Guide to insects, arthropods, and molluscs of northern Dogon country

 

Compiled by Jeffrey Heath, Linguistics, University of Michigan

March 2009 version

 

         This informal guide is compiled from the literature, online resources, and on identifications of our specimens from northern Dogon country collected during the Dogon linguistic project. The guide is intended primarily for the use of linguistic fieldworkers, but if it is useful to others working in the area so much the better.

         The insect specimen identifications were mostly done by H.-P. Aberlenc and colleagues at CIRAD-Montpellier (France). Aberlenc also took, for our use, numerous photos of specimens from the CIRAD collection and a few of my own specimens. The notes include species (particularly crop pests and disease vectors) that are not necessarily present in northern Dogon country but may occur farther south. File names in green refer to our photos ("....JH.jpg" if taken by me or under my direction, "...HPA.jpg" if taken for us by Aberlenc). Links to other websites are also given (some will become obselete with time.) Like the other guides in this project, we hope to make additions and corrections as the project continues.

         Where insect larvae are very distinct from adults (imagos), so that natives do not usually make the connection between the two, the larvae are treated as a separate "larvae" category at the end of the notes. This applies particularly to larvae and caterpillars of  Lepidoptera = butterflies, and larvae of Diptera = flies and of Coleoptera = beetles.

         Northern Dogon are particularly interested in grasshoppers (most of which are named at the level of species, or groups of closely related species), and least interested in (adult) butterflies (which are usually not differentiated terminologically). They also have a good knowledge of beetles/bugs and of larvae (particularly agricultural and animal pests).

 

send comments/corrections to: schweinehaxen@hotmail.com

 

website with links to various entomology resources:

         http://www.chrysis.net/variae/info/links.htm

 

approximate taxonomic hierarchy:

 

Lophotrochozoa

         Mollusca

Arthropoda

         Chelicerata

                  Arachnida

                           Acari

                                    Acarina (mites and ticks)

                                             Trombidiidae (velvet mites)

                                             Ixodidae (ticks)

                           Araneae (spiders)

                           Scorpiones (scorpions)

                           Solifugae (wind scorpions)

         Myriapoda

                  Chilopoda (centipedes)

                  Diplopoda (millipedes)

         Crustacea (crustaceans)

         Hexapoda

                  Insecta (insects)

                           Aperygota (includes bristletails)

                           Pterygota (most insects)

 

on the hierarchy, which is subject to revision, cf. Wikipedia and the following websites:

         http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt

         http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Insecta.html

 

Lophotrochozoa, Mollusca (molluscs)

 

comment (JH): Molluscs are generally of little interest to Dogon and montane Songhay. Snails are familiar but speakers may struggle to find a native name. Mussel shells are used as scrapers. Dogon who are familiar with rock pools may know (tiny) bladder snails.

 

reference: David S. Brown. 1994. Freshwater snails of Africa and their medical importance. 2nd ed. (first ed. 1980). CRC Press.

 

Mollusca, Bivalvia, Palaeoheterodonta (various spp.)

         freshwater mussel (shells used as scrapers)

        

Mollusca, Gastropoda (various families)

         snails

                 

        

Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Physidae (bladder snails)

[some spp. may really belong to closely related group Planorbidae, Bulininae]

         bladder snail sp., tiny mollusc with soft shell, coiling to a pointed tip; sinistral (left-turned, i.e. if the tip is up and you turn it so the opening faces you, the opening is on the left); no operculum (hardened circular element that closes the opening of snails and other shells when soft parts are withdrawn); often floats in stagnant pools

                  specimen 1006.081 (from rock pool at Beni)

                  African genera of this family are Physa, Physella, Aplexa. Taxonomy in flux. Aplexa waterloti is a West African sp. Some physid spp. are invasive (introduced by humans).

                  description and image: Wikipedia (Physidae)

 

Mollusca, Gastropoda, Sorbeoconcha, Cypraeidae

         Cypraea moneta (cowry shell)

                  Traditionally used in West Africa as currency, now used in jewely and hairstyles

                  (marine shells not native to the area)

                  many web images

 

Chelicerata, Arachnida
(mites, ticks, spiders, scorpions, solifuges)

Acari, Acarina (mites and ticks)

Trombidiidae (velvet mites)

 

comment (JH): the red velvet mite is well known to all Songhay and Dogon farmers

 

Arthropoda, Chelicerata, Arachnida, Acari, Acariformes, Parasitengona, Trombidioidea, Trombidiidae

         "giant velvet mite" or "red velvet mite" (many genera and species)

         scarlet-red spider-like arthropod that emerges in fields after a rain, called "son of rain" or the like in local languages

         specimen 2005.47, unidentified (similar in appearance to Dinothrombium tinctorium)

                  images of Dinothrombium and other velmit mite spp. on web

 

Ixodidae (ticks)

 

Arthropoda, Chelicerata, Arachnida, Acari, Acarina, Parasitiformes, Ixodida

         hard ticks: Ixodidae

         soft ticks: Argasidae

 

comment (JH): most Songhay and Dogon languages have one word for 'tick', and where necessary specify 'chicken tick' or the like as a compound beginning with the term for the host animal.

 

Argasidae (soft ticks)

[spend most time in earth or crevices, feed on hosts only briefly]

[mouthparts generally not visible from above]

         Argas spp. infest mainly birds and bats in Africa

                  Argas persicus "fowl tick", infests chickens

                           males to 0.5 cm, females 0.4 to 1.1 cm long, flattened; red; front elongated and tapering

                           images on web

         Ornithodoros spp. infest various domestic and wild mammals (e.g. swine)

                  vectors of African swine fever//peste porcine africaine (a DNA virus)

                  Ornithodoros moubata complex (including O. porcinus)

                           images on web

        

Ixodidae (hard ticks)

[mouthparts (palps) extend outward, are visible from above]

  a) palps (protruding mouthparts) much longer than wide

         Ixodidae, Amblyomminae

                  Amblyomma spp. [shield (top) has color ornamentation, esp. males]

                  Amblyomma spp., primarily on cattle

         Ixodidae, Hyalomminae (palps much longer than wide)

                  Hyalomma spp. (bont-legged ticks), no ornamentation of shield; numerous spp. mainly feeding on cattle, s.t. sheep and goats

                  Hyalomma impeltatum (determined J.-L. Camicas, 2004)

                           Large hard tick; adults feed on livestock and herbivores

                           specimen 2004-042 (Dogon country)

                  Hyalomma dromedarii (Saharan, feeds on camels, less often cattle, horses); vector of theileriosis (Theileria camelensis) on camels

  b) palps wider than long

         Ixodidae, Rhipicephalinae

                  Rhipicephalus spp. (variously on dogs, cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys)

                  Rhipicephalus cf. turanicus (part of R. sanguineus group)

                           Small hard tick; red; tapers down toward front; esp. on dogs

                           specimen 2004-011 (Dogon country)

 

         reference:

                  Joseph Okello-Onen, Shawgi M. Hassan, and Suliman Essuman (ed. Serah Mwanycky). 1999. Taxonomy of African ticks: an identification manual. Nairobi: Int'l Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology.

         websites:

                  http://webpages.lincoln.ac.uk/fruedisueli/FR-webpages/parasitology/Ticks/TIK/tick-key/index.htm

                  http://www.icttd.nl

 

Araneae (spiders)

 

comnment (JH): Dogon and Songhay have little interest in spiders and generally treat them as a single taxon in their terminology. In particular locations there descriptive modifiers (e.g. color adjectives) are sometimes used to denote conspicuous local species. It is often difficult for Dogon to distinguish terms for the animal from terms for webs.

        

 

Scorpionidae (scorpions)

 

Arthropoda, Chelicerata, Arachnida, Scorpiones, Scorpionidae

 

comments (JH): Northern Dogon distinguish up to three scorpions: a) the common house scorpion (specimens are Androctonus amoreuxii); b) a much smaller scorpion found in toilets (specimen from Beni was probably Buthacus sp.); and c) a dangerous scorpion in mountains called "horse scorpion" in local languages (no specimen seen). It seems likely that all local species are of the family Buthidae.

 

         webpages (scorpions)

                  http://www.messcorpions.com

                  http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files

                  http://www.buthidae.ch  (in German)

                  http://pagesperso-orange.fr/eycb/scorpions

 

         scorpion spp. recorded for Mali

                  Androctonus amoreuxi

                  Buthacus arenicola

                  Buthus occitanus

                  Hottentotta hottentotta hottentotta (Burkina), dark red

                  Leiurus quinquestriatus (death stalker)

 

         spp. recorded for nearby countries, might be present in parts of Mali

                  Androctonus australis (Algeria)

                  Androctonus bicolor (Libya), blackish

                  Androctonus mauritanicus (Morocco)

                  Androctonus liouvillei (Morocco)

                  Buthus atlantis (Morocco)

                  Buthus malhommei (Morocco)

                  Hottentotta franzwerneri gentili (Morocco), blackish

                  Scorpio maurus fuliginosus (Morocco), blackish, or blackish with dark red transverse bands

 

anatomy: metasoma = tail with 5 segments (plus telson at end, containing the stinger); mesosoma = main body with 7 segments; pedipalps = the two antenna-like pincers; chela = large hand-like outer segment of pedipalp, ending with fingers; scorpions have both median and lateral eyes.

 

order Buthoidea

Buthidae

[family description: small and medium sized, triangular (or sometimes pentagonal sternum), often yellow and/or brown but occasionally black

         Androctonus (relatively large)

                  Androctonus amoreuxii "yellow fat-tail scorpion"

                           the common house scorpion of northern Dogon country, specm 2004.41 (and others)

                           description from http://www.messcorpions.com/En/androctonus sp en.php                    Androctonus amoreuxi: Large species near 11cm. long. Color generally yellowish, with prosomal carapace and tergites slightly darker. Sternites pale yellow. Metasoma yellowish with carinae slightly reddish brown. Vesicle ochre with aculeus yellowish at base and reddish at the end. Legs and pedipalps pale yellow. Carapace with carinae and granules moderately marked. Tergites a few granulated with carinae moderately marked. Metasomal segments in constants width backwards, segments I-IV with dorsal carinae very slightly marked with granules rounded. Vesicle practically smooth, with aculeus a litle longer than the vesicle. Fixed and movable finger of pedipalp.   [viewed 03 2009]

                          

                          

                           http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/a_amoreuxi_bio.php

                           many images on web

         Buthacus

                  Buthacus sp., small, light yellowish, found in toilets etc., specmn 2006.47 (probably juvenile)

                 

                 

                  note: Buthacus arenicola is reported for Mali, and our specimen may belong to this species. Description and photo in:

                           http://pagesperso-orange.fr/eycb/scorpions/FButhacusspp.htm

                                    5-6 cm, body of adults uniformly yellowish; venom quite potent

                           many images on web

         Buthus

                  Buthus occitanus

                                    3 main clades, possibly distinct spp.: Iberian peninsula, Morocco, Tunisia). Description of European clade from

                                     http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/european_scorp.php

                                    "B. occitanus is 60-80 mm in length, and has a yellow or yellow-brown color. The granulations on the anterior part of carapace (in front of the median eyes) form a lyre shape. This scorpion is often found in dry and hot areas with sparse vegetation, where it hides under stones etc. during daytime. ... The literature suggest[s] that the African "forms" are much more potent, and deaths and serious cases have been reported." [viewed 03 2009]

         Leiurus

                  Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus "death stalker". See Wikipedia and other web sources.             

                           straw yellow with relatively thin tail and pedipalps (pincers); last large segment of tail may be blackish; very potent venom, but mortality of healthy adults due to its bite is rare

                                    http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/l_quinquestriatus_info.pdf

                           description from this site:

                                    "Adult specimens 80?110 mm total length. Coloration typically yellow to orangishyellow. Metasomal segment V typically with dark coloration restricted to the posterior 2/3 of the segment. Amount and intensity of dark coloration can vary among specimens. Older specimens may be darker in overall coloration and the dark coloration of metasomal segment V faded, reduced or indistinct. Tergites I & II pentacarinate; tergites III?VII, tricarinate. Chelae elongate and gracile; base of closed fingers approximate in width to the manus"

                           many images on web

         Hottentota (not definite for Mali)

                  website for this genus: http://www.hottentotta.com

                  key for the two possible spp. in the region:

                           black except yellow legs and reddish brown chela; ventral surfaces of metasomal segments, and vesicle of female, densely hirsute: H. franzwerneri

                           usually uniformly reddish brown; metasoma of both sexes bears only a few hairs: H. hottentotta

                  H. franzwerneri

                           total length 70-110 mm; nearly entire body hirsute; pedipalps, legs, lateral and ventral surfaces of metasomal segments usually densely hirsute; color black except reddish brown chela of pedipalps and telson, and yellow legs and tips of fingers of pedipalps

                  H. hottentotta

                           total length 55-80 mm; pedipalps hirsute but not densely; metasoma bears only a few hairs; color usually uniformly reddish brown, but some populations colored yellowish brown to black (juveniles may be uniformly brown, or chela dark and remaining segments of pedipalps yellow); metasomal segments and carapace usually with orange spots and longitudinal black stripes; first metasomal segment of adults wider than long, second metasomal segment usually longer than wide

                 

Solifugae (solifuges)

 

(wind scorpions, sun scorpions, solifuges, sunspiders) = Fr. solifuges

Arthropoda, Chelicerata, Arachnida, [order] Solifugae (or: Solpugida)

 

         comments (JH): most northern Dogon recognize at least one type of wind scorpion, but for Nanga there is a distinction between a large type seen on walls at night (it hunts using a sweeping motion, moving in circles on walls) and a small, very fast-moving one generally on the ground (also hunting with a sweeping motion). Specimens have not been indentified due to the lack of experts in African species

 

         desert-adapted, predatory; some 12 families of Solifugae, including family Solpugidae; solpugid.com website (see below) indicates that taxonomy is extremely underdeveloped in this group

         Galeodidae: group includes the largest spp. of the order; long legs, large, fine hairs (microsetae) on tarsal claws of legs 2-4 (unique to this family); main genus is Galeodes (other N. African genera are Galeodopsis and Paragaleodes)

         recorded for Mali or Burkina: family Galeodidae

         recorded for an adjoining country: families Daesiidae, Karshiidae (N Africa), Rhagodidae (N. Africa, Nigeria), Solpugidae

         website:  http://www.solpugid.com/index.htm

                  indicates Galeodidae

         website (South Africa):  http://www.museums.org.za/bio/arachnids/solifugae.htm

 

         specmns 2005.43, 2005.70

 

Myriapoda (centipedes and millipedes)

Chilopoda (centipedes)

 

comments (JH): the two regularly named centipedes in northern Dogon country are the scolopender (often called "girl's scorpion" because it is thought to fatally bite girls), and a scurrying red centipede seen in large numbers in fields at one point in the rainy season

 

Arthropoda, Myriapoda, Chilopoda

         orders:

         Geophilomorpha (more than 25 pairs of feet)

                  (14 families)

         Lithobiomorpha (15 pairs of feet, short feet and antennae)

         Scolopendromorpha (20-23 pairs of feet, most aggressive centipedes)

                  Scolopendridae

         Scutigeromorpha (fast-moving, 15 pairs of feet, several feet long and thin)

                  Scutigeridae

                           (European house centipede Scutigera coleoptrata)

reference:

         http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev.ento.52.110405.091326

website:

         http://scolo.free.fr/                 

experts:

         Gonzalo Giribet, ggiribet@oeb.harvard.edu

         Greg Edgecombe, greged@austmus.gov.au

 

         Epimorpha, Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendridae

                  cf. Scolopendra sp.

                           large biting centipede, called "young girls' scorpion" in some Dogon languages, perhaps Scolopendra sp. or Alipes sp.; specmns 2005.69, 2004.32, 2006.45

                          

                          

 

         unidentified red scurrying centipede sp.

                  small red caterpillar-like centipede scurrying en masse across fields at a given moment during the in wet season, specmns 2005.54, 2006.56

                          

 

Diplopoda (millipedes)

 

giant millipedes: Arthropoda, Myriapoda, Diplopoda

         several spp., difficult to distinguish except by microscopic analysis of male genitalia

         millipede orders represented in sub-Saharan Africa

                  Penicellata (worldwide)

                  Polydesmida (worldwide)

                  Spirobolida (sub-Saharan Africa)

                  Spirostreptida (Africa)

         source:

         http://www.fieldmuseum.org/research_collections/zoology/zoo_sites/millipeet/pdfsFullarticles/Identification_Table_2.pdf

 

         Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidea

                  Spirostreptidae

                           Archispirostreptus sp.

                           Scaphiostreptus sp.

                                    Scaphiostreptus parilis (West Africa)

                           Lules sp.

                  Odontopygidae

 

         website: http://whozoo.org/Intro2001/jamibump/JMB_Millipede.htm

         website: http://www.earthlife.net/insects/diplopoda.html

         website (photos): http://www.spidy.goliathus.com/english/gallery-millipedes.php

 

         giant millipede: large, dark brown, soft-bodied, in vegetation, common in northern Dogon country and Hombori

                 

 

Crustacea

 

We have not found any species of this subphylum known to Dogon or montane Songhay.

 

Isopoda (isopods or woodlice)

         Trachelopodidae

                  Hemilepistus reaumuri (desert woodlouse or desert isopod), North Africa

 

Insecta [includes all orders and families below]

Apterygota, Thysanura (=Zygentoma) (bristletails)

 

         comments (JH): a bristletail larva is called "fish-herder" in the Nanga language (Anda village).

 

         specmn 2004.35

 

Blattodea (cockroaches)

 

         comments (JH): the large red cockroach in toilets is Periplaneta americana, but is probably recent in the zone. Northern Dogon often have a general word for small native house cockroaches along with small house crickets.

 

the large international cockroaches are the following (many images on web)

Blattidae, Blattinae

         Blatta orientalis, Oriental cockroach, 3.2 cm long, dark brown, likes warm areas, not a good climber, cannot fly

         Periplaneta americana, American cockroach, 5 cm long, extremely long antennae, medium brown, likes warm areas, in toilets etc., not a good climber, can fly long distances

Blattellidae

         Blattella germanica, German cockroach, 1.6 cm long; light brown with dark stripes on thorax; all human habitats, good climber, does not fly

 

Coleoptera (beetles)

 

         comments (JH): Northern Dogon distinguish many (adult) beetle spp., but usually in the form of compounds based on a general term for ?beetle' (also extending to some Hemiptera).

         The best-known species are these:

         a) buprestid (=jewel) beetle, which children play with (usually one term for all spp., both Steraspis and Sternocera being common);

         b) bostrichid beetle, small rectangular black beetles that bore into wood (one term for all spp.);

         c) elaterid (=click) beetle Elephenus fasciatus, which snaps itself into the air when placed on its back;

         d) gyrinid (=whirlygig) beetle Dineutes sp., a small shiny black beetle that scampers around on the surface of pools;

         e) firefly (lampyrid beetle);

         f) meloid (=blister) beetles, known in local French as cantharides, which feed on vegetation, are attacted to light, and cause large blisters on one's skin (sometimes distinguishing species by color);

         g) cetonid (=millet) beetles, often distinguishing two or more species including Pachnoda and Rhabdotis (see under Scarabeidae, Cetoniinae);

         h) dung beetles including Allogymnopleurus aeneus, which push balls of animal dung;

         i) Trachyderma hispida (a lumbering crepuscular-nocturnal blackish house beetle, Tenebrionidae);

         j) Vieta senegalensis (a brownish beetle with grooved back, found on the ground in millet fields, notorious for playing dead when disturbed, Tenebrionidae).

         The other spp. given below are named in at least one northern Dogon language. I have seen ladybug beetles (Coccinellidae) but have not been able to elicit a name for them.

         k) Epomis cresus (bad-smelling, Carabidae);

         l) Scarites guineensis (Carabidae);

         m) Crossotus albicollis (leaf-eating, Cerambycidae);

         n) orange leaf beetle Eryope rubra (Chrysomelidae);

         o) rhinoceros beetle Phyllognathus burmeisteri, whose male has a rhinoceros-like horn (Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae); and

         p-s) the tenebrionid beetles Pogonobasis sp., Thalpophila schweinfurthi, Pimelia grandis, and Zophosis sp.

 

anatomy: tarsal formula e.g. 5-5-4 (number of segments in outermost section of front, middle, and hind leg); sternite = ventral plate of an abdominal segment; coxa = segment of leg nearest the body; elytra = hardened forewings; pronotum = dorsal surface of the frontmost thoracic segment

 

websites:

         beetles of Africa: http://www.beetlesofafrica.com/index.asp

         simple family taxonomy: 

                  http://ltreadwell.ifas.ufl.edu/insects/09Coleoptera.htm

                  http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com/insecta/24-coleoptera/coleoptera.htm

                  http://waynesword.palomar.edu/redmite3.htm

 

Coleoptera

         Adephaga [first abdominal sternite divided by hind coxae]

                  Carabidae (ground beetles)

                           Harpalinae (includes sun beetles and dead-tree beetles)

                           Cicindelinae (tiger beetles)

                           Scaritinae (saber-toothed beetles)

                  Gyrinidae (aquatic whirlygig beetles)

         Polyphaga [first abdominal sternite entire, not divided by hind coxae]

                  Bostrichiformia

                           Bostrichoidea

                                    Bostrichidae (horned powderpost beetles)

                  Cucujiformia

                           Chrysomeloidae

                                    Cerambycidae (longhorn beetles)

                                    Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles)

                                             Bruchinae (bean weevils, earlier a separate family: Bruchidae)

                           Cucujoidea

                                    Coccinellidae (lady bugs)

                           Curculionoidea (weevils)

                                    Curculionidae (weevils, snout beetles//charancons)

                           Tenebrionoidea

                                    Meloidae (blister beetles)

                                             Eleticinae

                                             Meloinae

                                             Nemogmathinae

                                    Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles)

                  Elateriformia

                           Buprestoidea

                                    Buprestidae

                           Elateroidea

                                    Elateridae (click beetles)

                                    Lampyridae (fireflies, lightning bugs)

                  Scarabeiformia

                           Scarabaeoidea

                                    Scarabaeidae

                                             Cetoniinae (or: separate family Cetoniidae)

                                             Scarabaeinae

                                             Dynastinae (rhinoceros beetles; or: separate family Dynastidae)

 

Coleoptera, Bostrichidae

(horned powderpost beetles, false powderpost beetles, auger beetles)

(images of the following spp. are on the web)

         head usually faces down, not visible from above; wood-boring (in shed poles, etc.)

         subfamily Bostrichinae

                  Sinoxylon senegalense, auger beetle (wood-boring), large; specmn 2006.23

                  Sinoxylon verrugerum, wood-boring, smaller than S. senegalense; specmn 2006.24

                  Apate terebrans, shot-hole borer; specmn 2006.64

         maize borer (from lit.): Prostephanus truncatus (introduced)

 

Coleoptera, Buprestidae

(metallic wood-boring beetles, jewel beetles)

family characters: first abdominal sternite entire; hard bodied, elongate-slender to elongate-robust beetles from 2 to 40 mm long; similar to Elateridae with without click mechanism and without the sharp points at posterior corners of pronotum; many metallic or bronzed in appearance, esp. on ventral surface; antennae usually short and sawtoothed; tarsi 5-5-5; larvae ("flatheaded borers") live in bark, wood, roots, and leaves

 

         oval shaped, hard carapaces, very colorful adults; children play with them

         website:   http://utenti.romascuola.net/bups/jewel.htm

         subfamily Chrysochroinae, tribe Chrysochroini, subtribe Eucallopistina

                  Steraspis cf. speciosa; shiny, iridescent, dark with greenish tint

                          

         subfamily Julodinae:

                  Sternocera interrupta; black with tiny white spots; specmn 2006.82

                           (also recorded for Mali: Sternocera klugi, very similar but spots less conspicuous)

                          

 

Coleoptera, Carabidae

(ground beetles, carnivorous, some fast-moving)

[large family, quite variable shapes; mostly black & shiny, s.t. metallic or colorful]

family characters [excludind Cicndelinae, see below]: first abdominal sternite divided by hind coxae; head at eyes nearly always narrower than pronotum (cf. Cicindelinae); antennae threadlike, inserted between mandibles and eyes (cf. Cicindelinae); generally black and shiny with striate elytra, but sometimes metallic or colorful; mostly nocturnal, secretive predators of other insects; similar to Tenebrionidae, but have 5-5-5 tarsi

         website: http://tolweb.org/Carabidae/8895

 

         Harpalinae

                  Epomis cresus; bad-smelling; specmn 2005.51

                           (Epomis sometimes relegated to a subgenus of Chlaenius)

                          

         Cicindelinae (tiger beetles), previously a separate family Cicindelidae; arguably now a division of the subfamily Carabinae

                  "Cicindelidae" characters: prominent eyes such that head is as wide as or wider than pronotum; pronotum narrower than elytra; antennae filiform and inserted above base of mandibles; often patterned on elytra, or blue or metallic green

                  (see larvae, below)

         Scaritinae

                  Scarites guineensis "sabre-toothed beetle"; black, predatory, with conspicuous "feather" extensions on front legs for digging burrows in earth; desert-adapted; Fr scarite; specmn 2006.34

                  image and info: http://www.shjbreeding.gov.ae/shjbreeding/insecta.htm

                  image (postage stamp): http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~CH2M-NITU/qatare.htm

 

Coleoptera, Cerambycidae

(longhorn beetles)

family: long filiform antennae at least ? as long as body (up to 2 times); body elongate and cylindrical 2- to 60 mm long; eyes generally notched with antenna arising within the nothc; tarsi apparently 4-4-4, but really 5-5-5 with the 4th segment small and inconspicuous

         large, fairly slender; very long antennae (esp. males); cryptically colored or mimic Hymenoptera, generally borers

         subfamily Lamiinae, tribe Crossotini

                  Crossotus albicollis, leaf-eating pest; specmn 2006.36; recorded for Niger, Senegal, CAR

                          

                           note: Crossotus tubericollis also present in the zone

 

Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae

(leaf beetles)

family characters: elongate-subcylindrical to oval, 1 to 16 mm long; antennae generally less than ? body length; eyes generally not notched; tarsi appear 4-4-4 but are actually 5-5-5; antennae shorter than Cerambycidae; adults on flowers and foliage, larvae feed on leaves and roots (may be pests)

         Eumolpinae, Synetini (leaf-eating beetles)

                  Eryope rubra; orange leaf beetle; specmn 2005.78; cf. Reid, "Spilopyrinae Chappuis...", Invertebrate Taxonomy 14:837-862 (2000)

                 

         Bruchinae (bean weevils, attack stored legumes)

                           larva chew their way into seeds; adults may play dead and drop from trees

                  Acanthoscelides obtectus (common bean weevil)

                  Zabrotes subfasciatus (Mexican bean weevil)

                  Callosobruchus maculatus (cowpea weevil)

 

Coleoptera, Coccinellidae

(lady bugs), Fr. coccinelle

         seen in northern Dogon country but not named by Dogon

 

Coleoptera, Curculionidae

(true weevils)

family characters: head usually with snout ranging from broad and flat in a few spp. to elongate and narrow in most spp; antennae usually elbowed and with 3-segmented club; length 0.6 to 35 mm, mostly < 10 mm; body often covered with scales; tarsi look 4-4-4, actually 5-5-5; all spp. are plant feeders

         most have an extended snout; larvae attack roots; adults feed on other plant parts

         larvae in millet roots (see "larvae", below)

 

Coleoptera, Elateridae

(click beetles)

family characters: first abdominal sternite entire, not divided by hind coxae; elongate, parallel-sided beetles, generally rounded at each end; pronotum pointed on the posterior corners; prosternum with a spinelike process that fits into a groove in the mesosternum; prothorax and mesothorax loosely joined (unlike Buprestidae), enabling adults to arch, click, and flip over when they are upside down; antennae generally serrate, s.t. filiform or pectinate; tarsi 5-5-5; larve ("wireworns") are cylindrical and elongate, many are root feeders and may be plant pests

         play dead when threatened; snap bodies to right themselves when upside-down

                  found on foliage or in bark, larvae in soil

         family website:

                  http://nathist.sdstate.edu/SMIRCOL/elateridae.html (Western Hemisphere only)

         Eleuphenus fasciatus; specmn 2006.50

                 

 

Coleoptera, Gyrinidae

(whirligig beetles)

         small; swim rapidly in circles on surface of water; divided eyes permit sight above and below surface

         Dineutes sp.; specmn 2006.77

 

Coleoptera, Lampyridae

(lightning bugs, firefly beetles)

        

Coleoptera, Meloidae

(blister beetles, secrete a blister-causing liquid from joints when annoyed)

family characters: first abdominal sternite entire; head broad, generally rectangular when viewed from above; pronotum cylindrical and narrower than both the head and base of elytra; body elongate, soft and somewhat leathery; antennae filiform or moniliform [like string of beads]; tarsi 5-5-4, claw either toothed or lobed

 

         Meloinae (subfamily)

                  Meloini (tribe)

                           Cyaneolytta chopardi, small, black; specmn 2005.60

                           Meloe spp. (tan-colored)

                  Mylabrini (tribe)

                           Hycleus (=Mylabris, Coryna) affinis; small, black with three irregular red-brown bands across back; specmn 2006.28

                           Hycleus (=Mylabris, Coryna, Zonobris) dicincta; larger, black with two fairly straight red bands across back; specmn 2006.79

                                   

                  Lyttini (tribe)

                           Lydomorphus sp.; very thin, black except for small red thorax; specmn 2006.68

         Nemognathinae (subfamily)

                  Nemognathini (tribe)

                           Zonitoschema sp.; small, thin, in Acacia nilotica; specmn 2006.39

         unidentified (collected Douentza 2008), iridescent blackish

                 

                 

 

Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae

 

family characters: robust, varying greatly in shape (2 to 62 cm long); distinctive lamellate antennae; club generally 3 to 4 (max. 7) segments and capable of being closed tightly; tarsi 5-5-5; larvae are sluggish, cylindrical, c-shaped, with well-developed head and thoracic legs; in some spp. larvae feed on roots, sap, and decaying wood while adults feed on leaves and flowers; in other spp., both larvae and adults feed on carrion, dung, skin, and feathers

 

         Cetoniinae [s.t. elevated to separate family Cetoniidae]

                  Pachnoda cordata; yellow with black marks, in millet, most common millet beetle; specmn 2006.84

                          

                           images on web

                  Pachnoda interrupta; black, in millet; specmn 2006.83

                           images on web

                          

                  Pseudoprotaetia stolata; black and white, in millet spike; specmn 2006.10; recorded for South Africa

                  Rhabdotis sobrina; colorful, in sheath in ground, said to eat acacia flowers; specmns 2006.33, 2006.12

                           images on web

                          

         Dynastinae (rhinoceros beetles; males have large "rhinoceros-horn" extension)

                  Phyllognathus burmeisteri; specmn 2005.73

                          

                           [similar sp., image shows "horn"]

                           images on web

         Scarabaeinae (dung beetles, probably more than one sp. in the zone)

                  Allogymnopleurus aeneus; round body, dentate head

                           images on web

                          

         Rutelinae (see Rhyniptia infuscata under "crop pest" section below)

         webpage (Cetoniinae and Dynastinae) 

                  http://www.harink.com/~benjamin/englex.htm - 6._Divert_Topics_-_Beetle_related                                  

 

Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles; close to Meloidae phylogenetically)

family characters: first abdominal sternite entire; eyes notched by a frontal ridge; antennae usually 11 segmented and filiform, moniliform (like string of beads), or weakly clubbed; tarsi 5-5-4, claws simple; body form ranges from elongate to oval, and smooth to very rough (similar to Carabidae but have 4-segmented hind tarsus, notched eyes, and entire sternite); adults and larvae are scavengers

         ground-dwelling, cannot fly (elytra are fused)

         subfamilies: Lagriinae, Phrenapatinae, Pimeliinae, Diaperinae, Hypophloeinae, Opatrinae, Tenebrioninae, Alleculinae, Coelometopinae

         http//www.tenebrionidae.net:/

 

                  Pimeliinae

                           tribe unknown

                                    Trachyderma hispida; dark-colored, common around houses at night; 2005 specimen

                                             images on web

                                            

                                    Pogonobasis sp.; small, in hills; specmn 2005.65

                                             images on web (P. opatra)

                                            

                                    Thalpophila schweinfurthi; in ravines; specmn 2006.80

                                             (genus name questionable; Thalpophila also seems to be a genus name in noctuid butterflies)

                                    Vieta senegalensis; light brown in life, back surface coarse, ground-dwelling, eats fallen grains in fields, common and well-known; specmn 2004.08

                                            

                                             images on web

                           Pimelini

                                    Pimelia grandis; black, coarse surface, longitudinal grooves; specmn 2006.67

                                   

                                    images on web

                           Zophosini

                                    Zophosis sp.; specmn 2005.65

                                   

                                    images (of genus) on web

                  unidentified

                           small unidentified spemcn 2006.38

 

Dermaptera (earwigs)

 

         comments (JH): the earwig Forficula senegalensis is well-known to northern Dogon.

        

Archidermaptera

         Forficulina

                  Forficulidae

                           Forficula senegalensis. body ends in a pair of forceps-like cerci; abdomen flexible; minor crop pest (may eat corn silk, etc.); specmns 2005.75, 2005.81, photo

                          

 

Diptera (flies, mosquitoes)

 

         comments (JH): in addition to a general term for ?mosquite' and one for ?(house) fly' (Musca), the latter extendible to other flies and some other flying insects, there may be specific terms or compounds for:

         a) robber flies, tiny flies that seize other flying insects in flight (Asilidae, possibly distinguishing two types);

         b) a tiny muscoid fly that is difficult to shake off (specmn 2006.02, unidentified);

         c) blowly (Calliphoridae), a large fly with shiny green back (sometimes distinguishing a type that hums in fields);

         d) bot-fly, small fly on cattle, cf. Hypoderma sp.;

         e) flesh-fly, large fly with alternating whitish and blackish longitudinal stripes on upper back, often in garbage, cf. Sarcophaga sp. (Sarcophagidae).

 

 

two suborders:

         Nematocera (mosquitoes, gnats, black flies, midges)

         Brachycera (flies)

 

Diptera, Nematocera

         Culicomorpha

                  mosquitoes

         Bibionomorpha

                  Cecidomyiidae (gall midges, gall gnats)

                           Contarinia sorghicola (sorghum midge//cecidomyie du sorgho, adult resembles mosquito), larvae feed on developing ovaries of sorghum grains

                           Geromyia penniseti (millet grain midge)

                           Orseolia oryzivora (African rice gall midge)

 

Diptera, Brachycera, Asoloidea, Asilidae (robber flies)

         predatory flies, seize insect prey in flight, inject saliva that immobilizes prey through short, strong proboscis; short antennae; bristly legs (help catch prey); body often long and slender-tapering, occasionally thick bumblebee mimics; larvae grow on plants or in crevices within soil, bark, or wood, and may be predacious (feeding on soft-bodied insects)

         Laphriinae

                  Nusa sp., specmn 2006.48

                 

         unidentified

                  asilid sp. 1 (reddish) specmn 2005.79

                  asilid sp. 2 specmn 2005.83

         websites

                  http://www.geller-grimm.de/catalog/index.html

                           Afrotropical records for Nusa from this website (5.07): N. dispar, N. gaerdesi, N. infumata, N. ingwavuma, N. vittipes

                  http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/beneficial/flies/robber_flies.htm

                  http://bugguide.net/node/view/39361   (Laphriinae)

 

Diptera, Brachycera, Schizophora, Calyptratae, Muscoidea, Muscidae (house flies & similar)

         can be predatory or blood-sucking, feed on decaying matter , or feed on plant and animal exudates

         Glossina spp. (tse-tse flies, not in the zone)

         Atherigoninae

                  Atherigona soccata (sorghum shoot fly, a major pest)

                           larvae cut the growing point of the sorghum leaf

         Muscinae

                  Musca domestica, common house fly

                  muscinid sp. 1 (small, biting) specmn 2006.53

         unidentified

                  muscoid sp. 2 (tiny, hard to shake off) specmn 2006.2

         several other subfamilies/tribes

         website

                  key to Afrotropical genera

                           http://calvados.c3sl.ufpr.br/ojs2/index.php/zoo/article/viewFile/7581/5404

 

Diptera, Brachycera, Muscomorpha, Calliphoridae (blowflies)

         shiny (metallic) blue, green, or black; quick to find carrion, larvae are maggots in carrion & dung (as are some other fly spp.)

         subfamilies Calliphoinae, Chrysomyinae

         blowfly sp. 1 (in carrion) specmn 2005.84

         blowfly sp. 2 (hums in fields) specmn 2006.26

         website

                  http://eny3005.ifas.ufl.edu/lab1/Diptera/Calliphorid.htm

 

Diptera, Drosophilidae, Drosophilinae (fruit flies)

         Drosophila sp.

 

Diptera, Brachycera, Muscomorpha, Schizophora, Calyptratae, Oestroidea, Oestridae (bot-fly)

         hairy flies; larvae are parasites in mammals; eggs laid on mammals feet, then ingested by licking, larvae work their way to subcutaneous area, cause small sores on back of host animal; larvae have hooks for mouthparts to tear flesh; adults are mouthless and short-lived

         Hypoderma bovis and H. lineatum: parasitic on cattle

         known to Dogon in Nanga area; specmn 2006.37, perhaps Hypoderma sp.

        

Diptera, Brachycera, Muscomorpha, Sarcophagidae (flesh fly)

         large, sluggish flies; breed in carrion, dung, or in open wounds of animals

         Blaesoxipha (parasitic on grasshoppers, checkerboard pattern, small)

         Sarcophaga (garbage, checkerboard pattern)

         Wohlfahrtia (black spots on abdomen)

         specmn 2005.72 (looks like Sarcophaga sp.)

         webpage:

                  http://www.zmuc.dk/entoweb/sarcoweb/sarcweb/Sarc_web.htm

                           recognizes three subfamilies: Sarcophaginae (large robust spp., color often grey thorax with 3 blackish vittae and checkerboard pattern on abdomen changing with light), Paramacronychiinae (medium-sized, covered with grey or light-brown microtomentum, typical abdominal pattern of median stripe with dark lateral spots), Miltogramiminae (small to medium, large eyes)

 

Diptera, Brachycera, Tabanomorpha, Tabanidae (horse flies, biting)

         Tabanus sp.

 

Hemiptera (bugs)

 

[similar to Coleoptera, but have protruding mouthparts for sucking, and wings at rest form a kind of "X" shape on back (versus a straight median line for Coleoptera)

 

comments (JH): many Hemiptera are called by the same generic term as Coleoptera (beetles) in native languages. Types that may have specific names in Dogon languages:

         a) cicada (rarely seen but often heard in trees in daytime);

         b) tip-wilter bug Anoplocnemis curvipes (Coreidae), a large bug that feeds on legumes and flies around clumsily in fields;

         c) Nariscus sp. (Alydidae), feeds on calabash plants;

         d) stink bugs (Pentatomidae);

         e) cotton-stainer Dysdercus v?lkeri (Pyrrhocoridae);

         f) Cyclogastridea sp., a flat green bug in leaves of tree Combretum glutinosum; and

         g-h) two large aquatic "water scorpion" bugs in pools, the nepid Laccotrephus fabricii (long filiform tail) and the belostomatid Lethocerus sp. (French nèpe and bélostome, respectively).

 

         aphids, leafhoppers, cicadas, scale insects, etc.; adults and nymphs have a proboscis with salivary as well as food channels; first pair of wings partly hard and partly membranous; mostly suck juice from plants, a few are predatory or blood-sucking

 

classification:

Hemiptera (relation between Hemiptera and Heteroptera in flux)

         Heteroptera (alternatively Prosorrhyncha or Heteropteroidea)

                  Pentatomomorpha

                           Coreoidea

                                    Alydidae (broad-headed bugs)

                                    Coreidae (leaf-footed bugs)

                           Pentatomoidea

                                    Pentatomidae

                                    Tessaratomidae

                           Pyrrhocoroidea

                                    Pyrrhocoridae

                  Nepomorpha

                           Nepoidea

                                    Belostomatidae

                                    Nepidae

         Auchenorrhyncha (or Clypeorrhyncha)

                  Cicadomorpha

                           Cicadoidea

                                    Cicadidae (cicadas)

                           Cicadelloidea (leafhoppers)

         Sternorrhyncha (aphids, whiteflies, and scale insects)

         website:

                  http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_bugs/index.html

 

Auchenorrhyncha

Hemiptera, Cicadoidea

         cicada, noisy diurnal arboreal winged insect, hard to collect or recognize visuallyh

         specmn 2005.63 (claimed to be cicada but probably not)

 

 

Heteroptera, Pentatomorpha

Hemiptera, Alydidae (broad-headed bugs)

         Nariscus sp.; insect that eats gourd (calabash) plants; specmn 2004.34

                 

 

Hemiptera, Coreidae (leaf-footed bugs)

         Anoplocnemis curvipes; tip wilter bug, legume-eating bug; specmns 2004.06, 2005.06, 2005.88, 2006.65 (female larva)

                 

 

Hemiptera, Pentatomidae (stink bugs)

         Pentatominae, Agonoscelidini

                  Agonoscelis sp. (larva); specmn 2006.75

                           West African Agonoscelis spp.:

                                    A. erosa (dorsum of abdomen totally black)

                                    A. heroldi (dorsum of abdomen generally totally red)

                                    A. versicoloratus (legs and dorsum of abdomen bicolored)

                                    A. okuana (legs and dorsum of abdomen bicolored)

                           note: Agonoscelis pubescens is reported in other sources as a sorghum pest

         Pentatominae, Nezarini

                  Nezara viridula, green stink bug, common in Nigeria/Ghana, attacks cucurbits, legumes

                          

         reference: http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/rider/Pentatomoidea/Genus_Agonoscelidini/Agonoscelis.htm

 

Hemiptera, Pyrrhocoridae

         Dysdercus volkeri; cotton stainer; specmn 2005.82

 

Hemiptera, Tessaratomidae

         Cyclogastridea sp.; green bug that eats leaves of Combretum glutinosum tree

 

Heteroptera, Nepomorpha

Hemiptera, Nepomorpha, Nepidae

         Laccotrephus fabricii; large water scorpion with very long filiform tail; specmn 2006.73

 

Hemiptera, Nepomorpha, Belostomatidae

Belostomatinae (giant water bugs)

         Lethocerus sp.; large aquatic water bug (large insect); specmn 2005.46

         image of similar sp.:

                 

 

Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants)

         divisions:

                  Symphyta (horntails, sawflies)

                  Apocrita

                           Aculeata

                                    Apoidea

                                             Apidae (bumblebees, honey bees, stingless bees)

                                             Halictidae (sweat bees)

                                             Megachilidae (leaf-cutting bees)

                                                      small bee sp. ("biter of lazy ones"); specmn 2005.86

                                             Sphecidae (mud-daubers, sand wasps, digger wasps)

                                                      Oxybelus sp., paralyze flies and other insect prey; specmn 2005.85

                                    Chrysidoidea

                                             Chrysididae (cuckoo wasps)

                                    Vespoidea

                                             Pompilidae (spider wasps)

                                             Vespidae (hornets, paper wasps, yellowjackets)

                                             Scoliidae

                                                      small wasp parasitic on scarab beetles; specmn 2005.76

                                             Formicidae (ants)

                                                      Formicinae

                                                      Ponerinae

                                                      Myrmicinae

                                                      Dorylinae

                           Terebrantes

                                    Chalcidoidea

                                    Ichneumonoidea (parasitic)

         multiple .gif images of bees/wasps: http://www.chrysis.net/chrysis/intro/hosts.htm

 

Hymenoptera except ants (bees, wasps)

 

comments (JH): Honey bees are cultivated in northern Dogon country (e.g. Beni) by building hives either in trees or in rock hollows. Aside from a term for ?honey bee' (and terms for ?honey' and ?honeycomb'), northern Dogon may have terms for the following:

         a) various tiny biting bees (resemble tiny flies) of families Apidae (Meliponinae), Halictidae, and/or Megachilidae;

         b) digger wasp Oxybelus sp. (attacks other insects);

         c) cuckoo wasp (Chysididae), a shiny metallic-green bee that buzzes around ceilings of houses and shelters during the daytime;

         d) the large mud-dauber wasps (guêpe-maçonnes) that build mud nests with single entrance in the roof of houses and shelters, primarily Delta emarginatum (blackish tinted blue) but also other Eumeninae;

         e) the yellow-and-black vespid wasp Polistes sp. (quick to sting) that makes open-celled papery nests in leaves; and

         f) the dark vespid wasp Belonogaster sp. that makes papery nests usually in rocks.

 

Apoidea

         unidentified

                  tiny apoidid bee on donkeys and cows, specmn 2006.04b

         Apidae

                  Meliponinae (vegetarian, may be confused with small biting flies)

                           tiny bee in swarms; specmn 2005.71

                           tiny bee; specmn 2005.56

                  honey bee: Apis mellifera adansonii

                          

         Halictidae

                  tiny halictid (?) bee on donkeys and cows, specmn 2006.04a

         Megachilidae (mostly solitary; make nests from leaves ["leafcutter bees"], clay ["mason bees"], hairs & fibers ["carder bees"]; most feed on nectar/pollen; a few are kleptoparasites)

                  bee flying around in fields, specmn 2006.22

                  bee that nests in fields, specmn 2006.27

         Crabronidae (Sphecidae) [note: earlier Sphecidae recently divided into Sphecidae s.s. (equivalent to older Sphecinae subfamily), and Crabronidae (formerly subfamily Crabroninae)]

                  Oxybelus sp., digger wasp, paralyzes flies and other insect prey; specmn 2005.85

 

Chrysidoidea

         Chrysididae (cuckoo wasps, external parasites of wasp/bee larvae)

                  shiny-metallic green bee, buzzes around ceilings during daytime; specmn 2005.89

                          

                  website: http://eny3005.ifas.ufl.edu/lab1/Hymenoptera/Chrysidid.htm

 

Vespoidea

         Vespidae

                  Eumeninae (solitary predators; mud-daubers; often considered a separate family: Eumenidae)

                           Delta emarginatum; common mud-dauber wasp, buzzes around ceilings during daytime, slender waist; specmn 2005.90

                           wasp with yellow-white spot on side, specmn 2006.63

                           black wasp, specmn 2006.72

                                   

                  Polistinae (eusocial paper wasp; prey are masticated and fed to larvae, who produce a liquid that adults consume)

                           Polistes sp., nest in leaves; specmn 2006.01

                           Belonogaster sp., nest in leaves or rocks; specmn 2006.03

                                   

         Pompilidae (spider-wasps)

                  mostly black; long-legged, solitary; larva grows in a spider paralysed by the adult; transverse groove dividing mesopleuron (in thorax) into halves

 

Hymenoptera, Formicidae (ants)

 

                  comments (JH). In addition to a general term for ?ant', northern Dogon generally name the following more specific types:

a) the stinging black ant Pachychondyla sp., ubiquitous in sandy courtyards around houses, most unpleasant in the rainy season when the winged sexed forms appear, flying around at dawn and stinging everything in sight (late sleeper's alarm clock);

b) the yellow honey ant (Camponotus maculatus); and

c) the army ant Messor sp. (huge colonies in fields, gathering grains from ground and stocking them in underground burrows.

Some northern Dogon also know

d) Camponotus sericeus, a sturdy black ant that is hard to slow down; and

e) Cataglyphis spp., a group of long-legged, fast-moving black or red-and-black ants that dart around in sandy areas (the Saharan spp. of this genre are the object of interesting studies of insect navigation).

f) Dorylus sp., the largest African ant

 

         Dorylinae

                  Dorylus sp.: largest ants in Africa, yellowish; known at Kubewel (Najamba language), specmn 2006.71

                          

         Formicinae

                  Camponotus spp.

                           Camponotus (=Tanaemyrmex) maculatus: yellow "honey ant", fast-moving, often nocturnal, specmns 2004.10, 2005.45, 2006.32, 2006.54, 2006.55

                           Camponotus (=Orthonotomyrmex) sericeus: black, rugged (hard to stun), specmn 2005.59

                  Cataglyphis spp.: fast-moving (darting), very long-legged, mostly black (or black and reddish), often in sand (some species common in Sahara).

                           http://www.zool.unizh.ch/static/neurobiology/people/rwehner/bombycina.html

                           Cataglyphis sp. 1: red and black, specmn 2005.58

                           Cataglyphis sp. 2: black, very long legs, very fast, on sand

         Myrmicinae

                  Messor sp.: army ants, granivorous, large concave nest holes in sand; specmn 2004.01

                          

         Ponerinae

                  Pachycondyla sp.: stinging black ants, in sand, around houses; specmn 2004.02

                          

         website: ants of Africa:

                  http://antbase.org/ants/africa/contents.htm

                  Mali records from antbase (05.07 and later)

                  Dorylus: D. aethiopicus, D. burmeisteri, D. affinis (many), D. fimbriatus

                  Camponotus: C. vestitus [red and black] (many), C. sericeus [red and black] (many); C. maculatus [Bamako]

                  Cataglyphis: C. bombycinus (many), C. congolensis (also Niger, Chad, Senegal)

                  Messor: M. collingwoodi [Tessalit, also Niger] (also Chad), M. galla [nocturnal, Gao] (many, also Burkina, Niger, Chad, Senegal)

                  Pachycondyla: P. (=Mesoponera) ingesta [Timbuktu], P. (=Trachymesopus) darwinii (P. sennaarensis for Senegal)

 

Isoptera (termites)

 

comments (JH): Northern Dogon are familiar with termite mounds (termitaries) in the bush. Termites of course are a problem for builders and artisans, who must use termite-proof wood as a building material and for wooden bowls and similar implements. In the rainy season, winged termites appear en masse and fly around aimlessly for a few days; some northern Dogon children eat them. So there are likely to be terms for ?(ordinary) wood-eating termite', ?termite mound', and ?winged termite'. Winged termited may be confused with equally seasonal winged forms of large ants (Camponotus, Dorylus).

                 

 

         The specimen of winged termite collected in Douentza (rainy season 2005) was identified as Macrotermes subhyalinus.

                 

 

Lepidoptera (butterflies)

Lepidoptera

         suborder unplaced

                           Arctidae

         Ditrysia

                  Macrolepidoptera

                           Noctuioidea

                                    Noctuidae (owlet moths)

                                    Lymantriidae (incl. tussock moths)

                  Pyraloidea

                           Pyralidae (snout-moths)

                  Bombycoidea

                           Saturniidae (various giant moths)

                           Sphingidae (hawk moths or sphinx moths)

                  Papilionoidea

                           Nymphalidae

                           Pieridae

                           Papilionidae

                  Tineoidea

                           Psychidae (bagworm moths)

 

         Noctuidae (robust, drab-colored, noctural, attracted to lights)

                  Busseola fusca (maize stem-borer); East Africa (high altitudes), Cameroun

                  Heliocheilus albipunctella (millet head-miner)

         Pyralidae (snout-moths)

                  Coniesta ignefusalis (millet stem-borer), larvae attack pearl millet; see "crop pests"

                  Chilo partellus (spotted stem-borer), introduced, coming from E Africa

                  Eldana saccharina, attacks sugar cane and maize

                  Mussidia nigrivenella

         Saturniidae (giant moths)

                 

         Sphingidae (hawk moths or sphinx moths)

                  rapid, sustained flight (hence narrow wings and streamlined abdomen)

                           Agrius convolvuli, convolvulus hawk moth, noisy (flaps wings with humming sound, attracted to lights at night); migratory, Africa-Europe-Asia, some color variation, local variety mostly grey as adult, see also under "larvae"; specmn 2006.66 (adult)

         Nymphalidae

                  brightly colored; front legs reduced (look "four-legged");

         Pieridae

                  often white or yellow, often engage in mud-puddling, wings typically held together erectly in sail-like fashion; forelegs well-developed, tarsal claws bifid, radial vein on forewing with 3-4 branches

                          

                  white sp. with darker veins, in large swarms in Boscia senegalensis etc., Kikara

         Papilionidae (swallowtail butterflies)

                  colorful, adults often with tails

         Psychidae

                  larvae form cases out of silk and available materials, either fixed on trees or mobile; only adult males ever leave the case, in mating flight

 

Mantodea (mantises)

 

comments (JH): There is a general term for ?mantis' in each northern Dogon language, primarily denoting the usual slow-moving long thin blunt-headed green or brown mantises found on vegetation, of which there are many species (particularly in family Mantidae). Speakers at Beni also had special compound terms for two unusual types: Empusa (a small fast-moving brown mantis with a pointed extension on its head), and Eremiaphila (an usually fat brown mantis).

 

Eremiaphilidae

         Eremiaphila reticulata; fat brown mantis sp.

                 

 

Empusidae

         Empusa guttula; small fast-moving brown mantis in fields with point on head; Fr empuse

        

Mantidae

         typical praying mantises (various brown and green types observed)

 

Neuroptera

[in addition to antlions, also includes many types of lacewings and similar insects]

Myrmeleontidae (antlions)

 

[adults resemble dragonflies; for larvae (terrestrial, with pincers) see under "larvae"

 

Odonata (dragon- and damselflies) vs. Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae (antlions): adult Odonata are generally diurnal, have no easily visible antennae, have two roughly parallel sets of wings, and hold the wings away from the body at rest; adult antlions are mainly crepuscular or nocturnal, have prominent antennae, have the attachment points of the two sets of wings rather close with the rear wings angled sharply backwards, and hold the wings folded flat over the abdomen or held tentlike over the body

 

comments (JH): several spp. of ant-lions, each with its own unique coloration, have been seen in the area. Northern Dogon generally have a generic term for the category, somtimes a compound including the basic term for ?grasshopper', and do not distinguish species.

         Adult ant-lions are dragonfly-like flying insects with two pairs of large, usually brightly colored wings. The wings are broad (much broader than for dragonflies) but taper to a narrow base. The base of the rear wings is close to that of the front wings but the rear wings are angled back.

 

                 

 

Odonata (dragonflies, mayflies)

[large rounded heads, elongated abdomens, two pairs of horizontal wings that move independently; larvae are aquatic so adults tend to be near water]

 

Odonata (dragon- and damselflies) vs. Neuroptera, Myrmeleontidae (antlions): adult Odonata are generally diurnal, have no easily visible antennae, have two roughly parallel sets of wings, and hold the wings away from the body at rest; adult antlions are mainly crepuscular or nocturnal, have prominent antennae, have the attachment points of the two sets of wings rather close with the rear wings angled sharply backwards, and hold the wings folded flat over the abdomen or held tentlike over the body

 

comment (JH): montane Songhay and northern Dogon do not usually have terms for Odonata (even as a class); by contrast, they do recognize adult antlions

 

suborder Anisoptera (or Epiprocta) (dragonflies)

[robust body, strong fliers; back wing broadens near the base unlike front wing; eyes usually touch; at rest, wings held horizontally or somewhat downward or forward]

        

suborder Zygoptera (damselflies)

[less robust, weak fliers; back wing has same shape as front wing; eyes are usually separated; at rest, wings usually held folded together above abdomen]

 

Orthoptera (grassnhoppers, katydids, crickets)

 

subordeers:

         Ensifera (antennae at least as long as body, except mole crickets)

         Caelifera (grasshoppers) (antennae shorter than body)

 

suborder Ensifera (crickets, katydids)

 

comments (JH): Northern Dogon languages each have a general word for ?house cricket'. This term may also include some small local spp. of house cockroaches (not the same as the huge American cockroach now found in enclosed toilets in the towns. Color adjectives are used to distinguish species.

         Nanga speakers know two tettigonids: a) a very broad-winged katydid (unidentified), and b) Conocephalus.

 

subclassification:

Grylloidea

         Gryllidae (crickets)

         Gryllotalpidae (mole crickets, in soil, 2-5 cm long)

Tettigonioidea

         Tettigoniidae (katydids, bush crickets)

 

Gryllidae

         Gryllinae (field crickets, but some enter houses; brown or black; spines on hind tibia stout)

                  Gryllus bimaculatus, African field cricket (Africa and Europe; used internationally as food for spiders etc.); large, black, has two spots at base of wings; I have had specimens of a large black cricket in northern Dogon country that closely resembles images of this sp. (JH)

                  Acheta domesticus (or: domestica), common house cricket (origin probably West Africa), light-colored (reddish), smaller than Gryllus

                  Teleogryllus spp. (recorded East Africa), long black field crickets

         website: key to subfamilies: http://buzz.ifas.ufl.edu/k340k1.htm

 

Tettigoniidae

         Conocephalus sp.: known to Dogon at Anda village (JH).

                 

                 

         broad-winged katydid sp. in trees: known to Dogon at Anda village (JH).

                 

 

suborder Caelifera (grasshoppers)

 

comments (JH): Individual northern Dogon persons can often distinguish by name 12-15 species (some terms cover two or more similar spp.). Certain species are eaten by children after roasting. Each grasshopper has its own pattern of hopping, springing, or flying, and they behave differently when caught and held in the hand. Certain species are crop pests (especially millet). The species most widely known and named among northern Dogon and montane Songhay are: Chrotogonus senegalensis, Acrida group bicolor, Sherifuria haningtoni, Acorypha glaucopsis, Diabolocatantops axillaris, Anacridium melanorhodon melanorhodon, Kraussaria angulifera, Cataloipus cymbiferus, Kraussella amabile, Hieroglyphus daganensis, Oedaleus senegalensis, and Scintharista notabilis.

 

references on grasshoppers:

         Lecoq, M. 1988. Les criquets du Sahel. Montpellier: CIRAD/PRIFAS. [photos of 43 spp. with brief descriptions]

         Launois-Luong, M.H. and M. Lecoq. 1989. Vade-mecum des criquets du Sahel.  Montpellier: CIRAD/PRIFAS. [companion volume to Lecoq 1988, with photographs of additional species, and with ecological information about all species covered in either of the two volumes]

         Mestre, Jacques. 1988. Les acridiens des formations herbeuses d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Montpellier: CIRAD/PRIFAS. [key, descriptions, and drawings of all West African grasshopper spp.]

        

         Identification: can be made using Mestre, Les acridiens... on the basis of photographs showing both outside and inside of hind leg (femur and tibia), and showing inner and outer wings. A dead specimen may be dismembered for photographic purposes. I have had best results photographing against a uniform green background. Many specimens turn out to be immature (larvae), but they usually have enough in common with mature adults (imagos) to be identifiable.

         Females are usually larger and longer than males. Side photographs of males should show genitalia, which is occasionally useful in identification.

         Many grasshoppers are seasonal, becoming dormant during the latter part of the dry season (e.g. January to May) and then reviving with the rains. Those that are active year-round are so indicated below. The best time to collect mature adult specimens depends on the species, generally either the latter part of the rainy season (September) or in the first months of the dry season (October-December).

 

order & family classification

 

Pyrgomorphoidea

         Pyrgomorphidae

 

Acridoidea

         Acridinae

         Calliptaminae

         Catantopinae

         Cyrtacanthacridinae

         Eyprepocnemidinae

         Gomphocerinae

         Hemiacridinae

         Oedipodinae

         Oxyinae

         Tropidopolinae

 

partial keys based on striking color features

 

a. underside with two rows of black dots: Chrotogonus, Trilophidia repleta

 

b. inner wings

         deep red (conspicuous in flight): Pyrgomorpha vignaudi, Scintharista

         violet-purple: Nomadacris (color faint in some individuals)

         black/brown crescent with no other conspicuous color: Anacridium spp. (crescent faint for A. melanorhodon), Pseudosphingonotus, Eurysternacris, Oedaleus

         black/brown crescent over red base: Acrotylus patruelis, Scintharista

         black/brown crescent over yellow base: Humbe, Gastrimargus, Morphacris, Oedaleus (some individuals, yellow faint)

 

c. inner face of femurs (hind legs)

         black and white:

                  large black area between upper and lower ridges but white at knee: Oxycatantops , Trilophidia, Scintharista

                  black area in basal half between upper and lower ridges, upper half white except for one black mark one-third way from knee: Locusta, Morphacris

         black, plus yellow shading to and red/orange: Diabolocatantops (alternating black and yellow areas, shading to red along lower ridge)

         yellow shading to red/orange with 3 small black spots at or near upper ridge: Harpezocatantops, Catantops, Cryptocatantops

         yellow shading to red/orange with 2 large black spots extending over upper ridge onto center of face: Aiolopus spp.

         yellow shading to red/orange: Aiolopus spp. (some individuals)

         deep yellow with small black marks above upper ridge: Acorypha clara

         faint yellow: Oedaleus, Kraussella

         yellow, with one black mark one-third down from knee: Pseudosphingonotus, Eurysternacris (black mark subtle)

         deep red bordered by yellow, with 3 black spots above upper ridge: Acorypha glaucopsis

         blue: Humbe

        

Pyrgomorphoidea

Pyrgomorphidae

         Atractomorpha acutipennis gerstaeckeri: no specimens seen (JH); female to 4 cm; green, body elongated, head pointed; some resemblance to Acrida bicolor but body and femur more stout; year-round.

         Chrotogonus senegalensis: common and generally well-known in northern Dogon country (JH); female to 2.5 cm; present year-round; small, hopping "toad grasshopper", brown to grey; distinctive black spots in two rows on undersides; year-round.

                 

                 

         Poekilocerus bufonius hieroglyphicus: unmistakable sp., yellow-orange with blue-violet or blackish spots; inhabits the shrub Calotropis procera, and is universally known to northern Dogon as "Calotropis grasshopper"; year-round but not very active November-May.

         Pyrgomorpha group cognata: group of closely related species (examination of male genitalia required to separate them); present year-round, fairly common but often disregarded by natives; females to 3.2 cm; small green or brown grasshoppers with somewhat pointed heads; outer wings extend well beyond abdomen; inner wings only faintly colored; year-round.

         Pyrgomorpha vignaudii: female to 3.7 cm; present year-round; resembles P. group cognata, but inner wings red-orange (clearly visible in flight), outer wings stop short of end of abdomen or extend at most slightly beyond it; year-round.

         Zonocerus variegatus: not known to northern Dogon; unmistakable sp. with red, yellow, and black markings (would certainly be noticed by natives everywhere in its range).

 

Acridoidea

Acridinae (inner wings mostly uncolored)

         Acrida group bicolor: a group of closely related species (A. bicolor, A. turrita, A. suphuripennis, A. confusa); well-known to northern Dogon (who do not distinguish the species); females to 10 cm; vaguely resembles a mantis; long and very thin body, long pointed (conical) head, very thin hind legs (femur barely wider at base than at knee), coloration uniform green to light brown with some whitish lines across sides, long ensiform antenna (thickest near base then tapering); year-round.

                 

         Duronia chloronota: not observed in northern Dogon country (JH); grain-eating, in grasses; female to 5 cm; head somewhat pointed (conical) but blunter than for Sherifuria, body entirely brown, or brown on sides and green on top of back; antennae only slightly wider near base; outer wings extend well beyond end of abdomen (contrast Orthoctha); year-round.

         Orthoctha venosa: not seen in northern Dogon country (JH); grain-eating; female to 6.2 cm; head slightly pointed (cylindrical); abdomen long and thick; outer wings do not (or barely do) reach end of abdomen; overall coloration straw-yellow or brown, with black bands from top of eyes across pronotum just under its upper ridges to bases of outer wings; tibia red

         Sherifuria haningtoni: fairly common in northern Dogon country and known to many Dogon; grain-eating, in grasses; females to 4.2 cm; head quite pointed (conical) but not quite so much as Acrida, antenna ensiform (thickest near base then tapering); body and femurs light tan, with thick brown bands from eyes across to bases of outer wings, outer wings narrow but extend beyond end of abdomen, inner wings uncolored.

                 

         Zacompsa festa: rare, but observed, and known to local Dogon, at Tabi mountain (JH); grain-eating; female to 3.2 cm; head slightly pointed (conical); thick black band from base of antenna across eyes and sides of pronotum and the upper part of the outer wings; remainder of body and most of outside femur yellowish-white; black knees, tibia with a white ring near base surrounded by black.

                 

                 

 

Calliptaminae (compact body, very robust femurs, hence strong jumpers, hard to hold on to; inner wings without clear coloration)

         Acorypha clara: not as common but seen at Anda; female to 4.2 cm; general coloration lighter than A. glaucopsis; inner femur and tibia yellow; where known, it is called by the same basic term as A. glaucopsis with adjective ?white'.

                 

         Acorypha glaucopsis: common in northern Dogon country (JH); eaten by children; female to 4.2 cm; general coloration dark brown; inner femur and lower tibia mostly red with three black marks on top of femur

                 

 

Catantopinae (inner wings uncolored; generally have an oblique white band on each side of metathorax); the focal species is Diabolocatantops; others (Cryptocatantops, Harpezocatantops, Oxycatantops, perhaps Catantops) are usually refered to as "slave of Diabolocatantops" or the like; combo of inner and outer femur images usually sufficient for identification

         Catantops stramineus; uncommon in northern Dogon country (JH); female to 3.2 cm; brownish with some grey; large, well-defined black-brown spot on sides of first two segments of pronotum and behind eyes; outer femurs with two dark brown spots in middle reaching upper ridge; inner face of tibia mostly orange, with three smallish black spots above (like Cryptocatantops and Harpezocatantops); tibia orange-red; no black dots on outer femur

         Cryptocatantops haemorrhoidalis; seen in Douentza area (JH); female to 3.1 cm; brown with reddish tint; well-defined dark area on side of prothorax, extending into mesothorax; a ragged black mark in center of external femur; about 4 small black dots from middle to extremity of lower ridge of external femur (cf. Oxycatantops); inner face of tibia mostly orange, with three smallish black spots above (like Catantops and Harpezocatantops); tibia orange-red

                 

                 

         Diabolocatantops axillaris: common in northern Dogon country, fairly important millet pest (JH); female to 5 cm; light brown overall with some grey; external tibia greyish with one black mark on upper ridge at center; inner femur has a bright red lower ridge, and large black markings in the middle; no black dots on lower ridge of outer tibia; tibia red esp. near extremity.

                 

         Harpezocatantops stylifer: seen in Douentza area (JH); female to 4 cm; outer femur like Diabolocatantops with one small black spot in upper middle; inner face of tibia mostly orange, with three smallish black spots above (like Cryptocatantops and Catantops); no black dots on lower ridge of outer femur; tibia orange-red

         Oxycatantops spissus: seen at Beni (JH); female to 5 cm; generally brown (specimen seen was reddish from head to base of femur); middle of outside femur may have a large dark spot (our specimen did); at lower ridge of outer femur, a line of about seven small black spots (cf. Cryptocatantops); inner femur mostly black

                 

 

Cyrtacanthacridinae

         Acanthacris ruficornis citrina: present in the zone (photos recognized by some northern Dogon) but no specimen seen (JH); female to 9 cm; arboreal; body shape similar to Kraussaria but larger; general coloration often light tan; conspicuous long and thin dark brown spines on tibia (about 7 per row)

         Acrodideres strenuus: known to some northern Dogon, seen at Beni (JH): female to 5.5 cm; robust grasshopper, locally usually uniform light brown-grey; arboreal.

                 

         Anacridium melanorhodon melanorhodon (tree locust): well-known large grasshopper that forms locust swarms in trees in the cold dry season; females to 9.5 cm; brown-grey with lighter areas (orange-ish on our specimen) on pronotum and mesothorax; tubercules present on outer pronotum; antenna black; tibia purplish; outer spines on tibia yellow and red with black apex

                 

         Anacridium wernerellum: not seen in northern Dogon country (JH); female to 8.5 cm; resembles A. melanorhodon but inner wing has large brown-black area in basal half, and outer femur has a black line along the lower ridge; tibia greyish

         Kraussaria angulifera: female to 6.3 cm; well-known to northern Dogon as an important crop pest and as a tasty edible grasshopper; yellowish-brown overall, pronotum arced convexly at top, pronotum sides with four whitish spots surrounded by brown, also a white zone at bottom of pronotum sides; external femur yellow; tibia spines have yellow base then red with black apex

                 

         Nomadacris septemfasciata (criquet nomade): not seen in northern Dogon country (JH); forms locust swarms in central but not western Africa; female to 8.5 cm; resembles Ornithacris; inner wing with large violet or purple zone in basal half; spines white with black apex

         Ornithacris turbida cavroisi: specimens seen at Douentza and Tupere (Tabi) in northern Dogon country (JH); female to 9.2 cm; light-colored band across sides of pronotum (as for Nomadacris), bordered by a dark brown section above and a purple-brown line below; well-defined whitish oblique line across each mesothorax; inner wing mostly hyaline (uncolored)

                 

        

         Orthacanthacris humilicrus: not recognized by northern Dogon, but a specimen was found in Douentza May 2008; inner wing mostly black, outer wing and head spotted

         Schistocerca gregaria (criquet pèlerin): female to 9 cm; in its usual solitary phase, rather dark overall, resembling the locally more common Anacridium melanorhodon and not distinguished from it by northern Dogon; in 2004 it developed into its gregarious phase (i.e. locust swarm) and destroyed millet harvests (while sparing sorghum) in North Africa and the West African Sahel, in Mali from the far north down to a line south of Douentza but north of Mopti and Bandiagara; in the gregarious phase the subadult larva is reddish and the full-grown adult (imago) is yellow; in its darker (solitary) phrase it is present annually in small numbers but is confused by natives with Anacridium melanorhodon.

 

Eyprepocnemidinae (inner wings mostly uncolored)

         Cataloipus cymbiferus: relatively common and well-known large grasshopper (females to 7.2 cm); can feed on millet and other crops but diet mixed; general coloration brown from head to base of femur, lighter thereafter; tibias blue; dark brown line on top of femur is broken into two sections (or absent entirely)

                 

         Cataloipus fuscocoerulipes: no specimens seen (JH); if present, surely called by the same term as C. cymbiferus; associated with somewhat more moist environments; resembles C. cymbiferus but lateral faces of pronotum darker brown; tibias blue; dark brown line on top of femur is unbroken

         Eyprepocnemis plorans ornatipes: not known to native Dogon (JH); tibia bluish above, red near extremity

         Heteracris annulosa: fairly common in northern Dogon country (JH) and points north; fairly small (females to 4 cm); commonly in bushes and shrubs (e.g. Balanites aegyptiaca, Leptadenia pyrotechnica); attracted to light; general coloration greyish brown with straw-yellow or pale beige bands from eyes across pronotum; distinctive tibia coloration with black spots surrounding a white area in upper half, then red near extremity

                 

                 

         Heteracris leani: common around Anda (between Douentza and Bandiagara); resembles H. annulosa but much larger (females to 7 cm); dark brown with green bands from eyes across pronotum; tibias like those of H. annulosa but extremity tinted purple rather than red; specimens collected at Anda village

         Tylotropidius cf. patagiatus: seen at Tupere (Tabi Mountain) and known to local Dogon there (JH); female to 4.5 cm; brown with some grey; both sexes have extremely small outer wings (barely reaching base of femur), and very long and slender hind legs (femurs and tibias). (It is possible that our specimen was a larva of T. gracilipes with undeveloped wings; when full-grown, T. gracilipes has outer wings reaching to about the end of the abdomen or just beyond)

                 

 

Gomphocerinae

         Kraussella amabile: colorful small grasshopper well-known to northern Dogon and to montane Songhay (JH); grain-eating; female to 3.3 cm; yellow to green esp. below eye, outer section of pronotum, and legs, rest of pronotum and head light grey; lateral (and sometimes dorsal) faces of pronotum with black lines in furrows; three small black marks on upper half of outer femur; tibia bluish.

                 

         Ochrilidia gracilis gracilis: not seen (JH).

 

Hemiacridinae

         Hieroglyphus daganensis: generally well-known to Dogon; prefers tall grasses, a pest especially of rice; female to 6.5 cm; soft body, large head, light green or yellowish with black lines in the furrows of the sides (but not top) of the pronotum and of the mesothorax (black markings mostly absent in larvae).

                 

 

Oedipodinae

a. small well-camouflaged ground-dwelling species (rather similar to each other, generally not distinguished from each other by Dogon)

         Acrotylus patruelis; likely present in Dogon zone (JH); ground-dwelling; female to 3.2 cm; middle of pronotum compressed, and depressed as seen from the side; long inner and outer wings; mixed light and dark browns; usually a black mark on middle of upper ridge of femur; distinctive inner-wing coloration (red at base, inside a blackish croissant)

         Acrotylus blondeli; seen in northern Dogon country but not distinguished by Dogon from other minor small ground-dwelling Oedipodinae (Aiolopus, Eurysternacris, Pseudosphingonotus) (JH); ground-dwelling, in sandy soils; female to 3 cm; ground-dwelling; middle of pronotum compressed, and depressed as seen from the side; unusually long and thin front and middle feet; long inner and outer wings; sand-colored with various darker brown markings; inner wing mostly uncolored (hyaline) except for a faint blue tint at base; outer wing with about 4 fairly large dark marks alternating with light areas (more numerous than for Eurysternacris).

         Aiolopus simulatrix simulatrix (criquet fouisseur); seen in northern Dogon country (Douentza) but not distinguished by Dogon from other minor small ground-dwelling Oedipodinae (Acrotylus, Eurysternacris, Pseudosphingonotus) (JH); female to 3.7 cm; head fairly blunt; pronotum rounded without ridges, fairly straight top (seen from side); hind legs short, femurs thick at base (cf. Acorypha spp.), and slightly longer than tibias; basic coloration variable; inner femur tinged reddish at lower ridge, with or without two black spots and black knee ring; tibia generally with a white area near base flanked by small grey-blue or black rings, then reddish at extremity; tibia with 9 external and 10 internal spines; outer wings have two dark brown to black spots separated by white; inner wings transparent (hyaline); hides in fissures in clayey soil during dry season.

                 

                 

         Aiolopus thalassinus thalassinus: not seen (JH); like A. simulatrix but body more slender, head slightly more pointed, hind legs somewhat longer (tibia about same length as femur), tibia with 10 external and 11 internal spines.

         Eurysternacris brevipes: seen in northern Dogon country (Tabi mountain) but not distinguished by Dogon from other minor small ground-dwelling Oedipodinae (Aiolopus, Acrotylus, Pseudosphingonotus) (JH); ground-dwelling; female to 3.4 cm; stout body with short thick femurs; middle of pronotum compressed and depressed (like Acrotylus spp.) but metazone (rear section) of pronotum large and conspicuously arc'ed; outer femur with a dark mark just under knee, inner femur yellowish with a small dark mark under knee; inner wing has a blackish crescent across middle, otherwise uncolored; outer wing has two large large dark brown zones separated by a light-colored area just behind base of femur.

                 

                 

         Pseudosphingonotus canariensis: seen in northern Dogon country (Beni) but not distinguished by Dogon from other minor small ground-dwelling Oedipodinae (Aiolopus, Acrotylus, Pseudosphingonotus) (JH); ground-dwelling; female to 3.5 cm; coloration of inner and outer wing like Eurysternacris (black crescent on inner wing, light-colored band just behind base of femurs separating two large dark areas of outer wing); inner femur also similar to Eurysternacris but has brighter yellow and a larger and darker black mark near knee; tibia blue to blue-grey except at either end; series of black dots all along front and middle legs.

                 

                 

         Trilophidia conturbata: not seen (JH); females to 2.6 cm; various shades of brown or grey with lighter markings; top of front half of pronotum seen from side has two "teeth", back half of pronotum somewhat arc'ed; long wings, rather thick femur; inner femur mostly black with some white along upper ridge and just under knee (cf. Scintharista); tibia black except for two white rings

         Trilophidia repleta: not seen (JH); like T. conturbata but has two rows of black dots on underside (cf. Chrotogonus).

b. other Oedipodinae (more distinctive spp.)

         Gastrimargus africanus africanus: present and known to local people at Tupere (Tabi) in northern Dogon country (JH); female to 7.2 cm; pronotum humped (not as much as Humbe); resembles Locusta, but inner wings yellow at base, bordered by a dark black crescent (cf. Oedaleus), outer wings with a whitish triangular shaped spot near middle; inner femur mostly blackish-brown (vs. blue for Humbe) with white-yellow ring below knee; outer 2/3 of tibia red

                 

         Humbe tenuicornis: occasional in northern Dogon country (e.g. Petaka); ground-dwelling; female to 4.1 cm; top of pronotum forms a conspicuous "hump"; coloration brown with no large markings; inner femur mostly blue and/or black depending on maturity; tibia red.

                 

         Locusta migratoria migratorioides (criquet migratoire): seen (Beni) but not well-known to northern Dogon (elsewhere in Africa can form locust swarms); female to 7.2 cm; pronotum somewhat arc'ed (convex) seen from side; long wings extend well beyond short abdomen; coloration variable green to brown and pale to dark (Beni specimen pale green); inner wing transparent; fairly slender femur; inner femur has basal half black (except for ridges) with one further black spot under knee.

                 

                 

         Morphacris fasciata: females to 3.6 cm; pronotum has several tiny longitudinal ridgelets; various shades of brown, with dark band from mouth up across lower sides of pronotum, with a thin line of white jabbing into it; inner wing yellow at base plus a brown-black crescent; lower half of inner femur is brown-black, with one more brown-black mark about one-third down from knee; tibia grey-beige or grey-blue; year-round.

         Oedaleus senegalensis: very common and well-known to northern Dogon as an important crop pest esp. for millet (some smaller Oedipodinae may be called "slave of Oedaleus" or the like) (JH); on ground or in grasses; female to 4.8 cm; pronotum relatively straight in profile (seen from side); variably brown or greenish with some yellow; inner wing faint yellow at base with black crescent (often not complete); alternating dark and light bands on external wings; tibias pink or reddish; row of faint blackish marks along side of abdomen.

                 

                 

         Paracinema tricolor: not seen in northern Dogon country (JH).

         Scintharista notabilis: common in rocky hills in northern Dogon country; females to 5 cm; inner wings scarlet red (very conspicuous in flight) from base through middle, bordered by a blackish crescent and (sometimes?) another black area at the outer tip; tibia bluish or orangish [note: Mestre (p. 292n) casts doubt on the distinction between S. notabilis (black mark present at apex of inner wing, most of tibia orange) and S. zolotarevkyi (black mark absent at apex of inner wing, tibia blue), noting specimens from Mali with blue tibia but no mark; previous records for Mali were of S. zolotarevskyi; my specimens from Dogon country have variable tibia color, and one with blue tibia has a clear black mark at the apex of the inner wing).

                 

                 

 

Oxyinae

         Oxya hyla hyla: lakes region (Mestre); not seen in northern Dogon country (JH); females to 3.7 cm; base coloration green to yellowish, with a dark brown band across upper half of side of pronotum and continuing but tapering to top of eye; tibia blue.

 

Tropidopolinae

         Homoxyrrepes punctipennis: seen and known to local Dogon at Walo who comment on its pretty colors (JH); female to 7 cm; base color light brown or green-brown with thick dark brown band from eye across pronotum and down to base of femur; outer femur brown above, light brown or greenish below; top of pronotum has a central ridge but no lateral ridges; slender long legs, fairly long outer wings

                 

                 

        

larvae and caterpillars

This section covers larvae that are sharply distinct from adults.

                 

         Diptera (fly) larvae

                  Therevidae (stiletto fly) larva: long and very thin, white, segmented; bites. Known to Dogon at Beni; specmn 2006.49

                          

 

         Coleoptera (beetle) larvae

                  Carabidae, Cicindelinae (tiger beetle) larva, black & white, carnivorous; specmn 2005.53 (larva)

                  Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae larva, in manure; specmn 2004.36

                                       

                  small white Curculionidae (weevil) larva in millet roots; specmn 2005.48

 

         Lepidoptera (butterfly) larvae, i.e. caterpillars

                  Arctiidae

                           many larvae are hairy ("woolly bears"); often form a spiral when threatened

                          

                  Lymantriidae

                           hairs often packed in tufts, hairs break off easily and are very irritating to skin

                  Noctuidae

                                    some spp. have larvae in soil, eat roots of plants, mostly nocturnal, hard shiny pupae

                           Noctuinae (in one sense)

                                    Spodoptera exempta, African armyworm; marches in large numbers from grassland into crops, feeds on early stages of cereal crops (millet, sorghum, maize, rice, wheat); larvae are green or brown in solitary form, but black with yellow stripes in gregarious form; eggs laid in clusters on leaves; the final instar of larvae burrow in ground, form soil cocoons, and emerge as moths (who live for 10 days)

                                    Spodoptera frugiperda, fall armyworm (very similar to S. exempta)

                           Heliothinae

                                    Helicoverpa armigera, old-world bollworm

                  Saturniidae

                           Gonimbrasia sp. (G. hecate or G. occidentalis), large and colorful caterpillar, specmn 2006.58 (Anda village, Nanga language)

                   

                  Sphingidae

                           Agrius convolvuli (hawk moth)

                                    a) larva (smooth skinned, in ground)

                                    b) colorful caterpillar

                                    [note: Dogon do not connect the subterranean larva, the caterpillar, or the adult hawk moth as life-stages of the same insect]

                  Saturniidae or Sphingidae

                           specmn 2006.70, cf. 2004.37

                          

                  Nymphalidae

                           larvae are hairy and spiky with projections on head; chrysalids have shiny spots

                  Pieridae

                  Papilionidae

                           larvae have a unique organ (osmeterium) behind head, usually hidden, but projected outward when threatened, emitting smelly secretions

                  Psychidae

                           psychid caterpillar sp. carrying its sheath, specmn 2006.20

                           psychid caterpillar sp., often on plant stems, specmn 2006.59

                                   

                                   

                  various caterpillars boring into millet spikes (millet heat-borers)

                           2006.08a (fairly large, dark)

                           2006.08b (small, dark)

                           2006.08c (small, whitish)

 

         Neuroptera (ant-lions)

                  ant-lion larvae make traps for insect prey in the form of shallow holes in soft sand; the prey fall into it and are seized in the larva's conspicuous pincers. Known to Dogon at Tabi; specmn 2006.40

                  website with videos: http://www.antlionpit.com

                 

         unidentified (bloodsucking grub), collected Douentza Aug 2008, Jamsay susum-jOOlEE

                 

                 

                 

                 

crop pests (some spp. already mentioned in taxonomic groupings above)

        

compiled from websites etc. about African crop pests; geographical distributions of these species not fully known, many are likely absent from the Dogon zone

 

         millet/sorghum/maize

                  Busseola fusca (maize stem-borer, Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Amphipyrinae), attacks maize and sorghum, occurs esp. in high altitudes

                  Chilo partellus (spotted stem-borer, Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Crambinae); introduced, E Africa but spreading, attacks sorghum, maize; low and mid altitudes

                  Coniesta ignefusalis (pearl millet stem-borer, Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) attacks pearl millet, also sorghum and maize; esp. Sahel

                  Contarinia sorghicola (sorghum midge; Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), attacks sorghum

                  Dydercus v?lkeri (cotton-stainer, Hemiptera, Pyrrhocoridae), attacks flowers and continues in milky stage

                  Heliocheilus albipunctella (pearl millet head-miner), attacks pearl millet [bore in a spiral path, destroying florets or grain]

                  Longuinguis sacchari (sugar cane aphid), attacks sorghum

                  Pachnoda interrupta (millet beetle)

                  Psalydolytta fusca (pearl millet blister beetle), attacks pearl millet [reported as a major millet pest for Mali]

                  Psalydolytta vestita (cf. preceding, also reported as a millet pest in Mali)

                  Rhopalosiphum maidis (maize aphid), attacks maize

                  Rhyniptia infuscata (Scarabaeidae, Rutelini, Anomalini): nocturnal beetle, recorded as a locally important pest on millet flowers in Niger, fought by farmers using night fires; also reported as sorghum pest in Senegal, and as a pest on maize; larvae are in roots

                  Sesamia calamistis, esp. lowland forests

                  Spodoptera exempta (African armyworm), cereals, migratory, E and NE Africa

                  gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae): millet grain midge Geromyia penniseti, sorghum midge Contarinia sorghicola, and African rice gall midge Orseolia oryzivora.

         stored grain

                  Prostephanus truncatus (larger grain borer), recently introduced, attacks stored maize

                  Sitophilus spp. (cereal weevils), attacks stored sorghum, maize

                           Sitophilus zeamais (maize weevil)

                  Sitotroga cerealella (angoumois grain moth), Coleoptera, Bostrichidae) ttacks stored sorghum, maize

         stored legumes

                  Acanthoscelides obtectus (common bean weevil)

                  Zabrotes subfasciatus (Mexican bean weevil)

                  Callosobruchus maculatus (cowpea weevil)

         banana pest

                  Cosmopolites sordidus (banana weevil)

         cowpea

                  Maruca vitrata (cowpea pod borer)

                  Megalurothips sjostedti (cowpea flower thrips)

                  Callosobruchus maculatus (cowpea weevil)

                  Helicoverpa armigera (African bollworm), attacks cotton, cowpea, etc.

                  Aphis craccivora (cowpea aphid)

                  Anoplocnemis, Clavigralla, Riptorus (pod-sucking Hemiptera)

         beans

                  Ophiomyia phaseola, O. spencerella, O. centrosematis (bean stem maggot), E&S Africa

         moth

                  Plutella xylostella (diamondback moth)

         grain borer

                  Prostephanus truncatus (introduced)

         bean stem maggot

                  Ophiomyia spencerella

 

references:

         T. Abate, A. van. Huis, and J. K. O. Ampofo. 2000. "Pest management strategies in traditional agriculture: an African perspective." Annual Review of Entomology 45:631-59.

         http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev.ento.45.1.631?cookieSet=1

         S. Krall, O. Youm, and S. A. Kogo. "Panicle insect pest damage and yield loss in pearl millet". http://ispi-lit.cirad.fr/text/Krall95a.htm

         Jago, N. D. 1993. Millet pests of the Sahel: biology, monitoring and control. Chatham UK: Natural Resources Institute. 66 pp. ISBN 0-85954-349-8.

         Matthews, M. and N. D. Jago. 1993. Millet pests of the Sahel: an identification guide. Chatham UK: Natural Resources Institute. (80 p.) ISBN 0-85954-331-5. [weeds, diseases, birds, and especially insects]

websites:

         http://www.agricomseeds.net/por/plagas.php   (in Portuguese)