Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Three Atlantic Forest endemic species of emerald dragonflies of the genus Navicordulia Machado & Costa, 1995 are reviewed through a morphological comparative analysis. All name-bearing types and additional specimens of the Navicordulia atlantica-complex—Navicordulia atlantica Machado & Costa, 1995, Navicordulia mielkei Machado & Costa, 1995 and Navicordulia miersi Machado & Costa, 1995—were investigated to assess their taxonomic and nomenclatural status. Based on our results the hypothesis of these three nomina corresponding to distinct species is no longer supported. The proportional size of caudal appendages, an additional crossvein in cubito-anal space in the hind wing, as well as minor differences in coloration of pterostigma are not reliable diagnostic characters for supporting their specific status. We consider the three simultaneously available nomina as synonyms, and by action of the first reviser, Navicordulia atlantica Machado & Costa, 1995 is selected as valid nomen, hence N. mielkei syn. nov. and N. miersi syn. nov. are their subjective junior synonyms. Photos, other illustrations, and a new species-level diagnosis are given. Despite of the advances of taxonomic knowledge of Navicordulia, the second species-rich corduliid genus in the Neotropical region, the status of some species still necessitates a full revision.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The genus Mythimna Ochsenheimer, 1816 groups aproximatelly 270 species worldwide. This genus is subdivided into many subgenera and species-groups, with those species occurring in the Neotropical region included in the subgenus Mythimna (Pseudaletia) Franclemont, 1951. Species of this subgenus frequently reach high population levels, causing economic damage to Poaceae cultivars. Hence, it is crucial a well-defined taxonomy allowing rapid and precise identifications. However, the species of this subgenus are cryptic, their recognition requires molecular analyses and in-depth morphological studies, which has often resulted in misidentifications. In Brazil, the occurrence of the following species had been mentioned: Mythimna (P.) adultera (Schaus, 1894), Mythimna (P.) roraimae Franclemont, 1951, Mythimna (P.) sequax Franclemont, 1951, and Mythimna (P.) unipuncta (Haworth, 1809). Yet, until now, we lack a broader knowledge about the geographic distribution and taxonomy of these species. Thus, this study aims to revise the taxonomy of those species based on morphological and molecular (COI) data to provide an updated comprehension of this group in the country. The analysis of 1,664 specimens allowed us to confirm the presence of three species in the country: Mythimna (P.) adultera, Mythimna (P.) sequax, and Mythimna (P.) unipuncta. A lectotype for Mythimna (P.) adultera is designated; a new synonym is proposed: Pseudaletia roraimae syn. nov. of Mythimna (P.) unipuncta; and a new species, Mythimna (P.) celiae sp. nov. is described from Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The garden fleahopper, Microtechnites bractatus (Say) (Hemiptera: Miridae), is associated with several cultivated plant species and, despite its economic importance, little is known about its development and performance in such hosts. We described here, the morphology of immature stages, and evaluated the biology of M. bractatus in beans, potatoes, white clover, alfalfa, and wheat. The bioassays were carried out in the laboratory under controlled temperature (25±2ºC), humidity (UR70±15%), and photoperiod (12L:12D). The eggs of M. bractatus are elongated and slightly curved, without respiratory projections and light yellow in color, becoming dark at the end of the incubation period. Nymphs present an oval-shaped body, a reddish color that intensifies along with the development and dimorphic wing pads in the fifth instar. In the bioassays, the host plants influenced the biological aspects of M. bractatus, both in the immature and adult stages. Nymph survival was higher in clover and alfalfa, while in wheat, it was lower. Clover-fed insects had the longest longevity. The fecundity parameters and egg viability were favored in insects that fed on clover and alfalfa. The fertility life table showed that feeding M. bractatus with clover provides a higher net reproduction rate (R0) and a higher finite ratio of population increase (ʎ). This study contributes to bioecological and behavioral studies on M. bractatus and provides data for the recognition and characterization of individuals in the immature stage.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Leptogenys elzasoaresnew species, is described from workers and a male collected near Manaus in the Brazilian Amazon. The worker is recognizable by the presence of 12 chaetae (stout setae) on the clypeal median lobe, the straight mandible, and its bicolored body; the head and mesosoma are black while the gaster is brightly ferruginous. For the first time, the males of L. bohlsi Emery, 1896, L. unistimulosa Roger, 1863, and L. parensis Lattke, 2011 are described. A new key to the males of the unistimulosa species group is provided, and the key to workers of Lattke (2011) is updated to include the new species. Finally, we also report new records of L. parensis from French Guiana, expanding the known distribution by over 780 km northwest.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT In Colombia Aedes aegypti is present in 80% of the country up to 2,300 m; however, little is known of its genetic relations within a country context and, hence, within a broader context, for example, America. The aforementioned, herein, analyzed the gene flow within a context of the Americas, its directionality and genetic diversity of the mitochondrial lineages in the A. aegypti populations for Colombia. This called for the use of the sequences for A. aegypti available of the mitochondrial ND4 gene in the GenBank for Colombia and the American continent. No presence was found of nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes (NUMTs) for Colombia. It is estimated that in Colombia the gene flow of the A. aegypti populations is occurring from the southeast and northeast toward the center of the country. In comparison with the mitochondrial sequences for America, the vector’s haplotypes in Colombia suggest connections between the populations of mosquitoes from the south with those from the north of the continent. The gene flow model at continental scale suggests bidirectional connections between the populations from the north of the continent with those from the south, while at South American scale it proposes the gene flow in all the directions with respect to the Colombian. The Colombian A. aegypti vector monitoring and control strategies must pay special attention to the vector’s points of entry into Colombia related with Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, and North America to avoid the entry of populations with characteristics like resistance to insecticides or vector competition.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT This work aims to evaluate the toxicity of insecticides used for stink bug control to the egg parasitoids Telenomus podisi and Trissolcus teretis. We tested ethiprole and sulfoxaflor + lambda-cyhalothrin in comparison with thiamethoxam + lambda-cyhalothrin and chlorpyrifos. Three independent bioassays were conducted in the laboratory and repeated for each parasitoid species, to evaluate the effect of insecticides on pupal and adult stages of the parasitoids and the effects of insecticide sprays on host eggs prior to parasitism. Ethiprole at concentrations of 100 and 133.3 g/100 L H2O was classified as harmless (class 1), according to the International Organization of Biological Control to both pupae and adults of T. podisi. When tested against T. teretis, ethiprole was classified as harmless (class 1) and slightly harmful (class 2), but it still was the most selective pesticide among the studied chemicals. When adult parasitoids of both species were exposed to sprayed host eggs, parasitism rates were similar. The other treatments triggered more severe negative side effects to the parasitoids, especially to adults. Overall, ethiprole was the least toxic compound among the studied products and should be preferred in integrated pest management aimed at preserving these biocontrol agents, while the other tested insecticides should be evaluated under semi-field and field conditions to verify their higher toxicity.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Cerciplanus maricaensis, a new species of gall midge (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) that induces galls on leaves of Ouratea cuspidata (A.St.-Hil.) Engl. (Ochnaceae) is described in the larval, pupal and adult stages (of both sexes), illustrated and compared with the other congeneric species. The host plant is endemic to Brazil and known only from the Atlantic Forest. A key to segregate them is presented. Data on the geographical distribution of Cerciplanus maricaensis based on gall records retrieved from the literature are given.