Sternorrhyncha research at the SA National
Collection of Insects
Taxonomy of South African Hemiptera, with emphasis on the suborder
Sternorrhyncha, which is of agricultural importance. Curatorial responsibilities
for other Hemiptera cover the Heteroptera (aquatic groups and Cimicomorpha).
Biosystematics of aphids (Aphidoidea), whiteflies
(Aleyrodidae) and scale insects (Coccoidea)
Research activities (Recently completed and published
projects)
A key to the 50 South African mealybug genera (Pseudococcidae)
A contribution to knowledge of the aphid fauna of Namibia
Descriptions and a phylogenetic study of several new South African species of flat grass scales (Aclerdidae), in collaboration with C.J. Hodgson (National Museum of Wales, Cardiff)
Current projects
Editorial work on a computer database that has been compiled of
collecting information associated with all Sternorrhyncha specimens deposited in
the SANC (7600 accessions).
A faunistic survey of the local whiteflies (Aleyrodidae) of
South Africa is under way, and an identification key to the species known so far
from the country has been drafted.
The Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha collection
Within the Hemiptera, specialisation at the SANC has included
taxonomic studies of South African aphids, psyllids, scale insects and
mealybugs. As a result, the collections of these groups are very representative
of the local fauna, with material of practically all species that occur here.
The majority of the samples have been studied and identified to species level,
prepared on permanent slide mounts, or preserved on pins in the case of
Psyllidae. The collections are well organised, fully labelled, and are an
outstanding reference source for the South African fauna of these groups.
The aphid slide collection comprises 860 samples mounted on
about 5000 microscope slides. The spirit collection has approximately 1800 aphid
colony samples, and specimens from almost half of these are already mounted on
slides.
The Coccoidea collection has well over 20 000 slide-mounts of
specimens from nearly 7000 samples. It contains much type material of previous
workers on the local fauna, viz. Y. Ben-Dov, C.K. Brain, G. de Lotto and
J. Munting.
The Psyllidae collection has 630 accessions, comprising about
1000 pinned specimens and 750 microscope slide mounts. Much of the material was
collected and studied by A.L. Capener, and numerous type specimens are
present.
The whitefly collection is currently receiving much attention
and is growing rapidly. The South African Aleyrodidae have hardly been studied
at all until now. About 80 samples of whiteflies have recently accumulated in
the SANC, approximately 200 slide-mounts have been made from these and are being
studied and identified in an endeavour to survey and document the local fauna,
which is poorly known.
An important accessory to the Sternorrhyncha collection is the
computer database. All specimen data has been entered into the database, a total
of 7600 records. The database is now being edited and adapted to enable
searching of the information that it contains by any category desired. This will
make all specimen data associated with the Sternorrhyncha collection rapidly
accessible.
Selected publications
MILLAR, I.M. 1985. Psylloidea, Aleyrodoidea and
Aphidoidea. pp. 164 - 168 in: Scholtz, C.H. & Holm, E. (Eds). Insects of
Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban, 502 pp.
MILLAR, I.M. & DÜRR, H.J.R. 1985. A list and host
plant index of the aphids (Homoptera: Aphidoidea) of South Africa. Entomology
Memoir Department of Agriculture and Water Supply Republic of South Africa
No. 62: 1-38.
MILLAR, I.M. 1990. The aphids (Homoptera: Aphidoidea) of
South Africa: An identification guide. Entomology Memoir Department of
Agricultural Development Republic of South Africa No. 78: 1-105.
MILLAR, I.M. 1994. A Catalogue of the Aphids (Homoptera:
Aphidoidea) of Sub-Saharan Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute
Handbook no. 4, 130 pp.
MILLAR, I.M. 2000. Aphididae (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea). p.
135 - 137 in: Kirk-Spriggs, A.H. & Marais, E. (eds.). Dâures -
Biodiversity of the Brandberg Massif, Namibia. Cimbebasia Memoir 9: 389
pp.
MILLAR, I.M. 2002. Mealybug genera (Hemiptera:
Pseudococcidae) of South Africa: identification and review. African
Entomology 10: 185 - 233.
HODGSON, C.J. & MILLAR, I.M. 2002. A new subfamily,
two new genera and three new species of Aclerdidae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) from
southern Africa, with a phylogenetic analysis of relationships. Systematic
Entomology 27: 469 - 517.
