In May 2018, I was part of a group of passionate bug-nerds who explored the savannah and forests of Gorongosa, Mozambique. From the 9 days of poking around, I've put together a checklist of everything that I've photographed. I have many behind-the-scenes photographs, and would probably put together a separate blog post to summarise the trip.
BugShot Mozambique 2018 was conducted from 20 to 29 May 2018 at Chitengo Camp, Gorongosa. All of the organisation work was done by Piotr Naskrecki with John and Kendra Abbott, joined by instructors Thomas Shahan and myself.
This post is a checklist of what I've photographed and sorted taxonomically. I would like to thank the following for providing most of the identifications.
- Members of The Spider Club of Southern Africa for most spider IDs
- Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman for identification of most Araneidae, Thomisidae
Identifications are usually not very accurate when done from photos alone. Please let me know if you spot any mistakes.
Legend:
| ♂ | Male |
| ♀ | Female |
| (Juv) | Juvenile / Nymph / Larva |
Phylum: Arthropoda Lankester, 1904
Class: Arachnida Lamarck, 1801
Order: Araneae Clerck, 1757
Family: Araneidae Clerck, 1757
Genus: Araneus Clerck, 1757
Araneus apricus (Karsch, 1884) ♀
Araneus apricus (Karsch, 1884) ♀
Genus: Argiope Audouin, 1826
Argiope lobata (Pallas, 1772)
or Argiope levii Bjørn, 1997 ♀
Argiope lobata (Pallas, 1772)
or Argiope levii Bjørn, 1997 ♀ (Juv)
Argiope lobata (Pallas, 1772)
or Argiope levii Bjørn, 1997 ♀
Argiope australis (Walckenaer, 1805) ♀
Genus: Caerostris Thorell, 1868
Caerostris cf. linnaeus Gregorič, 2015 (Juv)
Caerostris cf. linnaeus Gregorič, 2015 (Juv)
Genus: Clitaetra Simon, 1889
Clitaetra cf. irenae Kuntner, 2006 Juv
Genus: Cyclosa Menge, 1866
Cyclosa sp. ♀ 2238
Cyclosa insulana (Costa, 1834) ♀
Cyclosa oculata (Walckenaer, 1802) ♀
Cyclosa sp. ♀ 5540
Cyclosa sp. ♀ 4133
Cyclosa sp. ♀ 6539
cf. Cyclosa sp. ♂ 5025
Genus: Cyrtophora Simon, 1864
Cyrtophora citricola (Forsskål, 1775) ♀
Cyrtophora citricola (Forsskål, 1775) ♀
Cyrtophora citricola (Forsskål, 1775) ♀
Cyrtophora citricola (Forsskål, 1775) ♀
Cyrtophora citricola (Forsskål, 1775) ♀
Cyrtophora citricola (Forsskål, 1775) ♂
Genus: Eriovixia Archer, 1951
Eriovixia sp. (Juv)
Genus: Gasteracantha Sundevall, 1833
Gasteracantha falcicornis Butler, 1873 ♀
Gasteracantha falcicornis Butler, 1873 ♀
Gasteracantha falcicornis Butler, 1873 ♀
cf. Gasteracantha sp. Sub ♂
Gasteracantha cf. sanguinolenta C.L. Koch, 1844 ♀ (Juv)
Genus: Hypsacantha Dahl, 1914
Hypsacantha crucimaculata (Dahl, 1914) ♀
Genus: Isoxya Simon, 1885
Isoxya tabulata (Thorell, 1859) ♀
Isoxya tabulata (Thorell, 1859) ♀
Genus: Neoscona Simon, 1864
Neoscona rufipalpis (Lucas, 1858) ♀
Neoscona rufipalpis (Lucas, 1858) ♂
Neoscona subfusca (C.L.Koch, 1837) ♀
Neoscona subfusca (C.L.Koch, 1837) ♀
Neoscona triangula (Keyserling, 1864) ♀
Neoscona triangula (Keyserling, 1864) ♀
Neoscona sp. ♀
Neoscona cf. hirta (C.L. Koch, 1844) ♀
cf. Neoscona sp. ♂
cf. Neoscona sp. ♀
Neoscona sp. ♀
Neoscona theisi theisiella (Tullgren, 1910) ♀
Genus: Nephila Leach, 1815
Nephila fenestrata Thorell, 1859 ♀
Nephila fenestrata Thorell, 1859 ♀
Nephila senegalensis (Walckenaer, 1842) ♀
Nephila senegalensis (Walckenaer, 1842) ♀
Genus: Nephilingis Kuntner, 2013
Nephilingis cruentata (Fabricius, 1775) ♀
Nephilingis cruentata (Fabricius, 1775) ♀
Genus: Pararaneus Caporiacco, 1940
Pararaneus cyrtoscapus (Pocock, 1898) ♂ 6081
Pararaneus perforatus (Thorell, 1899) ♂
Genus: Poltys C. L. Koch, 1843
Poltys furcifer Simon, 1881 ♀
Poltys furcifer Simon, 1881 ♀
Poltys sp.
Poltys sp.
Genus: Prasonica Simon, 1895
Prasonica nigrotaeniata (Simon, 1909) ♀
Prasonica nigrotaeniata (Simon, 1909) ♀
Genus: Unknown
Araneidae
Family: Ctenidae Keyserling, 1877
Ctenidae 2235
Ctenidae 2228
Ctenidae 4692
Ctenidae 4862
Ctenidae 5366
Ctenidae 5351
Ctenidae 5512
Ctenidae 5525
Family: Dipluridae Simon, 1889
Genus: Thelechoris Karsch, 1881
Thelechoris striatipes (Simon, 1889)
Thelechoris striatipes (Simon, 1889)
Family: Eresidae C. L. Koch, 1845
Genus: Stegodyphus Simon, 1873
Stegodyphus africanus (Blackwall, 1866) ♂
Stegodyphus africanus (Blackwall, 1866) ♀♂
Family: Eutichuridae Lehtinen, 1967
Genus: Cheiracanthium C. L. Koch, 1839
Cheiracanthium sp. ♂
Cheiracanthium sp. ♂
Cheiracanthium sp. ♀
Cheiracanthium sp. ♀
cf. Cheiracanthium sp. ♂
Family: Filistatidae Ausserer, 1867
Filistatidae ♀
Family: Gnaphosidae Pocock, 1898
Genus: Zelotes Gistel, 1848
Zelotes sp.
Zelotes sp.
Family: Idiopidae Simon, 1892
Genus: Ctenolophus Purcell, 1904
Ctenolophus sp. ♂
Ctenolophus sp. ♂
Family: Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833
Lycosidae
cf. Evippomma sp. or Evippa sp.
Lycosidae 6261
Lycosidae 6276
Family: Oxyopidae Thorell, 1870
Genus: Hamataliwa Keyserling, 1887
Hamataliwa sp.
Hamataliwa sp.
Genus: Oxyopes Latreille, 1804
Oxyopes cf. flavipalpis (Lucas, 1858)
Oxyopes cf. flavipalpis (Lucas, 1858)
Oxyopes cf. jacksoni Lessert, 1915
Oxyopes cf. jacksoni Lessert, 1915
Oxyopes sp. 4769
Oxyopes sp. 4773
Genus: Peucetia Thorell, 1869
Peucetia pulchra (Blackwall, 1865)
Peucetia pulchra (Blackwall, 1865)
Family: Palpimanidae Thorell, 1870
Genus: Palpimanus Dufour, 1820
Palpimanus cf. giltayi Lessert, 1936 ♀
Palpimanus cf. giltayi Lessert, 1936 ♀
Palpimanus cf. giltayi Lessert, 1936 ♀
Palpimanus cf. giltayi Lessert, 1936 ♀
Family: Philodromidae Thorell, 1870
Genus: Tibellus Simon, 1875
Tibellus cf. kibonotensis Lessert, 1919
Family: Pholcidae C. L. Koch, 1850
Genus: Leptopholcus Simon, 1893
Leptopholcus cf. gracilis Berland, 1920 ♀
Leptopholcus cf. gracilis Berland, 1920 ♀
Genus: Smeringopus Simon, 1890
cf. Smeringopus sp. 6541
Family: Pisauridae Simon, 1890
Genus: Euprosthenops Pocock, 1897
Euprosthenops cf. australis Simon, 1898
Genus: Nilus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1876
cf. Nilus sp.
cf. Nilus sp.
Genus: Unknown
Pisauridae
Pisauridae
Pisauridae
Pisauridae 6526
Family: Salticidae Blackwall, 1841
Genus: Brancus Simon, 1902
Brancus mustela (Simon, 1902) ♀
Brancus mustela (Simon, 1902) ♀
Genus: Hyllus C. L. Koch, 1846
Hyllus cf. argyrotoxus Simon, 1902 ♀
Hyllus cf. argyrotoxus Simon, 1902 ♀
Hyllus argyrotoxus Simon, 1902 ♂
Hyllus argyrotoxus Simon, 1902 ♂
Hyllus cf. treleaveni Peckham & Peckham, 1902 ♀
Hyllus cf. treleaveni Peckham & Peckham, 1902 ♀
Hyllus sp. ♀ 3687
Hyllus sp. ♀ 3719
Hyllus sp. ♀ 4218
Hyllus sp. ♀ 4229
Genus: Menemerus Simon, 1868
Menemerus zimbabwensis Wesolowska, 1999 ♂
Menemerus zimbabwensis Wesolowska, 1999 ♂
Menemerus zimbabwensis Wesolowska, 1999 ♀
Menemerus zimbabwensis Wesolowska, 1999 ♀
Genus: Mexcala Peckham & Peckham, 1902
Mexcala cf. elegans Peckham & Peckham, 1903 ♂
Mexcala cf. elegans Peckham & Peckham, 1903 ♂
Mexcala sp. ♂
Genus: Myrmarachne MacLeay, 1839
Myrmarachne ichneumon (Simon, 1886) ♂
Genus: Portia Karsch, 1878
Portia cf. schultzi Karsch, 1878 ♀
Portia cf. schultzi Karsch, 1878 ♀
Genus: Thyene Simon, 1885
Thyene bucculenta (Gerstäcker, 1873) ♂
Thyene bucculenta (Gerstäcker, 1873) ♂
Genus: Tusitala Peckham & Peckham, 1902
Tusitala sp. ♂♀
Tusitala sp. ♂♀
Genus: Unknown
Salticidae ♂ 2766
Salticidae ♂ 2770
Salticidae ♀ 2541
Salticidae 5826
Salticidae 4269
Salticidae 4274
Salticidae 5007
Salticidae 5014
Salticidae 5022
Salticidae 3891
Salticidae 6309
Salticidae 6304
Family: Selenopidae Simon, 1897
Genus: Selenops Latreille, 1819
Selenops sp. ♀ 2385
Selenops sp. ♀ 2345
Selenops sp. ♂ 2724
Selenops sp. ♂ 2731
Selenops sp. ♀ 3036
Selenops sp. ♀ 3027
Family: Sparassidae Bertkau, 1872
Genus: Olios Walckenaer, 1837
Olios sp. ♀
Olios sp. ♀
Family: Tetragnathidae Menge, 1866
Genus: Leucauge White, 1841
Leucauge medjensis Lessert, 1930 ♀
Leucauge medjensis Lessert, 1930 ♀
Genus: Tetragnatha Latreille, 1804
Tetragnatha sp. 5571
Tetragnatha sp. 5579
Tetragnatha sp. ♀ 2608
Family: Theraphosidae Thorell, 1870
Genus: Pterinochilus Pocock, 1897
cf. Pterinochilus murinus Pocock, 1897
cf. Pterinochilus murinus Pocock, 1897
cf. Pterinochilus murinus Pocock, 1897
Theraphosidae 6131
Family: Theridiidae Sundevall, 1833
Genus: Argyrodes Thorell, 1869
Argyrodes sp. ♀
Genus: Meotipa Simon, 1894
cf. Meotipa sp.
Genus: Thwaitesia O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1881
Thwaitesia sp. ♀
Thwaitesia sp. ♀
Genus: Tidarren Chamberlin & Ivie, 1934
Tidarren sp. ♀
Tidarren sp. ♀
Tidarren sp. web ♀
Genus: Unknown
Theridiidae 5340
Theridiidae 5343
Theridiidae 6187 ♀
Theridiidae 6155 ♀
Theridiidae 6521
Family: Thomisidae Sundevall,1833
Genus: Mystaria Simon, 1895
Mystaria savannensis Lewis & Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2014 ♀
Mystaria savannensis Lewis & Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2014 ♀
Genus: Oxytate L. Koch, 1878
Oxytate argenteooculata (Simon, 1886)
Oxytate argenteooculata (Simon, 1886)
Genus: Platythomisus Doleschall, 1859
Platythomisus sibayius Lawrence, 1968
Platythomisus sibayius Lawrence, 1968
Genus: Synema Simon, 1864
Synema mandibulare Dahl, 1907
Synema mandibulare Dahl, 1907
Synema diana (Audouin, 1826)
Synema imitator (Pavesi, 1883)
Genus: Thomisops Karsch, 1879
Thomisops pupa Karsch, 1879 ♀
Thomisops pupa Karsch, 1879 ♀
Genus: Thomisus Walckenaer, 1805
Thomisus granulatus Karsch, 1880 ♀
Thomisus granulatus Karsch, 1880 ♀
Thomisus citrinellus Simon, 1875 ♀
Thomisus citrinellus Simon, 1875 ♀
Thomisus daradioides Simon, 1890 ♀
Thomisus daradioides Simon, 1890 ♀
Family: Uloboridae Thorell, 1869
Uloboridae
Uloboridae
Family: Unknown
Mygalomorphae 6104
Mygalomorphae 6108
Order: Ixodida Leach, 1815
Family: Ixodidae C. L. Koch, 1844
Ixodidae
Ixodidae
Ixodidae
Order: Scorpiones C. L. Koch, 1837
Family: Hemiscorpiidae
Genus: Opisthacanthus Peters, 1861
cf. Opisthacanthus sp.
cf. Opisthacanthus sp.
Order: Solifugae Sundevall, 1833
Solifugae
Solifugae
Family: Solpugidae Leach, 1815
Genus: Solpuga Lichtenstein, 1796
Solpuga sp.
Solpuga sp.
Class: Insecta Linnaeus, 1758
Order: Blattodea Wattenwyl, 1882
Blattodea
Blattodea
Blattodea
Order: Coleoptera Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Attelabidae Billberg, 1820
Parapoderus cf. nigripennis Voss,1926
Family: Cerambycidae Latreille, 1802
Cerambycidae
Family: Chrysomelidae Latreille, 1802
Genus: Aspidimorpha Hope, 1840
Aspidimorpha cf. ertli Spaeth, 1906
Family: Coccinellidae Latreille, 1807
Genus: Epilachna Dejean, 1837
Epilachna gr. dregei
Family: Curculionidae Latreille, 1802
Curculionidae
Curculionidae
Family: Lycidae Laporte, 1836
Genus: Lycus Fabricius, 1787
Lycus cf. constrictus
Family: Meloidae Gyllenhal, 1810
Hycleus cf. bifasciatus (Olivier, 1795)
Family: Ptilodactylidae Laporte, 1836
Genus: Ptilodactyla Illiger, 1807
cf. Ptilodactyla sp.
Family: Scarabaeidae Latreille, 1802
Genus: Garreta Janssens, 1940
Garreta nitens (Olivier, 1789)
Family: Tenebrionidae Latreille, 1802
Genus: Endustomus Bręme, 1846
Endustomus sp.
Genus: Himatismus Erichson, 1843
Himatismus sp.
Genus: Psammodes Kirby, 1819
Psammodes sp.
Genus: Unknown
Lagriini
Sepidiiini, cf. Dichtha sp.
Order: Diptera Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Asilidae Latreille 1802
Asilidae
Family: Culicidae Meigen, 1818
Culicidae
Family: Diopsidae Bilberg, 1820
Diopsidae
Diopsidae
Family: Syrphidae Latreille, 1802
Syrphidae 4392
Syrphidae 5549
Order: Hemiptera Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Issidae Spinola, 1839
Issidae
Family: Lophopidae Stål, 1866
Lophopidae
Lophopidae
Family: Membracidae Rafinesque, 1815
Membracidae
Membracidae
Family: Monophlebidae Signoret, 1875
Monophlebidae
Monophlebidae
Order: Hymenoptera Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Apidae Linnaeus, 1758
Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Formicidae Latreille, 1809
Paltothyreus cf. tarsatus (Fabricius, 1798)
Family: Mutillidae André, 1907
Mutillidae
Family: Pompilidae Latreille, 1805
Pompilidae
Order: Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758
Lepidoptera 3830
Lepidoptera 3838
Lepidoptera 4478
Amerila sp.
Order: Mantodea Burmeister, 1838
Family: Sibyllidae Giglio-Tos, 1919
Sibylla pretiosa Stal, 1856 (Juv)
Sibylla pretiosa Stal, 1856 (Juv)
Order: Neuroptera Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Ascalaphidae Rambur, 1842
Ascalaphidae (Juv)
Ascalaphidae (Juv)
Order: Odonata Fabricius, 1793
Infraorder: Anisoptera Selys, 1854
Family: Libellulidae Rambur, 1842
Crocothemis erythraea (Brullé, 1832)
Urothemis edwardsii (Selys, 1849)
Order: Orthoptera Latreille, 1793
Suborder: Caelifera Ander, 1939
Caelifera 2373
Caelifera 2627
Caelifera 3340
Caelifera 5585
Suborder: Ensifera Lesson, 1843
Family: Tettigoniidae Krauss, 1902
Enyaliopsis petersi (Shaum, 1853)
Enyaliopsis petersi (Shaum, 1853)
Enyaliopsis petersi (Shaum, 1853) under UV
Enyaliopsis petersi (Shaum, 1853)
Enyaliopsis petersi (Shaum, 1853)
Enyaliopsis petersi (Shaum, 1853)
Eurycorypha sp.
Subphylum: Myriapoda Latreille, 1802
Class: Diplopoda De Blainville in Gervais, 1844
Diplopoda
Phylum: Chordata Haeckel, 1874
Class: Amphibia Gray 1825
Frog 2170
Frog 2244
Hyperoliidae
Frog 5383
Class: Reptilia Laurenti, 1768
Order: Squamata Oppel, 1811
Family: Colubridae Oppel, 1811
Thelotornis capensis A. Smith, 1849
Dispholidus typus (A. Smith, 1828)
Family: Leptotyphlopidae Stejneger, 1892
Leptotyphlops scutifrons (Peters, 1854)
Class: Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758
Order: Artiodactyla Owen, 1848
Family: Bovidae Gray, 1821
Aepyceros melampus (Lichtenstein, 1812) ♀ ♂
Kobus ellipsiprymnus (Ogilby, 1833) ♂
Family: Canidae G. Fischer de Waldheim, 1817
Lycaon pictus (Temminck, 1820)
Order: Primates Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Cercopithecidae Gray, 1821
Papio sp.
Family: Suidae Gray, 1821
Phacochoerus africanus (Gmelin, 1788)
Class: Ave Linnaeus, 1758
Order: Accipitriformes Vieillot, 1816
Family: Accipitridae Vieillot, 1816
Haliaeetus vocifer (Daudin, 1800)
Order: Ciconiiformes Bonaparte, 1854
Family: Ciconiidae J. E. Gray, 1840
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis (Shaw, 1800)
Mycteria ibis (Linnaeus, 1766)
Order: Pelecaniformes Sharpe, 1891
Family: Pelecanidae Rafinesque, 1815
Pelecanus rufescens Gmelin, 1789
Pelecanus rufescens Gmelin, 1789
Others
Slug
Leaf miners