Revisionary notes on the fungus-growing ant genus Mycetarotes Emery (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Mycetarotes is a small genus of the exclusively Neotropical fungus-growing ants, that includes M. parallelus (Emery), M. senticosus Kempf, M. acutus Mayhé-Nunes and M. carinatus Mayhé-Nunes. We hereby revise historical and recent information regarding Mycetarotes species for the first time, providing an identification key to workers, diagnoses, synoptic illustrated redescriptions of the species, including those of sexuals when known, updates of distributional records, and nest pictures of M. carinatus and M. parallelus. We comment the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships among Mycetarotes and related genera, and on their geographical distribution. The available biological information on the genus is summarized.

A new species of Calloconophora Dietrich (Hemiptera, Membracidae) from the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil

A new species of treehopper, Calloconophora gaudencia sp. nov., from Araruna, Paraíba State, is described and illustrated.

A new species of Cervellus Szépligeti (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae) with biological notes

A new Cervellus species is described from Brazil. The male to this genus is described for the first time as well its cocoon is illustrated. The specimens parasitize the papaya borer weevil Pseudopiazurus obesus (Boheman, 1838) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) associated with Carica papaya Linnaeus, 1753 (Caricaceae) at Rio Grande do Norte and Bahia Brazilian States.

Revision of the New World bee fly genus Heterostylum Macquart (Diptera, Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae)

The genus Heterostylum Macquart and five Neotropical species (H. ferrugineum (Fabricius, 1805), H. hirsutum (Thunberg, 1827), H. rufum (Olivier, 1789), H. haemorrhoicum (Loew, 1863) and H. pallipes Bigot, 1892) are redescribed. The other species, recently redescribed or described are only diagnosed, except for H. deani Painter, 1930, whose spermathecae are described and illustrated for the first time. The main characters of the external morphology were photographed and the male genitalia and female spermathecae illustrated. An identification key to all included species is also presented.

New species of the treehopper tribe Amastrini (Hemiptera, Membracidae, Smiliinae)

Three new species of Amastris Stål and one of Erosne Stål are described and illustrated. Amastris rotheai sp. nov. (Paraiba, Brazil), A. gibberula sp. nov. (Mato Grosso, Brazil), A. comarapa sp. nov. (Santa Cruz, Bolivia), and Erosne parvula sp. nov. (Paraiba, Brazil).

New record of Pterotaenia fasciata (Wiedemann) (Diptera, Ulidiidae) in Brazil, a probably mechanical vector of enteric bacteria

Pterotaenia fasciata is commonly recorded in rural areas in Argentina, but during a Diptera survey study developed in a reservoir which retains storm water from polluted canals in an urban area of Taboão da Serra municipality, SP, Brazil, we could capture P. fasciata adults. Enteric bacteria Escherichia coli T. Escherich, 1885 and Proteus sp. were isolated from P. fasciata collected in traps inside the reservoir and around it. Fecal coliforms and E. coli were found in the water of the reservoir. These records suggest that a high abundance of this species at urban areas with inadequate sewage canals should reveal these muscoid dipterans as mechanical vectors of enteric bacteria.

Dos nuevas especies de Iridopsis Warren (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) del norte de Chile

Se presentan descripciones de dos nuevas especies de Iridopsis Warren, 1894, del norte de Chile: I. hausmanni sp. nov., del valle de Azapa, Provincia de Arica; e I. parrai sp. nov., de la Pampa del Tamarugal, Provincia de Iquique. Los estados inmaduros de I. parrai se asocian con Prosopis tamarugo Phil. (Fabaceae). Esta es la primera mención de Iridopsis para Chile.

Catalogue of American Nycteribiidae (Diptera, Hippoboscoidea)

A catalogue of the family Nycteribiidae (Diptera, Hippoboscoidea) of the New World is presented. Two genera and 52 species are listed in alphabetical order. Each genus account lists synonymies and type species, and each species account lists type locality and host, disposition of type material, geographic and host distribution, and a detailed bibliography.

A new Neotropical species of spot-thoraxed Drosophila (Diptera, Drosophilidae)

Drosophila pauliceia sp. nov., a spot-thoraxed species closely related to Drosophila boraceia Vilela & Val, 2004, is described from flies collected in an urban remnant of the montane Atlantic Forest located at the Cidade Universitária "Armando de Salles Oliveira", São Paulo city, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The two forest-dwelling species can be externally distinguished mainly by having a different pattern of thoracic spots. A new group of spotted flies (peruensis group) is proposed to include them, in addition to Drosophila peruensis Wheeler, 1959, from Urubamba River, Peru, and Drosophila atalaia Vilela & Sene, 1982, from Brazil and Argentina. To facilitate comparisons, illustrations of the male and female terminalia of the new species and of some unpublished views of those of D. atalaia are included. Additionally, a new group of unspotted species (named caponei group) is proposed to include Drosophila caponei Pavan & Cunha, 1947 and D. neochracea Wheeler, 1959, both previously considered to be related to D. atalaia.

New enigmatic Andean bee species of Protandrena (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae, Panurginae)

Panurgine bees are diverse and abundant in temperate areas of the Americas but poorly represented to nearly absent in the tropics. We describe and illustrate five distinctive new species of the genus Protandrena that occur at high altitudes (2000-3400 m) in the Andes, from Venezuela to Ecuador. The species are also described to make the names available in forthcoming papers on their biology. These Andean species resemble some members of the subgenus Heterosarus but differ from it, as well as from any other subgenera of Protandrena, primarily in characters of the male genitalia and hidden sterna. The South American Protandrena s. l. are morphologically highly diverse and a complete study of the group is needed before supraspecific names are proposed for unusual species. Thus, to avoid further nomenclatural changes, we decided not to place these species in a new subgenus or any of the available subgenera. We also provide notes on the biology for some of the species.

The presence of Chane Nieto and Guajirolus Flowers (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae) in Brazil with the description of a new species

The related genera Chane and Guajirolus are reported for the first time from Brazil. Guajirolus rondoni, sp. n. is described based on nymphs from Rondônia State and can be differentiated from the other species of the genus by the following combination of characteristics: 1) mandibles with minute spicules on outer margin; 2) maxillary palp three-segmented; 3) hypopharynx lingua with three rounded processes; 4) projection of second segment of labial palp with apex narrower than base; 5) abdominal color pattern; and 6) paraprocts with 13 to 15 organized spines. An updated key to the species of both genera is presented.

Description of Micropygomyia (Sauromyia) vonatzingeni sp. nov. (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) from the states of Pará and Tocantins, Brazil

Both sexes of a new phlebotomine sandfly species Micropygomyia (Sauromyia) vonatzingeni sp. nov. (Diptera, Psychodidae), captured in the Serra das Andorinhas, São Geraldo do Araguaia municipality, Pará state, and Cavalcante municipality, Tocantins state, Brazil, are described and illustrated. This new species belongs to the oswaldoi series and its distinction from the other extant species of the series was made by male and female identification keys. The specific geographical distribution of the oswaldoi series by country and department (or state) is presented.

Bledius Leach from southern Brazil (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Oxytelinae)

Three species of Bledius Leach, 1819 are recognized from southern Brazil. A new species is described, B. hermani n. sp., from Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul States and B. fernandezi Bernhauer, 1939 is redescribed. The geographical distribution of B. bonariensis Bernhauer, 1912 and B. fernandezi are extended. A key to identification of Bledius from southern Brazil is also provided.

A new species of Sycorax (Diptera, Psychodidae, Sycoracinae) from the Pacific coast of Colombia

Sycorax utriensis n. sp. is described and illustrated from a male specimen collected with a CDC light trap in the Parque Nacional Natural Ensenada de Utría, on the Pacific Coast of Colombia. Five species of Sycorax are now known from Colombia, S. andicola Young, 1979, S. colombiensis Young, 1979, S. fairchildi Young, 1979, S. trispinosa Young, 1979 and S. utriensis n. sp.

New species of Hymenoptera associated with galls on Calliandra brevipes Benth. (Fabaceae, Mimosoidea) in Brazil

Four species of Hymenoptera: Tanaostigmodes ringueleti (Brèthes, 1924), T. mecanga sp.nov. (Chalcidoidea, Tanaostigmatidae), Allorhogas taua sp. nov. (Braconidae, Doryctinae) and Eurytoma sp. (Chalcidoidea, Eurytomidae) were reared from two different types of galls of Calliandra brevipes Benth. (Fabaceae, Mimosoidea) in Juiz-de-Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The two Tanaostigmatidae species are probably the gall inducers; the Braconidae species probably is phytophagous inquiline in round gall type. The two new species are described and illustrated, including their immature stages.