ABSTRACT This study describes the composition and temporal variation of the spider assemblage (Arachnida: Araneae) associated with canopies of Vochysia divergens Pohl. (Vochysiaceae) in the northern region of the Brazilian Pantanal. Three V. divergens plants were sampled in 2004, at each seasonal period of the northern Pantanal (high water, receding water, dry season and rising water), using thermonebulization of the canopies with insecticide, totaling 396 m2 of sampled canopies. Analysis of abundance and richness of spider families were based on Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) and Variance Analysis (ANOVA and MANOVA). A total of 7,193 spiders were collected (6,330 immatures; 88.0%; 863 adults, 12.0%) distributed in 30 families. Araneidae (1,676 individuals), Anyphaenidae (1,631 individuals), Salticidae (1,542 individuals) and Pisauridae (906 individuals), were predominant, representing 80.0% of the sample. Ten different guilds were registered: aerial hunters, orb-weavers, nocturnal aerial runners and diurnal space web weavers dominated, sharing most ecological niches. The spider assemblage is affected by changes in the habitat structure, especially by the seasonal hydrological regime and variations in the phenology of V. divergens . The assemblage is composed of different groups of spiders. The dominant taxa and behavioral guilds differ in the different seasonal periods. Spiders were more abundant during the dry and rising water seasons, most likely reflecting a greater supply of potential prey, associated with new foliage and flowering at the canopy. The displacement of soil dwelling spiders to the trunks and canopies before and during the seasonal floods can change the structure and composition of the canopy assemblages. Oonopidae, Gnaphosidae and Caponiidae, were more frequent during the rising and high water seasons, which indicates that these taxa use the canopies of V. divergens as a refuge during the seasonal flooding in the Pantanal.

O aparelho estridulatório do tipo élitro-tergal que ocorre em Bondarius Rosado-Neto, 2006 um gênero da tribo Sternechini (Curculionidae, Molytinae) é descrito e ilustrado. O aparelho estridulatório presente em machos e fêmeas é composto pelo file, uma carena multiestriada, estreita e elevada, localizada transversalmente no terço apical do élitro esquerdo, na margem interna, próximo a sutura elitral, e pelo plectrum, uma área estreita e estriada localizada transversalmente na margem dorso-apical do tergito abdominal 7.

The elytro-tergal stridulatory organ that occurs in Bondarius Rosado-Neto, 2006 a genus of the tribe Sternechini (Curculionidae, Molytinae) is described and illustrated. The stridulatory apparatus is present both in male and female and is composed by the file, a narrow elevated carina which is transversely multistriate located at the apical third of the internal side near the suture of left elytron, and by the plectrum, a narrow striate area located transversely at the dorso-apical margin of the abdominal tergite 7.

Aspectos morfológicos da genitália masculina e feminina e seus escleritos associados, tergito e esternito abdominal 8, de sete espécies de Heilus Kuschel 1955 da tribo e subtribo Hylobiini-Hylobiina, são descritos, ilustrados e discutidos. As sete espécies são H. faldermanni (Boheman, 1836); H. fasciculatus (Boheman, 1843); H. freyreissi (Boheman, 1836); H. myops (Boheman, 1836); H. pupillatus (Olivier, 1790); H. rufescens (Boheman, 1836) e H. tuberculosus (Perty, 1832).

Morphological aspects of the male and female genitalia and their associated sclerites, abdominal tergite and sternite 8, are described, illustrated and discussed for seven species of Heilus Kuschel 1955 of tribe and subtribe Hylobiini-Hylobiina. The seven species are H. faldermanni (Boheman, 1836); H. fasciculatus (Boheman, 1843); H. freyreissi (Boheman, 1836); H. myops (Boheman, 1836); H. pupillatus (Olivier, 1790); H. rufescens (Boheman, 1836) and H. tuberculosus (Perty, 1832).

In this study different sampling techniques for Diplopoda in soil, tree trunks and canopies were applied in an integrated way in the northern region of the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil. This was done in order to assess the relationship within the fauna in each forest strata, as well as its richness and temporal distribution. In all these habitats there were a total of 1,354 diplopods, distributed in four taxonomic orders, with Polyxenida being predominant over Polydesmida, Spirostreptida and Spirobolida. The largest representation was found on the trunks of the Vochysia divergens (721 ind.), intercepted by tree photoecletors, whereas in the canopies sampling reached only 65 specimens. In the edaphic stratum 568 diplopods were captured, most with the use of the Winkler extractor, followed by pitfall traps and soil photoecletors. In spite of being an important group in these environments, both in terms of richness and diversity, this was less than has been observed in other Neotropical areas. However, due to seasonal changes in the Pantanal the existence of a relationship between the soil and the tree fauna was found as well as different survival strategies observed during the flood period. Regarding vertical distribution, the greatest richness and variety of taxonomic groups was found in the forest's edaphic environment demonstrating its association mainly with this forest stratum.

Samplings of insects on soybean crops during 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons in Northwestern Argentina (NWA) led to the discovery of adults of Rhyssomatus subtilis Fiedler, 1937. This note is the first report of this species in Argentina. In addition, soybean is reported for the first time as a host plant for this species in Argentina.

Los monitoreos de insectos efectuados en los cultivos de soja del noroeste argentino (NOA) durante las campañas 2005/2006, 2006/2007 y 2007/2008 resultaron en el hallazgo de adultos de Rhyssomatus subtilis Fiedler, 1937. Esta nota es la primera cita de dicha especie para la Argentina. No se conoce el hospedero original, por lo tanto, la soja es también la primera planta registrada como hospedera de esta especie.

Descrição da larva e pupa da broca do mamoeiro Pseudopiazurus papayanus (Marshall) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Piazurini). Larvas, pupas e adultos de Pseudopiazurus papayanus (Marshall, 1922) estão associadas com Carica papaya Linnaeus, 1753 (Caricaceae). A larva de último instar e a pupa são descritas e ilustradas. O dimorfismo sexual observado no ultimo segmento abdominal das pupas, também é ilustrado.

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.

No início de 2001, em pomar comercial de abacateiro (Persea americana Mill.) situado no município de São Benedito, estado do Ceará, foi observada intensa infestação de larvas de Heilipus rufipes Perty, broqueando a base das árvores. O ataque se concentrava na região do colo, havendo também galerias na bifurcação de ramos mais baixos da copa e nas raízes mais superficiais. Nas árvores severamente atacadas, as raízes mais grossas, próximas à superfície do solo, exibiam galerias e extensas áreas com ausência de casca. Em cerca de 30% das árvores, os sintomas evoluíram para seca de ramos com posterior morte da planta. Inspeções na área indicaram infestação em mais de 90% das árvores, em cujos troncos podiam ser observados de cinco a doze adultos do inseto, algumas vezes escondidos debaixo da casca. Não é conhecida a ocorrência de formas imaturas de H. rufipes causando danos em abacateiro ou mesmo em outras plantas cultivadas; assim, esta constatação torna o gênero Heilipus relativamente mais importante como praga de frutíferas, especialmente do abacateiro.

In the beginning of 2001, a high infestation of Heilipus rufipes Perty larvae boring avocado trees at ground level was observed in a commercial orchard in São Benedito, State of Ceará, Brazil. The damage observed was the presence of tunnels at the trunk basal part as well on the lower branches and superficial roots. Several attacked trees showed the most superficial roots with extensive barkless areas. In about 30% of the trees, the symptoms evolved to branch drought and death of the plant. More than 90% of the trees examined presented five to twelve adult insects, sometimes hidden under the bark. That is the first time of detection of immature stages of H. rufipes causing damage to avocado trees; even in other plant species, there is no report of such incidence. This report makes the Heilipus genus more important as pest of fruit plants, mainly avocado.

Odontopus brevirostris (Hustache, 1936) feeding on Annona squamosa L., A. cherimola Mill., A. glabra L., and A. muricata L. was observed. The last three host plants are recorded for the first time. The endophitic oviposition occurs in the veins of the ventral surface of the young leaves. The larvae, leaf miners, eat the parenchyma and the adults make small holes in the leaves. The pupation occurs in spherical cocoons protected by a sort of nest (pupation chamber) between the two epidermal layers.

Marshallius bondari, a new species of Hylobiinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is described from Nova Soure, Bahia, Brazil. Illustrations of the male and the female genitalia and a short bionomic information are given.