EntomoBrasilis

First occurrence of Blattodea and their association with ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in abandoned social wasp nests (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae)

2025-01-02T14:42:12-03:00

Abandoned nests of social wasps are used by various arthropods, however, there are no records of cockroaches. Therefore, the objective of this study is to report the occurrence of cockroaches in abandoned social wasp nests. The first record occurred in a Cerrado area, Brazil, where a nymph (Ectobiidae) of a cockroach (Cahita Hebard, 1922) was found in an abandoned social wasp nest. The second record involved three cockroach nymphs (Blattodea: Ectobiidae), found alongside an ant Camponotus sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in an abandoned nest located in a transition area between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes. Although the exact reason for their presence cannot be defined, it is possible that the cockroaches were foraging for food or shelter from the rain. This is the first record of cockroaches occupying abandoned social wasp nests and the first record of another insect species occupying an abandoned social wasp nest alongside ants. Given the presence of Blattaria in more than one nest and in different locations and biomes, it can be suggested that this occupation is not merely incidental. However, further studies are necessary to determine the frequency of cockroach use of abandoned nests and to better understand the importance of these nests as microhabitats for these insects.

Exotic fruit as a new resource: first report of social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) foraging on noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) in northeast Brazil

2024-12-04T07:01:44-03:00

Social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) are highly adaptable insects that exploit a wide range of locally and seasonally available resources. This study reports the first observation of social wasps foraging on noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia L.) in Northeast Brazil, specifically in the Caatinga biome. Noni, a pantropical fruit known for its environmental tolerance and nutritional content, including high water and protein levels. Seven species of social wasps were recorded foraging on noni in the rural area of Patos, Paraíba state, Brazil. These species included Polybia ignobilis, Polybia occidentalis, Polybia paulista, Polybia sericea, Brachygastra lechiguana, Protonectarina sylveirae, and Polistes canadensis. Observations revealed that the wasps foraged primarily on the carpel disc of the fruit, engaging in scraping behavior to extract juices and soft tissues. No activity was observed on ripe fruits, likely due to their strong odor. The findings highlight the ecological importance of noni fruits as a resource for social wasps, particularly in arid regions as Caatinga biome where such fruits provide essential nutrients.

New records of Ulidiidae (Diptera: Tephritoidea) from state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

2024-11-12T08:41:20-03:00

This study was conducted in an urban fragment of Cerrado (savannah formation) in the municipality of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. McPhail traps, with sugarcane extract, were used along one year with the goals to sampling ulidiids flies. As results were presented new occurrences for four genera and seven species of uliidids for MS. Besides sampled four species belongs from three genera previous known from MS. The fauna of uliidids from MS increasing in 140% and 100% the number of the species and genera, respectively. Actually, the fauna of ulidiids from MS is represented by 12 species into eight genera.

Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) deposited in the Gregório Bondar Entomological Collection of the Cocoa Research Center, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil

2024-09-18T10:24:54-03:00

The Gregório Bondar Entomological Collection (CEGB) of the Cocoa Research Center (CEPEC) has its origins in the 1930s with Dr. Gregório Bondar's insect collection that he constituted in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Bondar, a Russian-Brazilian entomologist, significantly contributed to Brazilian entomology and agriculture, and his extensive collection was in great part donated to the American Museum of Natural History. A smaller portion remained in Brazil and was eventually transferred to CEPEC in the 1960s. The collection, originally known as "Entomoteca Gregório Bondar", has grown to over 30,000 specimens by the 1980s. It holds valuable historical data that supports biodiversity monitoring and ecological research. The CEGB's Lepidoptera section features specimens collected from 1936 to 2024, mostly from the Atlantic Forest biome. This article aims to contribute to the knowledge of the distribution of butterflies in the Atlantic Forest, primarily from southern Bahia, by providing data on the specimens deposited in the CEGB at CEPEC in Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. A total of 531 specimens in 249 species of butterflies distributed within six families were recorded: 282 Nymphalidae (109 spp.), 107 Hesperiidae (63 spp.), 60 Riodinidae (31 spp.), 46 Lycaenidae (30 spp.), 33 Pieridae (14 spp.), and three Papilionidae (2 spp.). Specimens were collected from 11 localities in the Atlantic Forest biome. The CEGB provides data on butterfly distribution, including new records for the state of Bahia and the Atlantic Forest, highlighting its significance for research and conservation efforts.

Lepidoptera larvae (Insecta) responsible for herbivory on Vanilla spp. (Orchidaceae) in the Federal District, Brazil

2024-09-02T17:35:33-03:00

Given its culinary importance and high market value, the cultivation of Vanilla (Orchidaceae) has been expanding annually in Brazil. As observed in many crops, the increase in cultivated areas leads to a greater incidence of insects associated with species of this genus. This study reports the herbivory of larvae from Cremna thasus (Stoll, 1780) (Papilionoidea: Riodinidae: Riodininae), Hypercompe cunigunda (Stoll, 1781) (Noctuoidea: Erebidae: Arctiinae), and Spodoptera cosmioides Walker, 1858 (Noctuoidea: Noctuidae: Noctuinae) on Vanilla bahiana Hoehne and V. planifolia Andrews in the Federal District, Brazil. A list of 19 Lepidoptera species from six families associated with Vanilla spp. worldwide is provided based on a literature review. Most (n=15) of them exhibit polyphagous larvae. Given reports of exotic larvae spreading with orchids worldwide and the discussed larval polyphagy, we address precautions that producers of Vanilla and other orchids should take to reduce the incidence of insect pests in crops, especially in areas with intensive cropping systems involving annual commodities such as maize and soybean.

New Records of Loxosceles amazonica Gertsch, 1967 (Arachnida: Araneae: Sicariidae) from Tocantins, Brazil with Description of Female Genitalia Variation

2024-10-31T15:07:32-03:00

The knowledge of arachnofauna from Tocantins, Brazil, is still incipient. The present communication expands the known geographical distribution of Loxosceles amazonica Gertsch, 1967 (Arachnida: Araneae: Sicariidae) in Brazilian Cerrado. The brown spider specimens were sampled in Dianópolis municipality and Cristalândia municipality both in Tocantins State, Brazil, between 2022 and 2024. Also, we describe a new variation of the epigynum of L. amazonica. Mapping the distribution of Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe, 1832 species in Brazil is crucial for public health, aiding in prevention and timely treatment of loxoscelism caused by brown spider bites.

Biological Control of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) with fungi from Brazilian Amazon

2024-07-15T17:31:35-03:00

Stored grains are attacked by insect pests, causing various types of damage and potentially generating economic losses for producers. Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), popularly known as the red flour beetle, is one of these secondary pests. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of entomopathogenic fungi from the Brazilian Amazon for the control of T. castaneum. To evaluate the control of T. castaneum, different conidial suspensions (10⁵, 10⁶, 10⁷ and 10⁸ conidia/mL) of Beauveria sp. (4.438) and Paecilomyces sp. (4.658) were used, placing 1 mL of each concentration in the center of Petri dish and keeping the insects for 10 min. After that, they were transferred to another Petri dish, incubated for 7 days at room temperature, and Tween 0.01% and NaCl 0.9% solutions were used as negative controls. T. castaneum mortality was obtained only at the highest dilution, 10⁸ conidia/mL, being 22% for the fungus Beauveria sp. (4.438) and 5% for Paecilomyces sp. (4.658). Susceptibility to exposure to abiotic factors was measured with suspensions of Beauveria sp. (4.438) conidia at a concentration of 10⁶ conidia/mL exposed to ultraviolet light for 0, 30, 60 and 120 seconds, and at temperatures of 20, 26 and 32 ºC for 30, 60 and 90 min. The highest germination rate was at 20 °C for 90 minutes, with 92%. The entomopathogenic fungi from the Amazon showed low potential for controlling T. castaneum, however, they may present a higher mortality rate for other insect pests.

Moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) collected with light attractant in Serra de Itabaiana National Park, Sergipe, Brazil

2024-10-25T16:58:39-03:00

Lepidoptera includes the butterflies and moths, being considered the second largest order of Insecta, with about 16% of all of the known species in this class. Few lists of Lepidoptera exist for the Northeast of Brazil, a poorly inventoried geographical area. This work had as main objective to accomplish a preliminary study of the moths collected with attractive light at the Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaina, Sergipe, Brazil, verifying the taxonomic diversity and abundance in the study area and analyzing some ecological aspects of the group. A total of 1,450 samples was collected, of which 447 were identified in 19 families. The remaining of the material consisted of 794 microlepidopterous and another 209 not identified specimens. The richness and abundance of lepidopterous did not vary significantly among the dry and rainy seasons (p> 0.05). However, the composition analysis (NMDS) separated the species in two distinct assemblages, but the similarity analysis indicated that this arrangement does not differ significantly (ANOSIM; p = 0.09; R = 0.22), indicating that the nocturnal lepidopterofauna of Serra de Itabaiana stays constant along the year. The time which has a larger number of collected lepidopterous, was from 18:00 to 21:00h. This is a preliminary study, but that serves as reference for other studies with Lepidoptera in Sergipe.

Harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) from the Atlantic Forest-Cerrado transition zone of Luminárias, southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil

2024-07-16T16:09:57-03:00

The Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes are global biodiversity hotspots. However, these environments still face large knowledge gaps concerning fauna inventory studies, such as those on harvestmen. Our study aimed to sample harvestmen species in a transition area between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, contributing to future biodiversity assessments and conservation efforts in Brazil. The surveys were conducted in the municipality of Luminárias, southern Minas Gerais state, between May 2023 and March 2024. We collected 185 individuals from six species and three morphospecies with a wide geographical distribution, but whose conservation status has not been assessed, which may affect their protection. Additionally, loss of native vegetation may lead to reductions in their populations. Our study supports current literature, which suggests the need for more inventories and the creation of a Conservation Unit in the Luminárias region.

Odonata Community in a transition area between Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, Southern Minas Gerais, Brazil

2024-10-21T10:35:23-03:00

The Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes are global biodiversity hotspots. Despite this, they are constantly losing their natural habitats, making it urgent to conduct fauna inventories for the conservation of taxa such as dragonflies (Odonata). These insects provide fundamental environmental services to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and are poorly sampled in some regions of Minas Gerais state. In this regard, the present study aimed to inventory the Odonata community in the surroundings of Luminárias, a municipality located in southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. This area consists of a transition between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, with biotic and abiotic attributes suggesting the creation of a Conservation Unit (CU) to provide data on the distribution of this taxon for future conservation actions. The study was conducted between 2023 and 2024, in 10 locations, totaling 690 hours of sampling effort. Fifty-seven species were recorded, distributed among seven families, with four species at some risk of extinction or with insufficient data, according to the IUCN or ICMBio. Considering the significant richness of Odonata fauna obtained in this study, which includes threatened species, it is urgent to establish management actions for the protection of these populations, including the creation of a CU.