Afroptera aequabilis (Tjeder, 1967) comb. nov.

(Figs 65, 103, 107, 117, 153)

Synonymy

Nemopterella aequabilis Tjeder, 1967: 483 .

Etymology. Unknown.

Type locality. SOUTH AFRICA, Northern Cape Province. Prieska, 17 miles north, 29°25’15’’S 22°48’06’’E .

Type depository. TMSA .

Diagnosis. This species is most closely related to A. apicalis . Both species are small with a narrow rounded apex to forewing (Figs 117, 120). Afroptera aequabilis can be distinguished from A. apicalis by the following characteristics: A. aequabilis is characterised by having pale brownish antennae while the antennae in A. apicalis are whitish yellow; A. aequabilis has black hairs on the prescutum disc (Fig. 103) while in A. apicalis the prescutum disc is covered by white hairs (Fig. 105); A. aequabilis is characterised by having the dark area of the hind wing as long as white apical area (Fig. 107), while in A. apicalis the dark area is shorter than the white (Fig. 110).

Size (mm). Male: body length 10.3 (8.9–10.7); forewing 20.9 (18.2–22); hind wing 46.1 (36–48); antenna 14.4 (12–18.8). Female: body length 10.8 (9.4–11.3); forewing 20.3 (17–22); hind wing 43.4 (36–46); antenna 13.6 (10.4–14.9). (N = 46)

Type material examined. SOUTH AFRICA, Northern Cape Province. Holotype ♂, TMSA02057, HOLO- TYPE, Neu 062, Nemopterella aequabilis Tjeder (red, printed) / Prieska 17 m North of [29°25’15’’S 22°48’06’’E], 7–8.x.1954, A.J.T.Janse (white, printed) / Holotypus ♂, Nemopterella aequabilis Tjed, Bo Tjeder 1966 (red–hand-written). Paratype s: 19♀, same data as holotype; 4♀, TMSA02058, Niekerkshoop [29°19’37’’S 22°50’13’’E], 18.x.1955, H.K.Munro (white, printed) / Paratypus Nemopterella aequabilis Tjed 1966 ’ (red, handwritten). ( All TMSA) .

Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA, Northern Cape Province: 4♂ 19♀, TMSA02057, Prieska 17 m north of [29°25’15’’S 22°48’06’’E], 7.viii.1954, A.J.T.Janse / Det. M.W.Mansell 2013. (TMSA) .

Distribution and habitat. Afroptera aequabilis is known only from the Nama Karoo Biome in the Northern Cape Province (Fig. 153). The distribution falls mainly within the Lower Gariep Broken Veld and Northern Upper Karoo vegetation units in Bushmanland and Upper Karoo Bioregions, respectively (Mucina & Rutherford 2006). The description of the habitat in the former vegetation unit is given under the distribution of S. arenaria . The habitat in the latter vegetation unit is in a flat area with sparse hills, vegetated mostly by dwarf karoo shrubs, grasses and Acacia mellifera sub sp. detinens with some low trees in the north and towards the Orange River (Mucina & Rutherford 2006).