Abstract:
The Afrotropical Mantispidae genera have previously been neglected and are poorly known. The genera
are revised and redescribed. A new genus Afromantispa Snyman and Ohl is described with Afromantispa
tenella comb. n. as type species. Perlamantispa (Handschin, 1960) is synonymised with Sagittalata
Handschin, 1959. The new combinations within the genus include S. austroafrica comb. n., S. bequaerti
comb. n., S. dorsalis comb. n., S. girardi comb. n., S. nubila comb. n., S. perla comb. n., S. pusilla comb.
n., S. similata comb. n., S. royi comb. n., S. tincta comb. n. and S. vassei comb. n. An illustrated key
to the genera Afromantispa gen. n., Sagittalata Handschin, 1959, Mantispa Illiger, 1798, Cercomantispa
Handschin, 1959, Rectinerva Handschin, 1959, Nampista Navás, 1914, and Pseudoclimaciella Handschin,
1960 is provided. The wing venation of Mantispidae is redescribed. Similarities between the genera are
discussed. Subsequent studies will focus on revising the taxonomic status of species, which are not dealt
with in this study.
