Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract This study reports for the first time the plant bug Microtechnites bractatus (Say) in Crotalaria juncea and Crotalaria spectabilis, in the state of Paraná, Brazil. We characterized the injuries caused by M. bractatus and Collaria scenica Stal in cultivated plants and in Crotalaria spp. Considering that M. bractatus damage has been incorrectly attributed to C. scenica, we present here a contribution to the correct characterization of these insect pests and their damage over some agricultural crops.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT A new coccinellid species, Diomus leondai sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Diomini) is described from northeast Brazil, São Luis, municipality of Raposa, Cumbique. The specimens collected were found feeding on Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley and Phenacoccus sp. on the branches, leaves, and fruits of Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench, Hibiscus acetosella Welw. ex. Hiern and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae), and Capsicum spp. and Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae). Some concepts behind the definition and scope of the genus Diomus and tribe Diomini are analyzed, recognizing the need to better characterize its morphological aspects and establish its composition more precisely.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Here we describe three new species of Cordiluroides Albuquerque, one striking new species from Brazil, Minas Gerais, C. albitarsata sp. nov., and two from Peru, Cuzco, C. inca sp. nov. and C. wayqechensis sp. nov. Additionally, photographs from the types of C. listrata Albuquerque, 1954, C. megalopyga Albquerque, 1954 and C. insularis (Williston, 1896) are included. With the new species, Cordiluroides is now known from 11 species exclusively distributed in the Neotropical region with records from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Saint Vincent, and Peru. We give an updated identification key to species from the Neotropical region. Finally, we describe for the first time the external morphology and genitalia of the Cordiluroides species using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract The occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the municipalities of Jaboti, Japira, Pinhalão, and Tomazina in the North Pioneer of the State of Paraná, where this disease is endemic, prompted the investigation of sandfly fauna, their population changes throughout the year, and their behavior in and around human accommodation. In these municipalities, the collection of sandflies was conducted using Falcão traps from 7 pm to 6 am once a month. 32,994 sandflies, 18,442 males and 14,552 females, were collected and represented by the species Brumptomyia brumpti, Brumptomyia cunhai, Evandromyia correalimai, Evandromyia cortelezzii, Expapillata firmatoi, Micropygomyia ferreirana, Migonemyia migonei, Nyssomyia neivai, Nyssomyia whitmani, Pintomyia fischeri, Pintomyia monticola, Pintomyia pessoai, and Psathyromyia bigeniculata. Ny. neivai (SISA = 0.9808) predominated in Japira (46.9%), Pinhalão (53.1%), and Tomazina (38.9%), while Ny. whitmani (SISA = 0.9423) predominated in Jaboti (53.8%). Most sandflies were captured in domestic animal shelters, with a peak in September. The high number of sandflies collected in domestic animal shelters, species richness, and presence of species involved in the epidemiology of CL reveal the need for permanent entomological surveillance in the municipalities mentioned. The use of phlebotomine control measures in these municipalities should be considered in conjunction with the anthropogenic actions that have resulted in changes to sandfly fauna and behavior.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract We report field infestation under natural conditions by the cacao plum moth, Michaelophorus nubilus (Felder & Rogenhofer) on leaves of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.; Malvaceae) for the first time in Southern Chiapas, Mexico. The larvae of M. nubilus damages new “flushing” or light green leaves from buds, from either the main or lateral branches of cacao plants.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract The ant genus Pheidole is the most species-rich lineage of ants in the world and one of the dominant organisms in tropical regions. However, the knowledge of Pheidole diversity in the southern half of the Neotropical Region is fragmentary. Here, we offer contributions to the Pheidole taxonomy considering the species that occur in the grassland formations of South Brazil. The following species are revived from synonymy: P. idiota Santschi rev. stat., P. obscurior Forel rev. stat., P. paranana Santschi stat. rev. et n. stat. and P. strobeli Emery rev. stat. The following synonyms are proposed: P. idiota (= P. laticornis Wilson n. syn.), P. obscurior (= P. partita Mayr n. syn., = P. incisa evoluta Borgmeier n. syn.) and P. strobeli (= P. rufipilis divexa Forel n. syn., = P. nitidula daguerrei Santschi n. syn., = P. perversa Forel n. syn., = P. perversa richteri Forel n. syn., = P. strobeli misera Santschi n. syn.). Finally, six new species are described: P. abakytan n. sp., P. abaticanga n. sp., P. cangussu n. sp., P. curupira n. sp., P. mapinguari n. sp., and P. obapara n. sp.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Here we describe a new katydid species, Phylloptera jaci sp. nov., from the Iguaçu National Park, a large Atlantic Forest protected remnant in southern Brazil. This is the first record of a species of Phylloptera of the picta species group both for Brazil and the Atlantic Forest. We also designate the lectotype for Phylloptera picta, from Peru, and present a complementary description of this species. An occurrence map for the species of Phylloptera of the picta species group are also presented.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Soybean looper (Chrysodeixis includens) and Spodoptera group are important defoliators insects responsible for significant yield losses in soybean, cotton and maize in Brazil. Bioinsecticides and transgenic plants expressing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis are among the most used sustainable control methods for pest control in agriculture, especially for several lepidopteran species. To provide new components for insect control, this study aimed to select and characterize B. thuringiensis strains toxic to C. includens, S. cosmioides, S. eridania, and S. frugiperda. We performed initial bioassays with fifty B. thuringiensis strains for C. includens and selected four strains – 1608A, 726, 773, and 775E – that caused high larval mortality (100%) to be tested against Spodoptera species. These strains harbored cry insecticidal genes, megaplasmids, absence of β-exotoxin and showed two major proteins about 65 and 130 kDa in SDS-page attributed to Cry protein classes toxic to lepidopteran species. The 1608A and 775E strains also showed high toxicity to Spodoptera species that demonstrate great potential for B. thuringiensis-based bioproduct development and as sources of new insecticidal genes for transgenic crops for multiple pest control relevant in the Brazilian agricultural system.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Stegana (Orthostegana) acutangula (Hendel) from Bolivia and Stegana (Steganina) triseta (Duda) from Costa Rica are redescribed based on type specimens, and their identities clarified. A single syntype male of the first species (type species of the subgenus Orthostegana) is designated as a lectotype and one male out of the four Costa Rican syntypes (3 males, 1 female) of the latter species was selected as a lectotype of the Steganina subgenus. The other three (2 males, 1 female) specimens were designated as paralectotypes. All four males were dissected and their terminalia were photomicrographed. The two male Stegana triseta paralectotypes proved to belong to two unknown species closely related to Stegana acutangula, described here as Stegana dudai sp. nov. and Stegana turrialba sp. nov., and another male specimen, collected at Parque Nacional Yasuní, provinces of Napo/Orellana, Ecuador, is described as Stegana yasuni sp. nov. Additionally, we have included photomicrographs of the habitus of the type specimens as well as of some nontype specimens from Peru and Costa Rica. Based on the descriptions herein we not only clarified the status of these five species but also propose including all of them in the subgenus Orthostegana.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Stick insects (Phasmatodea) are among the least studied insect groups in Brazil. Although in recent years there has been an increase in the number of published studies on taxonomy and morphology of Brazilian stick insects, they remain very little-known concerning biological and bionomic aspects. From five females of Cladoxerus cryphaleus (Phasmatidae: Cladomorphinae) collected in the Iguaçu National Park, Paraná, Brazil, a captive colony of parthenogenetic females was started, based on which data on longevity, fertility, and viability of eggs of this species were recorded for the first time. After imaginal molting, the 21 females studied had an average longevity of 103.7 days. Each female produced on average 125.3 eggs, which had a hatching rate of 34.2%. In addition, we recorded a C. cryphaleus male nymph being parasitized by a biting midge of the subgenus Forcipomyia (Microhelea) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). The male, in pre-imaginal instar and already parasitized, was collected in the municipality of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro.