Ambrosia and bark beetles (Scolytidae : Coleoptera) in pine and eucalypt stands in southern Brazil

More than 95% of the reforested area in Brazil is covered by exotic Eucalyptus and Pinus plantations. Native Scolytidae, mostly ambrosia beetles, appear to be rapidly adapting to these exotic trees, and reports of economic damage are becoming frequent. The objectives of our research were to survey, characterize and compare the Scolytidae fauna present in a P. taeda and an E. grandis stand in Telemaco Borba, Parana state, Brazil. Beetles were caught in ethanol baited ESALQ-84 vane traps in weekly collections from July 1995 until July 1997. In all, 87 species were trapped, 62 in the pine and 75 in the eucalypt stand. The most abundant beetle species in the pines were Hypothenemus eruditus, Xyleborinus gracilis, Cryptocarenus sp. and Xylosandrus retusus, while the most frequent were H. eruditus, Cryptocarenus sp., H. obscurus, Ambrosiodmus obliquus, and X. gracilis. In the eucalypt stand, H. eruditus, X. retusus, H. obscurus, X. ferrugineus and Microcorthylus minimus were the most abundant species, and H. eruditus, H. obscurus and M. minimus were the most frequently trapped. The majority of the species, regardless of the forest community, were most active between August (end of winter) and October (mid-spring). Significantly more H. eruditus, X. gracilis, Cryptocarenus sp., Corthylus obliquus, Hypothenemus bolivianus, A. obliquus, Sampsonius dampfi and Xyleborus affinis were trapped in the pine stand, while X. retusus, H. obscurus, X. ferrugineus, Xyleborinus linearicollis, Corthylus sp, and Corthylus convexicauda were caught in higher numbers in the eucalypt stand. Approximately 50% of the species trapped were found in both communities. Morisita's similarity index indicates the composition of the two communities is very similar, suggesting that most of the beetles are polyphagous. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Water beetles in mountainous regions in southeastern Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Tropical dermatology: Venomous arthropods and human skin Part I. Insecta

Although many tropical insects carry infectious diseases, cutaneous injury can occur by other mechanisms, for example erucism (envenomation by caterpillars) or lepidopterism (dermatitis from moths). Pararama is a unique form of erucism seen in workers in contact with rubber trees in the Amazon, and it is caused by Premolis larvae, resulting in progressive periarticular fibrosis, ankylosis, and the loss of articulation. Ants and aquatic insects of the Belostomatidae family can cause painful bites and stings. Anaphylactic shock and death can result from the venom of bees and wasps. Beetles can cause vesicular dermatitis via cantharidin or paederin. Myiasis results from fly larvae (maggots) feeding on live or necrotic tissue of humans or other hosts, while New World screwworm fly larvae feed only on living tissue and burrow (ie, screw) more deeply when attempts are made to remove them. Tungiasis is characterized by very pruritic and painful papules and ulcers resulting from a Tunga flea penetrating the host's skin. Dermatologists should be able to diagnose and treat the cutaneous manifestations of these tropical insects and educate their patients on prevention. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2012; 67:339.e1-14.)

THE EXTENT of SEED PREDATION BY BRUCHINE BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE: BRUCHINAE) IN A HETEROGENEOUS LANDSCAPE IN SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Heterochromatin, Sex Chromosomes and rRNA Gene Clusters in Coprophanaeus Beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cytogenetic Mapping of rRNAs and Histone H3 Genes in 14 Species of Dichotomius ( Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) Beetles

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Evolutionary dynamics of heterochromatin in the genome of Dichotomius beetles based on chromosomal analysis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The night and day of dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) in the Serra do Japi, Brazil: elytra colour related to daily activity

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Developmental biology, polymorphism and ecological aspects of Stiretrus decemguttatus (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae), an important predator of cassidine beetles

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Attraction of ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera : Scolytidae) to different tropical pine species in Brazil

Ambrosia beetles are the predominant Scolytidae in Brazil. Little is known about the attractiveness of exotic conifer tree volatiles to native scolytids. Objectives were to compare the attractiveness of logs with and without bark of Pinus oocarpa Schiede, P. caribaea variety bahamensis Barrett & Golfari, P, car. variety caribaea Barrett & Golfari and P. car. variety hondurensis Barrett & Golfari over time to native scolytids in different pine stands, to compare the relative attractiveness of logs relative to ethanol traps, to determine how long it takes for logs to become attractive to ambrosia beetles and when attraction peaks occur, and to determine if volatiles released by live standing trees would mask volatiles released by logs of the same species. In young stands, Hypothenemus was the predominant insect genus, whereas in older stands Xyleborus predominated. Debarked logs trapped more beetles than logs with bark. Pine log species attractiveness was not influenced by volatiles present in the stand. Beetles were divided into the following 3 groups, based on response to log volatiles and ethanol: (1) species attracted to ethanol and not responding to pine terpenes Ambrosiodmus hagedorni (Iglesia), A. retusus (Eichhoff), X. spinulosus Blandford, Corthylus schaufussi Schiede, Cryptocarenus heveae (Hagedorn), H. obscurus (F.), (2) species attracted to ethanol but responding to pine terpenes Xyleborinus gracilis (Eichhoff), X. affinis Eichhoff, H. eruditus Westwood, Premnobius cavipennis Eichhoff, and (3) species more attracted to pine terpenes and less responsive to ethanol, A. obliquus (Le Conte), X. ferrugineus F,, X. catulus Blandford. Pinus car. ;variety bahamensis was the least attractive pine, P. oocarpa the most attractive. The attraction peak varied according to the season; logs were not attractive to beetles 10 wk after cutting.

Distribution of carabid beetles in agroecosystems across spatial scales - A review

The review focuses on the questions (1) how does the spatial heterogeneity of landscape influences carabid biodiversity, and (2) what are the main factors causing this biodiversity across nested spatial scales (study point - plant association - landscape level). The analysis of recent literature indicates that the spatial distribution of carabids differs at various spatial scales, and the factors responsible for the distribution are different. At the study point level most of the communities exhibit high variability of population density and diversity, which has no correlations with soil, and sometimes, vegetation, parameters. Most of the factors that contribute to formation of the communities are stochastic, simply because patches of a factor are much smaller than the size of a distinct carabid community. At the level of plant association, soil factors begin to play the role in driving the communities. At this level, litter depth, micro-climate and vegetation composition are the main factors. At the landscape level, geological factors, such as topography, landscape geochemistry, and history are playing important roles. As a conservation measure, spatial heterogeneity should be kept at all spatial scales at the same time to maintain carabid biodiversity in agricultural areas.

Chromosomal diversification of diploid number, heterochromatin and rDNAs in two species of Phanaeus beetles (Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sign of the kiss in dermatitis caused by vesicant beetles (potós or Paederus sp.)

The cosmopolitan beetles of the Paederus genus (potos) cause a severe dermatitis when the insect is crushed against the skin of exposed areas (the cervical region is the most affected). Toxins (pederin and others) from the hemolymph of the insect cause plaques and/or bizarre, linear lesions with erythema, edema, blisters, pustules, crusts and exulcerations. There may be a burning sensation and severe conjunctivitis. Lesions disappear after 10 days and may leave hyperchromic macules. Treatment is made with topical corticosteroids and intensive washing.