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ABSTRACT Species of the genus Mansonia Blanchard are disease pathogen vectors in some regions of the world and can cause considerable inconvenience due to their bites when present in high numbers. However, little is known regarding their biology in Brazil. The objective of this work was to investigate some reproductive parameters of Mansonia from the western Brazilian Amazon. Females were captured in the field using human landing catches in rural areas of Porto Velho, Rondonia, Brazil. The mosquitoes were identified and separated into two groups for oviposition: forced, i.e., with wing removal, and free oviposition, without wing removal. Daily observations of oviposition and female survival were conducted until oviposition. The eggs and subsequent larvae were counted for fecundity and fertility evaluation, respectively. The species collected in this study were Mansonia amazonensis (Theobald), Mansonia humeralis Dyar & Knab and Mansonia titillans (Walker). The oviposition percentage for Ma. amazonensis was much lower than for Ma. humeralis and Ma. titillans. Forced oviposition resulted in a higher number of ovipositing females only for Ma. humeralis. Fecundity and fertility were not affected by the oviposition method. Egg and larval numbers were generally lower for Ma. amazonensis compared with the other species. Forced oviposition may be a tool to increase the number of ovipositing females depending on the Mansonia species studied in order to establish colonies in the laboratory.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT Scarabeoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera) present more than 2000 species recorded from all over Brazil. They have been scarcely recorded from caves, and truly troglobitic species are yet to be found in the country. In this study, we carried out a review of all existing scarab beetles deposited until 2017 in the Coleção de Invertebrados Subterrâneos de Lavras (ISLA), at the Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA) (Minas Gerais, Brazil), one of the most important collections of subterranean invertebrates in South America. Ninety-two individuals belonging to 52 species were recorded, distributed in six families (Cetoniidae, Hybosoridae, Melolonthidae, Passalidae, Scarabaeidae and Trogidae). Scarabaeidae was the most diverse of them, representing more than 50% of the total of species recorded. We found Scarabeoidea beetles in 51 of the ~ 1600 caves examined, distributed in nine Brazilian states: Alagoas, Bahia, Distrito Federal, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Pará, Piauí, and Tocantins. Our results provide evidence that Scarabaeoidea beetles are not frequent in Brazilian caves, and their records in this kind of environment are mostly accidental. Exceptions include Trogidae and Aphodiinae species, which may be associated with bat guano. Our study presents the first list of Scarabaeoidea species sampled in Brazilian caves.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT The small mayfly genus UlmeritusTraver, 1956 currently includes three species of Neotropical Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera) distributed in southern South America in the Pampean and Atlantic Forest dominions: U. carbonelli (Uruguay), U. balteatus (Brazil and Uruguay) and U. saopaulensis (Brazil). Ulmeritus saopaulensis is a poorly known endemic species from Brazil. Based on material from a single locality in Minas Gerais, we complement the knowledge on this species with a redescription of adults and nymphs and describe the eggs for the first time. The confusing nomenclatural history and the correct spelling of the specific name saopaulensis is discussed in light of International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. This paper points out that in despite of recent advances on the knowledge of this genus a full taxonomic review and phylogenetic analyses are pending to solve species delimitation and evolutionary relationships.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT The dispersion of Diceraeus melacanthus (Dallas) from soybean (first crop season) to maize (second crop season) is facilitated by the presence of weeds (e.g. Commelina benghalensis) and soybean grains on the ground. Understanding insect development and behavior on different food sources is important to develop pest management strategies. Thus, three independent experiments were conducted to study D. melacanthus nymph development, and adult preference for feeding and oviposition in different food source scenarios in the field. The first two trials studied development and food preference of D. melacanthus related to different food sources (C. benghalensis branches, moistened soybean grain + soybean seedlings, maize seedlings + C. benghalensis branches, moistened soybean grains + maize seedlings, moistened soybean grains + C. benghalensis branches, maize seedlings, as well as a standard diet). The third trial evaluated D. melacanthus oviposition preferences between the aforementioned plants. Overall, moistened soybean grains resulted in better nutritional quality, thus being crucial for D. melacanthus development, triggering faster nymph development as well as better overall adult fitness. The combination of soybean grains and maize seedlings or C. benghalensis branches showed great potential to benefit D. melacanthus, since these complementary food sources improved stink bug fitness, increasing mainly adult longevity, fecundity and egg viability. Therefore, it can be concluded that in order to reduce D. melacanthus outbreaks in second season maize, it is important to reduce soybean harvest loss (reducing, therefore, moistened soybean grain on the ground) and eliminate stink bug associated plants like C. benghalensis.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT The parasitism of Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) by the parasitoid Horismenus abnormicaulis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is described for the first time. We harvested 90 Leucaena leucocephala (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae) fruit pods, in June 2019 on the campus of the Federal University of Lavras in the municipality of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We found 21 individuals of H. abnormicaulis and 334 of A. macrophthalmus. The presence of cephalic capsule of beetle's pupa and evidence of predation into seed pods from which the wasps emerged suggested H. abnormicaulis is a parasitoid of A. macrophthalmus. Horismenus abnormicaulis has been added to the list of A. macrophthalmus parasitoids, and its occurrence has been expanded to the state of Minas Gerais. This discovery expands our knowledge of H. abnormicaulis biology and distribution in Brazil, as well as the tri-trophic interaction, plant-herbivore-parasitoid in invasive plant systems.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT Describing dung beetle communities in tropical forest remnants located in disturbed/urbanized and conserved areas can provide information about the functioning of these ecosystems and support conservation plans. This study aimed to verify the effect of seasons and bait type on dung beetle communities in remnants of the Atlantic Forest in order to describe their composition and diversity parameters. The study was carried out during both the rainy and dry seasons in periurban and urban remnants. Eighteen pitfall traps baited with feces, carrion, and injured millipedes were established in each site. A total of 3501 individuals and 23 species were recorded. Urban remnant presented higher abundance of individuals in the dry season. On the other hand, in periurban remnant the higher abundance was verified in the rainy season. The diversity was higher in the rainy season in both sites. In urban remnant, Coprophanaeus ensifer was found to be generalist regarding its choice of bait (feces and carrion). The use of injured millipedes as bait allowed the record of the predatory species Deltochilum alpercata. Among the types of bait used, the injured millipedes proved to be very effective, capturing a greater diversity of dung beetles during the rainy season in both remnants, and allowed the collection of specialized, necrophages, and generalists species. Therefore, we propose the use of mixed-bait sampling designs in inventories and surveys to increase the chances of sampling species with different traits or dietary preferences, which are often rare in collections.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT Asphondylia maricensis Maia & Couri, 1992 (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) was described based on female and larva of third instar. Through fieldworks carried on the type locality, Maricá (RJ, Brazil) and rearing in laboratory, pupal exuvia was obtained and described for the first time. Its morphology indicates that the species belongs to Bruggmanniella Tavares, 1909. Therefore, a new combination is proposed, Bruggmanniella maricensis (Maia & Couri, 1992).Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT The taxonomic status and the geographic distribution of two species, Pelidnota gounellei (Ohaus, 1908) and P. ludovici Ohaus, 1905, is revised and the species are revalidated. A lectotype for Pelidnota tricolor Nonfried, 1894 is designated. The taxonomy of the species is briefly discussed, and a distribution map for the reviewed species is also provided. The distribution range of P. gounellei is expanded to the Minas Gerais state, Brazil.