Although Pantophthalmidae are widespread in the Neotropical Region, only three of 20 species of the family are known in the Northeast region of Brazil: Pantophthalmus planiventris (Wiedemann, 1821), Pantophthalmus tabaninus Thunberg, 1819, and Pantophthalmus vittatus (Wiedemann, 1828). In this paper, we record, for the first time, Pantophthalmus comptus Enderlein, 1912 from the state of Maranhão, in area of state covered by Amazon Forest biome, and Pantophthalmus pictus (Wiedemann, 1821) from the state of Pernambuco, near the coast, within the Atlantic Forest biome. These two species have been reported elsewhere from Brazil and now their distribution has expanded to the Northeast. Also, we provide images of a female specimen of P. planiventris, known, in the Northeast region of Brazil, from the state of Maranhão only, and of the male terminalia of P. comptus. This paper increases the number of known species of Pantophthalmidae from the Northeast Brazil to five species.

The corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is a specialist insect vector of the corn stunting disease complex. This leafhopper has been reported from different overwintering plants, and more information is required regarding other potential Brazilian plants that may serve as reproductive hosts for this specie. The present study aimed to evaluate possible plants for leafhopper reproduction usually found near the maize fields and the D. maidis reproductive differences among maize genotypes. Three trials were conducted to assess D. maidis survival and oviposition on different maize genotypes and other potential host plants. Survival, nymph presence, oviposition, and nymph eclosion rates were observed. No nymphs were observed in plants other than maize. The number of D. maidis adults was influenced by the different maize inbreds, and the mean number of laid eggs varied across the tested maize materials. Oviposition and nymph emergence was observed in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., Poaceae] when D. maidis adults were offered only this plant as substrate, although significantly lower than those recorded on maize. Our results suggest that eliminating maize plants in the off-season could be used as a tool to reduce D. maidis reproduction, thereby minimizing the vector population size in the following season.

Tabanidae Latreille are hematophagous and act as mechanical and biological vectors of several pathogens, and therefore they have been widely studied in both ecology and public health, as well as in taxonomy works. Males are nectarivorous and rarely captured, so for most species they remain unknown. Thus, we aimed to describe/redescribe the males of five species: Esenbeckia osornoi Fairchild, 1942, Acanthocera marginalis Walker, 1854, Dicladocera mutata Fairchild, 1958, Stypommisa aripuana Fairchild & Wilkerson, 1986, and Tabanus mucronatus Fairchild, 1961. Three males are described for the first time and two others are redescribed, we also provide a complete description of the species, including photographs of habitus, head and genitalia.

Hesperinus Walker, 1848, a member of Bibionidae (Diptera), is a Holarctic and Oriental genus. The genus has been reported from the Neotropical Region twice: i) Hesperinus conjungens Schiner, 1868, transferred to Plecia Wiedemann, 1828 by Hardy in 1967, and ii) additional specimens identified as Hesperinus sp. by Messias Carrera in 1944. In this study, we revisited the Carrera’s specimens, identifying them as Plecia sp. Additionally, we discussed the taxonomy of Plecia conjungens and compiled a list of articles that consider the species as Hesperinus.

Inventories provide important information about species, both from a biogeographic perspective and in terms of their conservation status. Among insects, dragonflies are extensively surveyed in Brazil; however, significant knowledge gaps still exist regarding the distribution of these organisms in the country, particularly in threatened biomes such as the Atlantic Forest. In this study, we present data on an Odonata community collected in the Serra do Papagaio State Park between 2015 and 2016. We recorded 64 species, including six new records for the state of Minas Gerais, along with ten species with problematic conservation status, either due to a lack of distribution data or some degree of extinction risk. Our results highlight the importance of inventories in expanding our knowledge of species distribution and providing data that can aid in the assessment of their conservation status.

This work reports the first photographic record of the Symmachia basilissa basilissa Bates, 1868 subspecies, a butterfly originally described by Henry Walter Bates in 1868. This subspecies had only been recorded three before but had never been photographed alive in Brazil. The photograph was taken in the Chapada das Mesas National Park, located in the southern part of the state of Maranhão. This record was uploaded and georeferenced on the iNaturalist app/website. The taxon Symmachia basilissa comprises four subspecies, and the article provides information on the morphological differences between them. We also discuss the use of iNaturalist and similar tools to integrate academic and citizen science for a better understanding of biodiversity, especially in tropical regions and areas that are difficult to access. Overall, our work makes a valuable contribution to the knowledge of this data deficient butterfly species and highlights the importance of utilizing new technologies and collaborative approaches to advance scientific research.

Psychoda Latreille is one of the largest genera of Psychodidae, with around 450 species, from which more than 130 are known from only one of the sexes. This is a result of the high diversity, sympatry of close related species and scarcity of diagnostic characters to accurately associate males and females in this genus. Here we describe a new species, Psychoda dactyla sp. n., from Brazil, Amazonas, São Gabriel da Cachoeira with morphological description of male and female specimens associated by DNA-barcoding.

Species richness of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) was organized and updated from previously published data. From this research, we found 28 genera with 259 valid species and 62 undescribed species, in addition, brief comments on the classification used and geographical occurrences were included.

The Neotropical genus of stingless bees Melipona Illiger, 1806 is exclusive to Tropical America and has its greatest diversity in South America, with about 74 described species. In Bahia, there is an occurrence record for 12 species of Melipona, distributed in four subgenera. Among the Melipona (Melikerria) that occur in Bahia, we highlight Melipona (Melikerria) quinquefasciata Lepeletier, 1836. Although widely distributed in Brazil, its underground nesting habit associated with its preference for high altitude areas, make the species extremely vulnerable. This work sought to describe nests and map the occurrence of this species for the State of Bahia, since its record is limited to areas of Chapada Diamantina. Knowledge about the biogeography of the species is extremely important, strengthening its sustainable creation that respects the area of ​​occurrence of the species, as well as seeking alternatives and public policies for sustainable conservation, since its area of ​​occurrence is extremely vulnerable to the expansion of the agricultural frontier in the State.

This study was conducted at the Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cassilândia, Brazil from September 2017 to December 2021 in a Brazilian Cerrado. Adults of Anomala testaceipennis Blanchard were collected associated with host plants and taken to the laboratory for studies. Some phytophagous scarab beetles found host plants through detection of plant volatiles. The detection of those odorants is intermediated by antennal sensilla. The main goals of the present study are to describe the antennal sensilla of A. testaceipennis and check the host plants used as food resource. This specie was found feeding on flowers of: Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Fabaceae), Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae), Buchenavia sp. (Combretaceae), Cordia glabrata (Boraginaceae), Inga edulis (Fabaceae), Moquilea tomentosa (Chrysobalanaceae), Paubrasilia echinata (Fabaceae), Tabernaemontana catharinensis (Apocynaceae), Tapirira guianensis (Anacardiaceae), Xylophragma pratense (Bignoniaceae). To the sensilla study, antennae were dissected and images of the sensilla were obtained using a scanning electron microscope. Antennae of A. testaceipennis have sensilla chaetica, trichodea, placodea (type I, II, and III), coeloconica (type I and II), basiconica (type I), and ampullacea (or pore). Males have a total of about 6,243 sensilla of which 5,868 (93.99%) are sensilla placodea, 370 (5.93%) are sensilla coeloconica, and 5 (0.08%) are sensilla basiconica. Females have a total of about 5,119 sensilla of which 4,820 (94.16%) are sensilla placodea, 270 (5.27%) are sensilla coeloconica, and 29 (0.57%) are sensilla basiconica.