New species and records of Chimarra Stephens (Trichoptera, Philopotamidae) from Central Amazonia, Brazil

Chimarra (Curgia) paucispina sp. nov., of the aurivittata group Flint, 1998 is described and illustrated from specimens collected in Amazonas State. The key to species of Chimarra (Curgia) Walker, 1860 presented by Flint was modified to include the new species. Chimarra (Chimarrita) chela Blahnik, 1997 and Chimarra (Curgia) jugescens Flint, 1998 are for first time reported for the Amazonas State. This is the first record of C. chela in Brazil.

A new species of Dicrepidius Eschscholtz from Brazil and new records for D. ramicornis (Palisot de Beauvois) (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Elaterinae)

Dicrepidius brasilianus sp. nov., from Pará and Mato Grosso is described and illustrated. This is the second species of this genus recorded from Brazil. D. ramicornis (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805) is widely distributed from south of United States to south of Brazil. From Brazil, it was recorded from Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Santa Catarina states, but now other records are included. A comparison between the two Brazilian species and a discussion, including intraspecific variations, are presented.

Diversity of Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera) in riparian forests of southern Brazil: taller forests, more bugs

Riparian forests are important features of any ecosystem, especially on grassland and savannah vegetation types. However, riparian forests in southernmost Brazil have received much less attention than elsewhere. This is the first quantitative study of pentatomoid (Hemiptera) diversity in the Pampa biome, surveying riparian forests of brooks and rivers in the environs of the municipality of Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil. The aim was two-fold: taxonomic characterization of the fauna and a primary ecological study of bug diversity. Sweeping net and beating tray were used to sample trees and shrubs on the border of sampling sites; sampling was carried out during three consecutive days, from March 28th to 30th 2006. Overall 154 individuals of 32 species of Pentatomoidea were captured, almost all species are new records for the local fauna. Taller forest canopy sites had higher abundance overall and higher species richness than shorter forest canopy sites. Of the 32 species, 11 were singletons and four were doubletons. There were no differences for pentatomoid species composition between the two environments differing in vegetation structure. Association to the Pampa biome of the most abundant species found are discussed. Although based on a rapid assessment protocol of faunal inventories, our results add important bioecological information to the pentatomoid fauna of the Pampa biome, especially associated to riparian forests.

A new species of Dichanthidium (Hymenoptera, Megachilinae) and first records of the genus in Brazil

The second species of Dichanthidium, D. veredicola sp. nov., is herein described and illustrated from specimens collected in Berizal, Minas Gerais, in southeastern Brazil. Dichanthidium exile Moure is reported for the first time in Brazil, from Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul. A diagnosis and a key for the species of the genus are provided.

New records for species of Theope (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae) for the state of Pernambuco and northeastern Brazil, with notes on their natural history

New records for species of Theope (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae) for the state of Pernambuco and northeastern Brazil, with notes on their natural history. Five new records for the state of Pernambuco and one new record for NE-Brazil are reported in this paper for the genus Theope. Relationship between ants and T. terambus was observed for the first time which also consists on the first ever recorded myrmecophilous interaction between Pheidole ants and a Theope immature. Schoepfia guianensis is reported as a probable hostplant for T. terambus. Illustrations of seven species of Theope which occur in the northeastern Atlantic Rainforest are provided.

Review of Thoreyella Spinola with the description of two new species from Brazil (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae)

Review of Thoreyella Spinola with the description of two new species from Brazil (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae). Thoreyella Spinola is revised, with detailed descriptions of the four known species (T. brasiliensis Spinola, 1850, T. trinotata Berg, 1878, T. cornuta Berg, 1883 and, T. taurus Jensen-Haarup, 1931), and two new species from Brazil: T. maracaja sp. nov. (Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul states) and T. paraiba sp. nov. (Paraíba State). New geographical country and state/ province records are as follows: T. cornuta from Rio Grande do Sul; T. brasiliensis from Mato Grosso, Espírito Santo, Catamarca, and Córdoba; and T. trinotata from Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul). A key to all species is given.

Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera, Hesperioidea) from Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil: 70 years of records with special reference to faunal composition of Vila Velha State Park

Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera, Hesperioidea) de Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil: 70 anos de registros com especial referência à composição faunística do Parque Estadual de Vila Velha. O município de Ponta Grossa se destaca por apresentar originalmente uma paisagem peculiar onde capões isolados de Floresta Ombrófila Mista são interligados por grandes extensões de fitofisionomias estépicas, também denominadas campos. No entanto, ambos os ecossistemas atualmente se encontram altamente ameaçados pela ocupação humana, restando na região o Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, cuja composição florística tem sido recentemente relacionada com o bioma Cerrado. Poucos trabalhos são dedicados à caracterização da fauna dos campos e sua relação com outras fitofisionomias estépicas brasileiras, motivo que suscitou a realização deste estudo. Após reunir informações de coletas realizadas por mais de 70 anos, são listadas 225 espécies de Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera, Hesperioidea) presentes no município, entre elas 162 indicadoras de ambientes florestais e 53 de áreas abertas. O Parque Estadual de Vila Velha contribui para a conservação de 65% delas enquanto sua composição se mostra intimamente relacionada tanto aos Pampas como ao Cerrado, em detrimento de hábitats florestais. Tal relação é dada provavelmente pela localização geográfica de Vila Velha, visto que a similaridade da fauna de Hesperiidae se encontrou influenciada pelas distâncias geográficas das amostras no presente estudo. A flora de Vila Velha também deve afetar diretamente a composição observada de Hesperiidae, uma vez que uma grande parte de suas espécies são também encontradas em áreas de Cerrado. No entanto, estudos em ambientes campestres brasileiros ainda se fazem necessários, especialmente em enclaves de Cerrado no Paraná e em São Paulo, para que se adquira um melhor entendimento da dinâmica de suas comunidades.

Sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) from Central Amazonia and four new records for the Amazonas state, Brazil

Sand flies from Central Amazonia and four new records for the Amazonas state, Brazil. A survey was conducted in May and June 2008 to study the fauna of insects in Central Amazonia, Brazil. As part of the survey, we report here that sixty species of phlebotomine were identified, totaling 13,712 specimens from 13 genera. The collection sites were located at the border between the states of Pará and Amazonas, comprising three municipalities from the Amazonas state (Borba, Maués, and Nhamundá). Malaise, CDC and Shannon traps were used to collect the insects. Most of the sand flies were collected by CDC traps (89.5%), while Malaise and Shannon traps collected 7% and 3.5%, respectively. The most abundant genera, representing 97.1% of the total sand flies identified were: Trichopygomyia Barretto, 1962 (47.6%), Psathyromyia Barretto, 1962 (17.9%), Psychodopygus Mangabeira, 1941 (17.5%) and Trichophoromyia Barretto, 1962 (14.3%). The genera with the largest number of species identified were: Psychodopygus (14), Psathyromyia (10), Evandromyia Mangabeira, 1941 (7), Trichophoromyia (5) and Trichopygomyia (5). The most abundant species was Trichopygomyia trichopyga (Floch & Abonnenc, 1945), which represented 29% of the total sand flies identified. Here we also report new records for four species in the Amazonas state: Ps. complexus (Mangabeira, 1941), Ps. llanosmartinsi Fraiha & Ward, 1980, Ty. pinna (Feliciangeli, Ramirez-Pérez & Ramirez, 1989), and Th. readyi (Ryan, 1986). The results of this study provide new, additional information on the distribution of sand flies in the Amazon and increase the number of species in the Amazonas state from 127 to 131.

First records of Glyphepomis adroguensis (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) and its parasitoid, Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae), on irrigated rice fields in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

First records of Glyphepomis adroguensis (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) and its parasitoid, Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae), on rice fields in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Eggs, nymphs, and adults of Glyphepomis adroguensis Berg, 1891 (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) were observed for the first time on rice fields (Oryza sativa L.) in Charqueadas (29º59'S, 51º31'W) and Eldorado do Sul (30º02'S, 51º23'W) of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Telenomus podisi Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) was found in G. adroguensis eggs.

A new species of Symbra (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae, Heimbrinae) from dry forest in Brazil and new occurrence records for other Heimbrinae

The geographic ranges of Heimbra opaca (Ashmead, 1894), H. bicolor Subba Rao, 1978 and H. parallela Stage & Snelling, 1986 are extended based on study of material deposited in the entomological collections of the Laboratório de Sistemática e Bioecologia de Parasitoides e Predadores da APTA (Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil) of the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (Brasília, DF, Brazil). Symbra potiguara Perioto & Fernandes sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae) is described, illustrated and compared with S. cordobensis Stage & Snelling, 1986, the single species previously known for this genus. A key to the genera of Heimbrinae and to the species of Symbra is provided.

Tortopus Needham & Murphy and Tortopsis Molineri (Ephemeroptera, Polymitarcyidae) new species and new records from Brazil and Ecuador

Tortopus Needham & Murphy, 1924 and Tortopsis Molineri, 2010 with six and 10 species, respectively, are sister genera distributed in the Neartic and Neotropical regions. In spite that most species are known from the tropics of South America, only one species of each of these groups have been recorded from Brazil. Here we present distributional data expanding greatly the range of these groups including three new country records for Brazil: Tortopus igaranus Needham & Murphy, 1924, Tortopsis limoncocha Molineri, 2010 and Tortopsis spatula Molineri, 2010. We describe a distinct new species, Tortopus ipixuna sp. nov., from male imagos, that present a unique subrectangular pedestal. Additionally we redescribe the male imago of Tortopus harrisi Traver, 1950 (previously known only from the holotype), and we give the first records for Tortopsis canum Gonçalves, Da-Silva & Nessimian, 2011 from Espírito Santo and for Tortopsis spatula from Ecuador. Some variations in morphological structures of these species are also described, illustrated and discussed.

Diversity of Ephemeroptera (Insecta) of the Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra do Mar, southeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to inventory the mayfly fauna, based on nymphal and alate stages, in Serra da Mantiqueira and in Serra do Mar, São Paulo State, as well as to present information about habitats used by the genera. Nymphs were collected in several streams and mesohabitats with a Surber sampler and the winged stages with light attraction methods, entomological nets, and Malaise traps. In all, eight families and 33 genera were recorded, representing a very significant portion of the Brazilian fauna (80% of families and 49% of genera). Furthermore, it was possible to identify 11 species, of which two are new records for the state: Tricorythodes santarita Traver and Caenis reissi Malzacher. Despite the high diversity recorded, the accumulation curves presented an ascending form, indicating an increase in the number of genera with additional sampling effort. The high richness found in these areas are in agreement with the high biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest biome and the sampling effort employed, which included the use of different methods, the collection of both nymphs and winged stages, and the sampling of a large area with diverse streams and habitats.

Fauna of Simuliidae (Diptera) from the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil: distribution, new records and list of species

Fauna of Simuliidae (Diptera) from the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil: Distribution, new records and list of species. The fauna of Simuliidae in Brazil is composed of 87 species, 17 of which are recorded from the state of Espírito Santo. Entomological collections were carried out in 2010-2011 with the objective of increasing the knowledge of the species richness of this family in the state. Ninety three rivers and streams were sampled, each collection being carried out in a 50m transect. During the study period 30 species were collected, 13 of which represent new records for the state, 12 of the genus Simulium and one of the genus Lutzsimulium. Among these new state records one, Simulium lobatoi, also represents a new record from southeastern Brazil. The other newly recorded species are: Lutzsimulium hirticosta, Simulium distinctum, Simulium exiguum, Simulium oyapockense, Simulium botulibranchium, Simulium petropoliense, Simulium clavibranchium, Simulium rappae, Simulium minusculum, Simulium dinellii, Simulium ochraceum and Simulium scutistriatum.

Review of the Neotropical Charipinae (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae)

A review of the Neotropical Charipinae is given, with 35 species from four genera: Alloxysta, Apocharips, Dilyta and Phaenoglyphis. One new species, Alloxysta centroamericana Ferrer-Suay & Pujade-Villar sp. nov. is described; six Alloxysta species, Alloxysta citripes (Thomson, 1862), Alloxysta fracticornis (Thomson, 1862), Alloxysta melanogaster (Hartig, 1841), Alloxysta piceomaculata (Cameron, 1886), Alloxysta postica (Hartig, 1841) and Alloxysta pusilla (Kieffer, 1902), are recorded for the first time from the Neotropical region; 10 new records for earlier known species are also given. Diagnoses and a key to all species are also provided.

New species of Dilobitarsus Latreille with tetra-tuberculated pronotum (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Agrypninae)

New species of Dilobitarsus Latreille with tetra-tuberculated pronotum (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Agrypninae). Four species of Dilobitarsus Latreille, 1834, D. angulosus sp. nov. (Brazil: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro), D. bellus sp. nov. (Peru), D. nigrus sp. nov. (Argentina) and D. thoraconstrictus sp. nov. (Bolivia) are described, and D. quadrituberculatus Candèze, 1857 is redescribed. Diagnostic characters of all studied species are illustrated and new records for D. quadrituberculatus are included. A key to Dilobitarsus species from the Neotropical Region is also presented.