Aspectos bionômicos da vespa social Neotropical Polistes canadensis canadensis (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae

Aspectos bionômicos da vespa social Neotropical Polistes canadensis canadensis (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar alguns aspectos bionômicos da vespa social neotropical Polistes canadensis canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758). Vinte e seis colônias foram acompanhadas entre abril de 2004 e julho de 2006, no município de Mundo Novo, estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, região Centro-Oeste do Brasil. Os resultados encontrados nesse estudo sugerem que o padrão fenológico de Polistes canadensis canadensis é assincrônico nessa região, com fundações e abandonos podendo ocorrer o ano todo. A duração média dos estágios imaturos foi diferente entre as estações climáticas fria-seca e úmida-quente. Diferentes substratos foram escolhidos para nidificação, contudo em ambientes que forneceram condições físicas mais homogêneas durante o dia foram encontradas as maiores freqüências de sucesso. Colônias nessa espécie são fundadas por haplometrose ou pleometrose, no entanto, o sucesso tem sido maior para colônias pleometróticas.

Gall midge attack intensity and host-plant response in a Neotropical coastal ecosystem

The gall inducer Clusiamyia nitida Maia, 1996 (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) often infests the shrub Clusia lanceolata (Camb.) (Clusiaceae) in the Neotropical vegetation of restinga of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Leaves of Clusia lanceolata host up to 20 spheroid galls and show variation in their shape. We aimed to evaluate the effect of gall's intensity on leaves of Clusia lanceolata, and the extension of gall's impact on adjacent non-galled leaves. We analyzed the effect of the number of galls on leaf area, biomass, specific area and leaf appearance from 509 leaves of 14 individual plants. The results showed that differences of individual plants, pairs of leaves, and gall presence were responsible for more then 90% of variation on infested leaves. Variation on parasitic intensity level created differences in leaf response. Under moderate gall attack characterized by scattered galls on a leaf, the increase of the number of galls caused an increase of leaf biomass and area, and a decrease of specific area. The specific area was smaller also under high attack intensity, characterized by coalescent galls on a leaf. In those cases of extremely high parasitic intensity, galled leaves became deformed and the surface area was severely reduced. Leaf deformation due to gall attack led to early leaf abscission, indicated by the 90% of deformed leaves found in the youngest leaf pair of the branch. There was insufficient evidence that the impact of galls on leaf morpho-physiological parameters extended beyond the attacked leaves, because ungalled leaves did not change significantly when their opposite leaf had been galled.

Divisão de trabalho em colônias da vespa social neotropical Polistes canadensis canadensis Linnaeus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Foram realizadas 100 horas de observação usando o método "scanning sample" para a qualificação e quantificação dos atos comportamentais de rainhas e operárias de quinze colônias de Polistes canadensis canadensis. Foi descrito um repertório comportamental com 28 atos, no qual rainhas executam 19 atos na colônia, enquanto operárias 26, ocorrendo 17 atos em comum entre as duas castas. Dentre esses atos, dois foram exclusivos do repertório de rainhas e nove de operárias. O resultado do teste do qui-quadrado apontou diferenças significativas entre os repertórios das duas castas, sendo que rainhas permanecem mais tempo no ninho e executam com maior freqüência atividades intra-nidais, ligadas à reprodução, enquanto que as operárias executam mais freqüentemente atividades relacionadas à manutenção das colônias, como a atividade de forrageamento que demanda um maior risco e alto custo energético.

Within tree distribution of a gall-inducing Eurytoma (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae) on Caryocar brasiliense (Caryocaraceae)

For the first time, we identified the insect herbivore that induces one of the most conspicuous galls on the leaves of Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Caryocaraceae), a widespread, typical cerrado woody plant of large economic importance. The gall inducing organism is a new and undescribed species of Eurytoma sp. (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae). Furthermore, we recorded its spatial distribution within C. brasiliense trees. More Eurytoma galls were found on the eastern tree slope, followed the southern and northern slopes. More galls were found in the interior of the tree crown, i.e., on the proximal portion of the stems compared to the terminal portion. At the leaf level, more galls were found on the median region compared to the distal or proximal, perhaps due to the lower trichome density found in there. Leaf colonization by Eurytoma sp. may initiate at the leaf margin but after colonization reaches 50% the central portion starts to be colonized.

Laemocharis ignicolor Ménétriés (Noctuidae, Arctiinae), a bogus neotropical moth

The identity of Laemocharis ignicolor Ménétriés, 1857 is established for the first time and is synonymized under Cosmosoma erythrarchos (Walker, 1854), syn. n.; lectotypes for L. ignicolor and L. vulnerata Herrich-Schäffer, [1854] are here designated.

Novas espécies de Prioninae e de Cerambycinae (Cerambycidae) da Região Neotropical

Novas espécies descritas: Hovorelus adiectus sp. nov. (Anacolini) da Costa Rica; Stenoeme aguilari sp. nov. do Paraguai e Placoeme wappesi sp. nov. da Bolívia (Oemini); da Bahia, Brasil: Coeloxestia spinosa sp. nov. (Cerambycini, Sphallotrichina); Stizocera debilis sp. nov., Anelaphus bravoi sp. nov. (Elaphidionini) e Chydarteres formosus sp. nov. (Trachyderini).

Two new Neotropical species of the genus Oxysarcodexia Townsend (Diptera, Sarcophagidae)

Two new Neotropical species of the genus Oxysarcodexia Townsend (Diptera, Sarcophagidae). Oxysarcodexia nitida sp. nov. and O. notata sp. nov. from Peru are described and illustrated based on male specimens. These new taxa are morphologically more similar to O. vittata (Walker) and O. xon (Dodge) respectively.

Biological cycle of Tenuipalpus heveae Baker (Acari, Tenuipalpidae) on leaflets of three rubber tree clones

Life cycle of Tenuipalpus heveae Baker (Acari, Tenuipalpidae) on leaflets from three rubber tree clones. The biological cycle of Tenuipalpus heveae Baker, 1945 (Tenuipalpidae), a potential rubber tree pest mite, was studied by the observation of individuals reared on leaflets of the clones GT 1, PB 235 and RRIM 600, in controlled environmental conditions. Three daily observations were done of 60 eggs on leaflets from each clone in order to verify the development of immature stages and the female oviposition. The fertility life table was constructed based in the collected data. Mites reared on PB 235 had faster rate of development, requiring less time in days, to double its population in number (TD), and had the highest values for egg production, female longevity, net reproductive rate (Ro), intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m) and finite rate of increase (λ). Lower reproductive values and the longest time necessary to reach adult stage were recorded for the mites on GT 1. In all studied clones, the deutonymphal phase had the highest viability, while the larval phase had the lowest, highlighted by the survivorship curve that indicated high mortality during this life stage. The clone PB 235 allowed the most suitable conditions for the development of T. heveae, followed by RRIM 600, while GT 1 was the less suitable substratum to rear this mite species.

External morphology of the immature stages of Neotropical heliconians: VIII. Philaethria wernickei (Röber) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae)

The external features of egg, larva, and pupa of Philaethria wernickei (Röber, 1906) are described and illustrated, based upon light and scanning electron microscopy.

Distributional patterns of the Neotropical genus Thecomyia Perty (Diptera, Sciomyzidae) and phylogenetic support

Distributional patterns of the Neotropical genus Thecomyia Perty (Diptera, Sciomyzidae) and phylogenetic support. The distributional pattern of the genus Thecomyia Perty, 1833 was defined using panbiogeographic tools, and analyzed based on the phylogeny of the group. This study sought to establish biogeographical homologies in the Neotropical region between different species of the genus, based on their distribution pattern and later corroboration through its phylogeny. Eight individual tracks and 16 generalized tracks were identified, established along nearly the entire swath of the Neotropics. Individual tracks are the basic units of a panbiogeographic study, and correspond to the hypothesis of minimum distribution of the organisms involved. The generalized tracks, obtained from the spatial congruence between two or more individual tracks, are important in the identification of smaller areas of endemism. Thus, we found evidence from the generalized tracks in support of previous classification for the Neotropical region. The Amazon domain is indicated as an area of outstanding importance in the diversification of the group, by the confluence of generalized tracks and biogeographic nodes in the region. Most of the generalized tracks and biogeographical nodes were congruent with the phylogenetic hypothesis of the genus, indicating support of the primary biogeographical homologies originally defined by the track analysis.

A new name for the Neotropical genus Aniarella Enderlein (Diptera, Sciaridae)

A new name for the Neotropical genus Aniarella Enderlein (Diptera, Sciaridae). A junior homonym was detected among neotropical sciarid flies genera and the following replacement name is proposed: Novaniarella nom. nov. for Aniarella Enderlein, 1911 (nec Bolivar, 1906). Accordingly, new combinations are herein proposed for the species currently included in this genus: Novaniarella azteca (Lane, 1959) comb. nov., Novaniarella brevis (Rubsaamen, 1894) comb. nov. and Novaniarella pelluscens (Enderlein, 1911) comb. nov.

Redescripción de una especie y descripción de dos especies nuevas de Acanthococcus Signoret (Hemiptera, Eriococcidae) de la región Neotropical

Se redescriben e ilustran la hembra adulta y la ninfa del primer estadio de Acanthococcus piptadeniae (Hempel), de Brasil y se describen e ilustran dos especies nuevas de la Argentina basado en la hembra adulta. Se presenta una clave para las especies de Acanthococcus con seis setas en las protibias y cinco en meso y metatibias, incluyendo a Acanthococcus dubius (Cockerell), citada para la región Neotropical.

Track analysis of the Neotropical Entimini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae)

Track analysis of the Neotropical Entimini (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae). Distributional patterns of the species belonging to the tribe Entimini from the Neotropical region were analyzed. Based on a track analysis of 22 species of Entimus, Rhigus, and Phaedropus, for which distributional data were available, two generalized tracks were found. One is located in northern Brazil, corresponding to the Amazonian subregion, and is determined by Phaedropus candidus and Rhigus speciosus. The other is located in southern Brazil, corresponding to the Parana subregion, and is determined by Entimus imperialis, E. excelsus, Phaedropus togatus, Rhigus dejeanii, R. faldermanni, R. horridus, R. lateritus, R. nigrosparsus, and R. tribuloides. The development of the Chacoan subregion is hypothesized to have been the dynamic vicariant event that fragmented the former Amazonian-Parana forest.

On the first tachinid fly (Diptera, Tachinidae) carrying Asclepiadoideae pollinaria in the Neotropical Region

On the first tachinid fly (Diptera, Tachinidae) carrying Asclepiadoideae pollinaria in the Neotropical Region. This paper reports the first Neotropical Tachinidae species possibly associated to pollination of Asclepiadoideae: a female of Euacaulona sumichrasti Townsend, 1908 (Diptera, Tachinidae, Phasiinae, Trichopodini) carrying pollinaria of Gonolobus parviflorus Decne., 1844 (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae, Asclepiadeae: Gonolobinae) attached to its proboscis. The fly specimen was collected in Paraguay, Departamento Canindeyú. The pollinarium is illustrated and described herein. This represents the first anthophilous record to G. parviflorus and to the genus.

Revision of the neotropical species of empididae (Diptera) described by Mario Bezzi: IX. The species described in Atrichopleura Bezzi and the description of a new species

Revision of the Neotropical species of Empididae (Diptera) described by Mario Bezzi. IX. The species described in Atrichopleura Bezzi and the description of a new species. Four Neotropical species of Empididae described by Bezzi in Atrichopleura Bezzi, 1909 are redescribed: A. crassa (lectotype, pres. desig.), A. hirtipes (lectotype, pres. desig.), A. nitida (lectotype, pres. desig.), A. schnusei (lectotype, pres. desig.). Atrichopleura bezzii sp. nov. is described from among syntypes of A. schnusei.