title: A revision and key to the genera of Afrotropical Mantispidae (Neuropterida, Neuroptera), with the description of a new genus.
abstract: The Afrotropical Mantispidae genera have previously been neglected and are poorly known. The genera are revised and redescribed. A new genus Afromantispa Snyman and Ohl is described with Afromantispa tenellacomb. n.as type species. Perlamantispa (Handschin, 1960) is synonymised with Sagittalata Handschin, 1959. The new combinations within the genus include Sagittalata austroafricacomb. n., Sagittalata bequaerticomb. n., Sagittalata dorsaliscomb. n., Sagittalata girardicomb. n., Sagittalata nubilacomb. n.,Sagittalata perlacomb. n.,Sagittalata pusillacomb. n., Sagittalata similatacomb. n., Sagittalata royicomb. n., Sagittalata tinctacomb. n. andSagittalata vasseicomb. n. An illustrated key to the genera Afromantispagen. n., Sagittalata Handschin, 1959, Mantispa Illiger, 1798, Cercomantispa Handschin, 1959, Rectinerva Handschin, 1959, Nampista Navás, 1914, and Pseudoclimaciella Handschin, 1960 is provided. The wing venation of Mantispidae is redescribed. Similarities between the genera are discussed. Subsequent studies will focus on revising the taxonomic status of species, which are not dealt with in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
authors.forename: Louwtjie P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Snyman
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohl
authors.forename: Mervyn W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Mansell
authors.forename: Clarke H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Scholtz