Two species of Mallophaga, namely Falcolipeurus secretarius (Giebel) (Menoponidae) and Neocolpocephalum cucullare (Giebel) (Philopteridae) are redescriptionbed from specimens collected on a secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) in Spain.
Ambient temperatures (Ta) and soil-surface temperatures (Ts) at which ten species of ants were active were recorded over a two-year period in the southern Karoo. There were significant differences in the mean Ts at which the different species were active, with seed-harvesters generally active at lower Ts than predators. Overall mean Ta at which ants were active ranged from 20,7 ï¿½C in the large seed-harvester Messor capensis to 28,8ï¿½C in the predator and scavenger Ocymyrmex cilliei.
Not much is known about the ecology of the hopliinid beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Hopliini (Scholtz & Holm 1985), probably because they are of little economic importance. Some hopliinids have extraordinarily developed hind legs and claws. Current hypotheses for the functions of these large legs include anchorage in and extraction of the insect from the daisy flowers into which they burrow to feed (Pï¿½ringuey 1900-1902; Scholtz & Holm 1985). The aim of this article is to suggest an alternate, sexual selection interpretation of the morphology of a species of this poorly studied group.
Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Robinson is a perennial shrub which was reportedly introduced to South Africa from Central or South America in the 1940's. It has since become the most serious woody, invader plant in the conservation areas of Natal. The local form of C. odorata differs morphologically from the form which also occurs as an introduced weed in Asia and western and central Africa (Kluge 1990). In 1989, a biological control programme against C. odorata was started in South Africa.