Consumption of Cinara spp. (Hemiptera, Aphididae) by Cycloneda sanguinea (Linnaeus, 1763) and Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, 1842 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae)

Adults and larvae of coccinellids were observed feeding on populations of the giant conifer aphids Cinara spp. on Pinus spp., in Southern Brazil. The objective of this research is to evaluate the consumption capacity of Cycloneda sanguinea (Linnaeus, 1763) and Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, 1842 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) on these aphid species, in order to obtain information for biological control programs. Ten larvae of each predator species were fed with aphids of small size (nymphs of 1st and 2nd instars), and 10 with aphids of medium size (nymphs of 3rd and 4th instars), maintained under 15ºC, 20ºC and 25ºC, 12 h photophase and 70 ± 10% relative humidity. The aphids were counted every 24 hours, replacing those that were consumed. The total consumption of Cinara by the larvae of C. sanguinea was not statistically different at the three temperatures: 325.5; 322.2 and 324.8 of small aphids and 121.3; 140.4 and 109.9 of medium ones, respectively at 15ºC, 20ºC and 25ºC. The consumption by H. convergens was higher than by C. sanguinea and increased noticeably with temperature: 444 aphids at 15ºC; 491.3 at 20ºC and 513.3 at 25ºC, considering the small aphids, and 187.1; 205.1 and 216.6 of medium aphids at the three temperatures. The small aphids weigh about half as much as medium ones and were preferred by all larval instars probably because they are easier to manipulate than the large ones. Both predators, especially the 4th instar larvae, showed high consumption capacity on the Cinara nymphs at all temperatures and can be regarded as promising biological control agents.

Desenvolvimento de Ophyra albuquerquei Lopes (Diptera, Muscidae) em condições de laboratório

Ophyra albuquerquei may often be a potential predator of Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 in poultry and pig houses in southern Brazil. Here we address the developmental period of immatures stages and their viability. To obtain eggs, larvae and pupae, a colony was established in the laboratory. Adult flies were fed on a diet comprising two parts dry milk, two parts sugar and one part fish flour. Larval diet comprised one part fish flour and one part sawdust and water. The eggs, larvae and pupae were incubated at 26º ± 1ºC, 75% ± 10% R.H. and 12 h photoperiod. The egg to adult cycle took 573 h with a total viability of 64%. The shortest of the stages was the egg stage, which lasted about 20 h. The larval stage had the lowest viability (about 82%) and longest time interval (279 h). Overall, the results of this study show that O. albuquerquei can be readily maintained in the laboratory.

Desenvolvimento pré-imaginal de Eueides isabella dianasa (Hübner) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) em folhas de Passiflora edulis L. (Passifloraceae)

Lagartas de Eueides isabella dianasa (Hübner, 1806) estão entre os insetos fitófagos que ocorrem em P. edulis. Para esse estudo, foram coletados ovos logo após a oviposição, sendo feitas observações diárias para o registro de eclosão, ecdises (confirmadas pelas cápsulas cefálicas), pupação e emergência de adultos. A viabilidade de ovos foi de 94,9%. O período embrionário observado (em dias ± erro padrão da média) foi de 4,25 ± 0,18. O período larval de 16,9 ± 0.34 dias apresentou cinco ínstares: 2,75 ± 0,2; 2,8 ± 0,2; 3,0 ± 0,1; 3,6 ± 0,2 e 4,6 ± 0,15. O período larval ativo foi de 15,83 ± 0,34 dias, seguido por um período prepupal e pupal de, respectivamente, de 7,42 ± 0,15 (período inativo dentro do desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de 8,4 ± 0,15). O desenvolvimento pós-embrionário foi de 24,25 ± 0,37. A duração do desenvolvimento pré-imaginal de 28,5 ± 0,4 pode ser considerada curta entre os lepidópteros. A duração relativa foi de 14,9% para o período embrionário e de 85,9% para o pós-embironário. O uso do tempo durante o período pós-embrionário foi de 11,3%; 11,7%; 12,4%; 14,8%; 18,9% e 30,6% respectivamente como L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 e pupa. O período larval representou 65,3% enquanto o período inativo (prepupa + pupa) 34,7%. A sobrevivência no final do desenvolvimento, considerando o período de ovo, foi de 27,5% e, considerando o período pós-embrionário, 30,0%, tendo sido mais evidente no quinto ínstar e no período pupal com 63,0% e 64,7%, respectivamente. Este é o primeiro registro de Eueides isabella dianasa no Estado de Alagoas, Brasil.

Triplectides larvae in empty cases of Nectopsyche (Trichoptera, Leptoceridae) at Parque Estadual Intervales, São Paulo State, Brazil

The frequent occurrence of Triplectides sp. larvae in cases of Nectopsyche Müller in Ribeirão Bocaina, Parque Estadual Intervales, São Paulo, Brazil is recorded. Leaf packs were collected from November 1999 to June 2000 in riffles and pools. Triplectides sp. larvae in cases of Nectopsyche were found mostly in pools.

Ultrastructure of the eggs of two species of Anopheles (Anopheles) Meigen (Diptera, Culicidae)

Egg ultrastructure of two morphologicaly similar species of the Arribalzagia Series, Anopheles (A.) costai Fonseca & Ramos, 1939 and A. (A.) mediopunctatus (Lutz, 1903) are described and illustrated using scanning electron micrographs. Although similar in the adult stage, male genitalia structures and larval and pupal stages, the eggs of these species are distinct. The eggs of A. costai and A. mediopunctatus are compared with that of A. forattinii Wilkerson & Sallum, 1999. Incomplete illustration of egg of A. forattinii is provided for comparison.

Description of the larva and pupa of the papaw borer weevil Pseudopiazurus papayanus (Marshall) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Piazurini)

Larvae, pupae and adults of the piazurine weevil Pseudopiazurus papayanus (Marshall, 1922) are associated with Carica papaya Linnaeus,1753 (Caricaceae). The larval and pupal stages are described and illustrated. The sexual differences in the last abdominal segments of the pupae are also illustrated.

Cannibalism studies on eggs and newly hatched caterpillars in a wild population of Ascia monuste (Godart) (Lepidoptera, Pieridae)

Ascia monuste (Godart), also known as cabbage caterpillar, is considered herbivorous and specialist in Brassicaceae; however, it performs cannibalism. Experiments carried out in this work aimed to quantify the cannibalism occurrence in A. monuste, to verify whether cannibalism interferes in the species performance and to check whether cannibalism is influenced by the population size. The parameters used in order to evaluate the performance were time of development, adults weight and size, fecundity, oviposition and survival rate. Cannibalism occurred in all larval instars. There was a tendency to increase the cannibalism practice as the number of co-specific increased (potential preys). Cannibalism was more intense in larvae at the end of larval development. Generally, cannibalism did not interfere in the population performance. The most probable hypothesis for the occurrence of cannibalism in the conditions here studied would be the hypothesis of cannibalism as having the function of population control.

Desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de Pattonella intermutans (Thomson) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) em diferentes dietas

A proposta deste estudo foi de avaliar o desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de Pattonella intermutans (Thomson, 1869) em dietas artificiais preparadas com agar-agar. Dieta D1: leite em pó integral + fermento biológico; Dieta D2: leite em pó integral + fermento biológico + caseína; Dieta D3: leite em pó integral + ovo cru; Dieta D4: carne bovina moída (dieta controle). A carne bovina moída foi a dieta mais eficiente (peso larval de 195,63 mg e viabilidade de neolarva a adulto de 86,5%), quando comparada com as dietas artificiais. Os seguintes resultados foram obtidos para o grupo experimental: Dieta D3: 180,15 mg e 63,5%; Dieta D2: 141,07 mg e 61% e na Dieta D1: 147,98 mg e 51,5%.

Study of the combined radial post-feeding dispersion of the blowflies Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) and C. albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera, Calliphoridae)

Blowflies use discrete and ephemeral substrates to feed their larvae. After they run out of food, the larvae begin to disperse in order to find adequate places for pupation or additional food sources, a process named post-feeding larval dispersion. Some important aspects of this process were studied in a circular arena allowing the combined radial post-feeding dispersion from the center of the arena of C. albiceps and C. megacephala larvae. To determine the location of each pupa, the arena was divided in 72 identical sections starting from the center. The distance from the center, the depth and weight of each pupa were evaluated. Statistical tests were done to verify the relation between weight, depth and distance for pupation. From the total an average of 976 larvae released (488 for each species) were collected considering both experiments 456 C. megacephala pupae and 488 of C. albiceps. This demonstrates that C. albiceps probably preyed on 32 C. megacephala larvae during post-feeding dispersion. The study of this dispersion process can be used to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) of human cadavers in legal medicine.

Desenvolvimento pós-embrionário de Anteos menippe (Hübner) (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) em Cassia ferruginea Shrad. (Caesalpinaceae), em laboratório

Com o objetivo de estabelecer a duração do desenvolvimento pós-embrionário e dos instares, foram coletados ovos de Anteos menippe em folhas de Cassia ferruginea e levados ao laboratório para o registro das datas das ecdises. O desenvolvimento pós-embrionário durou (média ± erro-padrão) 25,7 ± 0,4 dias. O período larval (15,9 ± 0,3 dias) representou 61,7% do desenvolvimento e contou com cinco instares: L1= 2,2 ± 0,1; L2= 1,7 ± 0,2; L3= 2,0 ± 0,1; L4= 3,4 ± 0,1 e L5= 6,4 ± 0,3. Este último ínstar contou com uma fase ativa (5,4 ± 0,3 dias) e prepupa (1 dia). O período pupal foi de 9,9 ± 0,2 dias. O período de inatividade (prepupa + pupa) foi de 10,9 ± 0,2 dias representando 42,2% do desenvolvimento pós-embrionário, sendo o período ativo (larval ativo) 57,8% do desenvolvimento. A viabilidade de ovos foi de 91,6% e a sobrevivência, a partir do número de lagartas neonatas foi de 59,8%.

Revision of the Leucosphyrus group of Anopheles (Cellia) (Diptera, Culicidae)

Revision of the Leucosphyrus Group of Anopheles (Cellia) (Diptera, Culicidae). This is a comprehensive revision of 20 species of the Leucosphyrus Group of the Neomyzomyia Series of Anopheles (Cellia). Morphological description of the adults, male and female, male genitalia, pupa and fourth-instar larva are provided for each taxon in addition to bionomics, distribution data and systematic discussion for each species, including diagnostic characters. Identification keys for females and fourth-instar larvae are provided. When possible medical importance of each species is included. Illustrations of of the adults, fourth-instar larvae and pupae are provided. Distribution maps for each species are mainly based on the material examined; however, when possible published data were also used. Tables on adult character variations, fourth-instar larval and pupal setal branching are included as appendices. A neotype for An. takasagoensis Morishita and An. sulawesi Koesoemawinangoen, and a lectotype for An. balabacensis Baisas, are designated. The authorship of An. sulawesi previously cited as Waktoedi is corrected to Koesoemawinangoen.

Ciclo de vida de duas espécies de Goeldichironomus (Diptera, Chironomidae)

Duas espécies de Goeldichironomus foram criadas em condições de laboratório (21ºC -26ºC), com alimento para peixes do tipo TetraMin® e alimento para aves Avemicina Purina®, para se obter informações bionômicas e analisar a viabilidade de cultivo para fins de bioensaios. As massas ovígeras das duas espécies, foram mantidas em placas de Petri até a eclosão das lárvulas. A duração média do desenvolvimento larval até a emergência dos adultos foi de 28 (23-34) dias para Goeldichironomus maculatus Strixino & Strixino, 1991 e 20 (18-22) dias para Goeldichironomus luridus Trivinho-Strixino & Strixino, 2005. Os estádios larvais para as duas espécies foram determinados através da relação entre o tamanho da cabeça e o tamanho do corpo. Essas medidas foram usadas para determinar as curvas de crescimento e estimar a taxa de crescimento diário das duas espécies. As criações ocorreram de forma satisfatória, com rápido crescimento larval e baixa taxa de mortalidade, mas, não houve acasalamento em condições de laboratório.

Influence of photoperiod on body weight and depth of burrowing in larvae of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and implications for forensic entomology

Blowflies use discrete, ephemeral breeding sites for larval nutrition. After exhaustion of the food supply, the larvae disperse in search of sites to pupate or to seek other sources of food in a process known as post-feeding larval dispersal. In this study, some of the most important aspects of this process were investigated in larvae of the blowflies Chrysomya megacephala exposed to a variety of light: dark (LD) cycles (0:0 h, 12:12 h and 24:0 h) and incubated in tubes covered with vermiculite. For each pupa, the body weight and depth of burrowing were determined. Statistical tests were used to examine the relationship of depth of burrowing and body weight to photoperiod at which burrowing occurred. The study of burial behavior in post-feeding larval dispersing can be useful for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) of human corpses in forensic medicine.

Occurrence of Hymenoptera on Sus scrofa carcasses during summer and winter seasons in southeastern Brazil

Considerable importance has been given to nest construction and larval food transport to the nest as a precondition for the eusociality of insects. Most adult hymenopterans feed on liquids, although bees and a few wasps may also feed on pollen. Carrion represents an additional source of protein for some species and they will scavenge for dead animals in the wild. This paper aims at analyzing Hymenoptera visitors on a pig carcass during the process of decomposition, in the summer of 2005 and the winter of 2006 in Brazil, and comparing the results with other studies in the Neotropical region. To our knowledge, this is the first study which described the occurence of Agelaia pallipes, Polybia paulista and Scaptotrigona depilis on decomposing carcasses in southeastern Brazil. It also raises the hypothesis of possible applications of Hymenoptera to achieve more precise PMI estimations, apart from other insects already known as having great importance in such estimates.

On the immature stages and natural history of Gonioterma exquisita Duckworth (Lepidoptera, Elachistidae, Stenomatinae)

In the present work the natural history and immature stages of Gonioterma exquisita Duckworth, 1964 of the Brazilian cerrado region are described. The caterpillars are external folivorous feeders and present a diet restricted to pubescent-leaved host plants of the genus Byrsonima Rich. (Malpighiaceae). They are solitary caterpillars and they build a hard individual shelter that looks like a planorbid shell, made from silk and frass, covered with trichomes and silk, where they develop until the last larval instar on the host plant, and remain inside it until the adult emergence on herbaceous stratum. The larval development presented eight instars. Egg, larval head capsules, instar duration, pupa, shelter, and behavior are also described. Diapause is mentioned for the first time in this species.