia howickiana is indigenous to South Africa. The other eight species are peregrine, widely introduced, and belong to four families: Megascolecidae (Amynthas aeruginosus, Amynthas corticis, Amynthas gracilis, Amynthas minimus and Amynthas rodericensis), Glossoscolecidae (Pontoscolex corethrurus), Lumbricidae (Octolasion lacteum) and Acanthodrilidae, Benhamiinae (Dichogaster saliens). The most abundant are megascolecids (883 specimens), dominating in all vegetation types. Although coexistence of exotic species with indigenous species is noted, a decline in the endemics and dominance by exotics was observed.

The oribatid mite genus Eremulus Berlese, 1908 is reported from South Africa for the first time. Two new species, Eremulus spindleformis sp. n. and E. southafricanensis sp. n., are described, and an additional description ofEremulus flagellifer is given, based on material in the collection of the National Museum (Bloemfontein, South Africa). An identification key to African species of Eremulus is presented.

The ant-like sac spider Merenius alberti Lessert, 1923, previously known only from South Africa, is redescribed. The species is recorded for the first time from Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. While most populations of M. alberti conform to the typical black morph of the species, a red morph is also reported here, providing the first case of colour polymorphism in an Afrotropical ant-like castianeirine spider. Spiders were collected by hand, and ants by pitfall trapping in the Ndumo Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to identify the potential models of the two colour morphs of M alberti. The ants collected at 20 sites in the reserve suggest that the black morph is a generalised mimic of black ground-dwelling ants, most likely Camponotus cinctellus (Gerstäcker, 1859), Streblognathus peetersi Robertson, 2002 and Polyrhachis gagates F. Smith, 1858, while the red morph is a mimic of Anoplolepis custodiens (F. Smith, 1858) ants.

A new Uropodina mite was collected from cocoons and the body of the African palm weevil (Rhynchophorus phoenicis Fabricius, 1801) in Cameroon. The new species belongs to the Uroobovella minima species-group; it differs from the previously described species in the dorsal and ventral setation in both sexes, and in the shape and sculptural pattern of the genital shield of the female. Original drawings and a description are given, accompanied by notes on the presumed biology and possible role in the biological control of African palm weevils.

Porcelloderes impenetrabilis gen. & sp. n. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Physoderinae) is described, based on males, females, and larvae from different localities in northeastern Tanzania. The new discovery extends the range of the subfamily (previously known from the Oriental Region and the Pacific, from Madagascar and neighbouring islands, and from Central and South America) to mainland Africa. In contrast to all previously described physoderine species, the new species is apterous, which is probably a result of neoteny; the neotenous aptery and its morphological consequences are discussed. The diagnosis of Physoderinae is extended in order to make it applicable to apterous taxa. In all examined specimens including larvae, the body surface is covered by a firm incrustation of soil, deposited between the long setigerous tubercles. This is the first record in the subfamily Physoderinae of camouflaging by application of material on the body, and the first report of such behaviour in the adult stage in Reduviidae.

Proteaphila gen. n. (Diptera: Acalyptratae: Lauxaniidae) is described. It is distinguishable on the basis of the shape of the head, and wing patterning and venation. Male and female terminalia are similar across species (e.g. structure of male hypandrium, aedeagus and surstylus) and the new genus is notable for the large body size (body length ca 5.5–6 mm), robust habitus, pointed head-shape, ornate body patterning, stump vein on M_{1 2}, massive aedeagus, and large surstyli. In terms of prevailing suprageneric lauxaniid taxonomy, Proteaphila is placed in the subfamily Lauxaniinae because it has a sapromyziform costa, 1 mesotibial spur and lacks a profemoral ctenidium. The elongated frons of Proteaphila is similar to morphological modifications of the head in Trigonometopus Macquart and related genera of Trigonometopini, but without formal analysis, it must be assumed that this resemblance could have arisen convergently, with Proteaphila not being phylogenetically close to these genera. The bulk of specimens have been collected from Protea trees (Proteaceae), and the genus obviously has some as yet unelucidated biological relationship with proteas. Proteaphila is endemic to South Africa, being restricted to Protea-rich montane grassland in the Drakensberg Mountains of KwaZulu-Natal and fynbos (macchia) of the Western Cape. Three new species are described in the genus: Proteaphila maculosa Davies & Miller, sp. n., P. pajori Davies, Miller & Muller, sp. n. and P. stuckenbergorum Davies & Miller, sp. n. A key to the identification of species is presented.

Afroelfus bothryogaster gen. et sp. n. is described from the Republic of South Africa. The new genus belongs to the tribe Gaetuliini of the family Tropiduchidae. It is characterized by the presence of sternoabdominal sensory pits in the imago and its stenopterism. The distribution of these two attributes within planthoppers is discussed and the new genus is recognised as convergently similar to the Australian genus Alleloplasis Waterhouse, 1839.

Three species are included in this revision of the Afrotropical sawfly genus Durbadnus Pasteels, 1954: D. chubbi (Forsius, 1930), D. obscuripes (Forsius, 1931) comb. n. and D. taegeri sp. n. A new junior synonym of D. chubbi is Blennocampa bensoni Forsius, 1931 (syn. n. ). The genus Durbadnus is restricted to South Africa, with D. taegeri being the first recorded member of the Tenthredinidae in the winter-rainfall zone of western South Africa. A key is provided to the five Afrotropical genera of Blennocampinae (Aethiocampa, Distega, Durbadnus, Tesslinia and Trisodontophyes). Kivua Forsius, 1934 is transferred from the Blennocampinae to the Allantinae. New junior synonyms of Kivua are Bicrista Pasteels, 1949 (syn. n.), Tumura Pasteels, 1949 (syn. n.) and Urocerca Pasteels, 1949 (syn. n.). The following new combinations result: Kivua bicolor comb. n. (Bicrista bicolor Pasteels, 1949), Kivua acuticornis comb. n. (Erythraspides acuticornis Pasteels, 1953), Kivua afra comb. n. (Erythraspides afra Pasteels, 1953), Kivua cribrifrons comb. n. (Urocerca cribrifrons Pasteels, 1949), Kivua pallipes comb. n. (Urocerca pallipes Pasteels, 1949) and Kivua tenuis comb. n. (Urocerca tenuis Pasteels, 1949). The specific epithet luteiventris is preoccupied in Kivua by K. luteiventris Pasteels, 1949, so that new names are proposed for two further species group taxa transferred here to Kivua: Kivua violae nom. n. for Tumura luteiventris Pasteels, 1949 and Kivua cara nom. n. for Urocerca luteiventris Pasteels, 1949. Neacidiophora quadrifoveata Koch, 1998 is a junior synonym of Kivua incrassata Pasteels, 1949 (syn. n.).

The genus Synolcus Loew, 1858 is fully revised. This southern African endemic has 13 valid species, of which four are newly described: armstrongi (South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal), macrocercus (South Africa: Western Cape and Northern Cape), namibiensis (southern Namibia), ukhahlamba (South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal). Asilus incisuralis Macquart, 1838 is a new synonym of Asilus acrobaptus Wiedemann, 1828. All species are described or redescribed, illustrated and mapped. A key for their identification is provided, while the taxonomy, distribution and biology of the group are discussed.

An annotated list of the type specimens of Lygistorrhinidae and Mycetophilidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha) at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa is provided. Information on 54 type specimens, three lygistorrhinids and 51 mycetophilids, with details of labels and actual preservation of the specimens is furnished. Locality data are georeferenced and habitus images of type specimens are provided.

Anew species of Dryinidae, Gonatopus chiruanus, is described from Mozambique, Niassa Province, Mecanhelas District, Entre-Lagos. The male of Gonatopus bekilyanus (Benoit, 1954) is described for the first time. An updated checklist of Dryinidae of Mozambique is presented. With the above new records, 45 species of Dryinidae are now known from Mozambique. New records from other countries are also provided.

A new species, Odontorrhina maraisi sp. n., is added to the genus on the basis of new material collected in the semiarid Namaqualand region of South Africa. A new subspecies of O. pubescens (Olivier, 1789), O. pubescens hantam ssp. n., is recognized from the high altitudes of the Hantamsberg near Calvinia. Recent observations have led to the conclusion that all members of the genus, with the exception of O. krigei Schein, 1950, complete their larval development under dense shrubs, utilizing mainly leaf litter as food source and the shade provided by the host plant as protection against heat and desiccation. O. krigei makes use of termite hills to achieve the same, while feeding on detrital matter produced by termites. The coastal O. pubescens s. str. appears to be the only member that has feeding adults, which are able to ingest sap of Melianthus spp. shrubs after cutting the bark of the softest branches in the upper part of the plant canopy.

Records of African beetles feeding on carrion are scattered and incomplete, but important to forensic entomology. Thirty-three specimens of Frankenbergerius forcipatus (Harold, 1881) were found on carrion near Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa, providing new insight into the distribution (hills and mountains), habitat (fynbos and forest), biology (generalist on decaying material) and forensic significance (wet-decay, late opportunist) of the species.

Perennial pans are a common feature of the Mpumalanga Highveld in South Africa and are increasingly under threat from mining and agricultural activities. Pans are endorheic wetlands that can be perennial or ephemeral in nature. They are widespread in arid and semi-arid regions throughout the world. Although phyllopod crustaceans dominate pan communities in arid regions, the invertebrate communities of perennial pans have not been well studied. The aim of the current research was to characterise the invertebrate communities of several pans (both natural and impaired). A combination of taxonomic and functional approaches was followed to study these communities. The macroinvertebrate species diversity of the pans was comparable to similar ecosystems in southern Africa and other parts of the world. Results indicate large spatial and temporal variations in diversity. This variation became less obvious when the analysis was based on biological traits. It was also evident that both coal mining and agricultural activities had an impact on the aquatic invertebrate community structures. These changes were apparent in both the diversity and the biological traits of the invertebrate communities of adjacent pans.