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ABSTRACT The sharpshooter genus Balacha Melichar, 1926 includes nine species and is distributed in southeastern and southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. All species of Balacha use only members of the genus Eryngium (Apiaceae) as host plants, except for a recently described species that is associated with Actinocephalus polyanthus (Eriocaulaceae). Here we describe and illustrate an additional species, B. caledonia sp. nov., from an alpine field in Nova Friburgo, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, which is also associated with Eryngium. Among the known species of the genus, the new taxon is morphologically most similar to B. caparao Takiya & Mejdalani, 2004, but can be easily distinguished by the shaft of the aedeagus, which has a dorsal lobe on the basal half and no ventroapical lobe, and the female sternite VII with the borders of the posterior emargination sinuous. Our studies indicate that the type locality of the new species and its surrounding Atlantic Forest area in Nova Friburgo harbor an interesting and diverse but still poorly known sharpshooter fauna, including the recently discovered Paratubana auromarginata Côrte et al., 2021 (also from Eryngium) and Cavichiana caelivittata Mejdalani et al., 2023 (from bromeliads).Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT The Maricá Environmental Protection Area (RJ, Southeastern Brazil) is predominantly occupied by the restinga ecosystem. Two broad inventories of insect galls and several contributions to the taxonomical knowledge of the local gall-inducing fauna have been done since 1992. The present study aims to compile literature data, compare them with data from recent collections and evaluate the similarity between the gall-inducing insects from this area and those from other restingas, using the Sorensen’s index. Field work was carried out from April 2021 to March 2022, in a total of 14 expeditions. All voucher material was deposited in the Entomological Collection of Museu Nacional/UFRJ. According to literature compilation, the Environmental Protection Area of Maricá (MEPA) hosts 108 gall-inducing species, 83.3% were collected again. Twenty-three gall morphotypes were found for the first time in the study area as well as two host plants, Schwartzia brasiliensis (Marcgraviaceae) and Lantana fucata (Verbenaceae). All Brazilian restingas have low similarity with MEPA, which shows that this restinga is unique in the composition of the gall-inducers. MEPA includes 63 endemic species and morphospecies of cecidogenous insects. Nyctaginaceae, Boraginaceae, and Erythroxylaceae showed the greatest average of inducers by plant species. However, these taxa are not the best represented in MEPA, but they include super hosts, which explains their highest value. The family Myrtaceae shelters the greatest richness of gall-inducing insects and the greatest richness of host plant species. A new case of inquilinism was observed in galls on Neomitranthes obscura (Myrtaceae).Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT Brazil has been suffering a dengue (DENV) epidemic in 2019 and 2022 and records cases of Zika (ZIKV) and chikungunya (CHIKV). Londrina city, Paraná, stands out for the number of cases and deaths from dengue. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the density and diversity of mosquitoes present in urban public establishments of Londrina, to analyze their ecological relationships, and to investigate the presence of the DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV. Ovitraps were installed in outdoor sites in two public establishments in each region of Londrina, while adult culicids were caught indoors with a Nasci aspirator. A total of 5077 eggs were obtained in 77 ovitraps. The South region had the highest infestation while the East had the lowest (Ovitrap Positivity Index: 38% and 25%; Egg Density Index: 67.83 and 19.03, respectively). From eggs, 704 Aedes aegypti females and 71 Aedes albopictus females were obtained, while in the aspiration of adults, 99 A. aegypti and 11 Culex quinquefasciatus were captured, the highest number in the West and the lowest in the North. The DENV-II virus was detected in a pool of 17 A. aegypti females in the West region. The results demonstrate high density of pathogen vector species, mainly A. aegypti, in and around establishments, alerting to the need for constant local entomological surveillance to prevent viral circulation, mainly in crowded places. The presence of A. albopictus around the establishments also alerts to the urbanization of the species and potential participation in the viral circulation, demonstrating the need for constant monitoring.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT One of the tools used to investigate the influence of environmental contaminants and other stresses on the development of organisms is the analysis of morphometric traits used to detect changes in growth and size patterns. To evaluate the effects of the heavy metal lead (Pb) present in experimentally contaminated soil on the morphometric traits of the aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) reared on cultivated Brassica oleracea L. (var. acephala), we analyzed three different metrics: morphometry, allometry, and fluctuating asymmetry (FA). Additionally, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of these analyses in detecting environmental stress. We cultivated kale plants in soil contaminated with the maximum allowable limit of Pb for local soils in Brazil, and the colonization of plants by aphids occurred naturally under field conditions. After collection, we photographed and measured the antennae, tibiae, and total body length of aphids from the control and contaminated treatments. We observed no significant differences in the allometry and morphometric analysis, and the presence of the contaminant did not result in any observed FA. The study demonstrated that the morphometric trait analyses employed were not effective in detecting environmental stress resulting from field exposure of aphids to Pb in soil, since these insects suffered a reduction in their population density in the presence of Pb, as indicated in our previous findings. This result diverges from those found in studies conducted under laboratory conditions. We discussed mechanisms of metal accumulation, detoxification in aphids, and population aspects in natural conditions.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT We provide an update on the famelica species group, redescribing Leptogenys famelica Emery, 1896 and describing a new species, Leptogenys pujoli n. sp., based on worker specimens. The new species is smaller than L. famelica and can be distinguished by the indistinct mesometanotal suture, and the petiolar node with an anterodorsal margin mostly straight anterior to spiracle in lateral view. Leptogenys famelica is distributed from Costa Rica to Panama, while L. pujoli n. sp. is distributed throughout the Brazilian Amazon, from French Guiana to Bolivia. Some records previously attributed to L. famelica remain uncertain, potentially being either L. famelica or L. pujoli n. sp., or perhaps representing one or more undescribed species. We update the key to Leptogenys workers by Lattke (2011) and include images. We synthesize available knowledge about the possible biology of these species and propose that both L. famelica and L. pujoli n. sp. are generalist predators and that their reproduction is dependent on gamergates.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT Synthetic chemical insecticides are widely used in population control of pests. Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever to humans, and has proven resistance to chemical insecticides. As an alternative vector control method, the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Piper peltatum L. (Piperaceae) showed larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti. Despite the wide medicinal use of this plant, the biological activity of its isolated constituents remains unexplored. In this sense, we isolated, identified and evaluated the larvicidal activity of 4-nerolidylcatechol (4-NC) from P. peltatum against Ae. aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles darlingi, focusing on the larvicidal, adulticidal and genotoxic potential of 4-NC on Ae. aegypti. Larvae were captured in the city of Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil. 4-NC was isolated from the extract of the leaves of P. peltatum via silica gel chromatography. This was identified using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and tested in Artemia franciscana (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 µg/mL). In the toxicity bioassay, Ae. aegypti larvae were exposed to 30, 50, 70, 90, and 110 µg/mL of 4-NC, while Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. darlingi were exposed to 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 µg/mL. Ae. aegypti larvae were also subjected to 40 and 60 µg/mL of 4-NC (genotoxicity bioassay), and adult females to 62.5 to 1,000 µg/mL (adulticidal bioassay). The results of the 4-NC toxicity assays showed that there was 100% mortality in larvae of Ar. franciscana at the concentration of 200 µg/mL, with an LC50 of 8.0 μg/mL. In the larvae of Ae. aegypti, mortality was 100%, with an LC50 of 62 μg/mL. In larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus, 97% mortality occurred, with an LC50 of 52.3 μg/mL, and in An. darlingi larvae there was an 83% mortality rate, with an LC50 of 55.8 μg/mL. In adults of Ae. aegypti, however, there was no adulticidal activity. In the larvae of Ae. aegypti, the genotoxic effect of 4-NC (40 and 60 µg/mL) showed significant frequency (p < 0.05) of cellular abnormalities (micronuclei, budding and nuclear bridges) of interphasic nuclei of neuroblasts and oocytes in relation to the negative control. This result may be associated with a decrease in oviposition of females, which was observed in two generations. We can confirm that 4-NC has larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. darlingi. Although it does not present adulticidal activity in Ae. aegypti, it reduced the oviposition of females. Therefore, 4-NC seems to be a strong candidate for the development of an alternative method for the control of these mosquitoes in the immature phase.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT We report for the first time a tritrophic relationship (host-parasitoid-hyperparasitoid) among Conocephalus saltator (Sausurre, 1859) (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae), Ormia cfr. crespoi Tavares, 1965 (Diptera, Tachinidae), and Perilampus sp. (Hymenoptera, Perilampidae). Specimens of C. saltator were collected at the Parque Nacional do Iguaçu (Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil) and reared in the laboratory, in order to detect eventual parasitoids. We collected and reared 904 katydids, with 113 of them parasitized, producing 123 fly puparia, and 18 puparia that developed to adults of Ormia cfr. crespoi. We also recorded the emergence of four hyperparasitoid wasps, Perilampus sp., from the fly puparia.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT Forensic entomology has been developing in Brazil in recent years. In cases where traditional forensic methods cannot accurately determine the postmortem interval (PMI), entomological evidence can be crucial. In this novel study, we present the first results of the Forensic Entomology Division at Santa Catarina Scientific Police, southern Brazil, formally established in January 2022. From Jan 2022 to July 2023, minimum PMI was calculated based on entomological evidence in 34 cases. A total of 21 species of insects (16 species of Diptera belonging to 6 families and 5 species of Coleoptera belonging to 4 families) were collected from human bodies at different decomposition stages and in different types of environments. The most abundant and relevant species to estimate PMI were: Chrysomya albiceps (in 38% of the cases), followed by Hermetia illucens (18%), Oxelytrum discicolle (14%), Chrysomya megacephala (12%) and Peckia (Pantonella) intermutans (12%). Some species were reported for the first time colonizing human corpses in Santa Catarina and used for the first time to estimate minimum PMI in Brazil. Understanding the entomofauna present on a human corpse becomes an important tool in death investigations and is essential for forensic entomology applications. Our findings provide better understanding of entomological evidence from Santa Catarina State and have important implications for the advancement of forensic entomology in Brazil.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT Paramycodrosophila Duda, 1924 is a small cosmopolitan genus which encompasses 16 described species. In the Neotropical region there are records of only two species, P. costaricana Duda, 1925 and P. nephelea Wheeler, 1968. In this paper, we describe the first 19 new species from South America – P. itatiaiensis n. sp., P. blauthae n. sp., P. rafaeli n. sp., P. boldrinii n. sp., P. roraimensis n. sp., P. amazonensis n. sp., P. moratoi n. sp., P. mineira n. sp., P. leonensis n. sp., P. marinhoi n. sp., P. viscondedemauaensis n. sp., P. pedraseladensis n. sp., P. vicenziae n. sp., P. pallidifacies n. sp., P. acreensis n. sp., P. mantiqueira n. sp., P. maculosa n. sp., P. melana n. sp., P. puri n. sp. – based on morphological traits. A distribution map and a taxonomic key for male imagoes of the Neotropical species was also produced. By adding 19 new species, we establish the Neotropical region as the biogeographical region with the most known diversity in the world for the genus.Resumo em Inglês:
ABSTRACT The mangaba Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae) is more commercially viable than other native Cerrado fruit trees due to its nutritional properties and high production of fruit used in food products. Although thrips have been reported injuring mangaba, the identification of possible species of economic importance is not yet available. Thus, identifying species that may threaten mangaba plant health is a vital step in implementing management strategies. The aim of this present study was to survey thrips species during the reproductive stage of H. speciosa, determine the variety most susceptible to damage caused by these insects and to check whether the damage is economically important to this fruit tree. Thrips were collected from the ex-situ germplasm of the Agronomy School of the Federal University of Goiás, in Goiás state, Brazil. Twelve plants of three H. speciosa varieties (gardneri, cuyabensis and pubescens) were selected, from which 20 flowers and 20 fruits were assessed for the presence of thrips in September 2018 and 2019. A total of 1,306 thrips representing 13 species were collected from flowers. Of these, Frankliniella gemina was the most abundant. On the fruits, circular lesions were observed, initially as white spots that subsequently turned silver, possibly caused by Heliothrips longisensibilis. These injuries are superficial, rarely compromising large portions of the fruit, and do not cause economic damage. Therefore, thrips are not a primary threat to fruit production for fresh consumption or processing.