Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is an Asian species intentionally introduced in many countries as a biological control agent for insect pests. In Brazil, it was introduced accidentally and recorded for the first time in Curitiba, Paraná State, in 2002. An inventory of natural enemies of the leaf-galling form of the grape phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch, 1856) (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae) carried out in Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, the occurrence of predation of all stages of development of D. vitifoliae by larvae and adults of H. axyridis. The presence of H. axyridis preying on D. vitifoliae in vineyards is important because it identifies an exotic species acting as a predator of grape phylloxera populations in Brazil.

The present study aimed to evaluate, qualitatively and quantitatively, yellow sticky traps and entomological net in the monitoring of Monellia caryella (Fitch, 1855) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its predators in a pecan plantation in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This plantation was implemented on 1.2 ha in February 2012 with the Barton and Shawnee varieties at a spacing of 7 m x 7 m. Twenty pecan plants were randomly selected to sample the blackmargined pecan aphid and its predators. From November 2014 to May 2015, 13 collections were carried out with yellow sticky traps and an entomological net. A total of 898 arthropod specimens were collected, 50.9% of which were from yellow sticky traps and 49.1% from the entomological net trap. Regarding the yellow sticky traps, only M. caryella was identified at the species level, with the predators identified at the taxonomic levels of order (Araneae) and family (Coccinellidae; Coleoptera). In terms of the entomological net, all the insects of interest at the species level were identified. There was a significant difference only between the averages in the number of Araneae specimens, with the highest density found in the yellow sticky traps. Both methods provided the correct identification of M. caryella and efficiently recorded its population peak. It is concluded that yellow sticky traps are effective for monitoring M. caryella, while the entomological net is suitable for monitoring and correctly identifying species of natural enemies of the insect pest in pecan plantations.

Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. is an established biocontrol agent in laboratory, but studies have shown negative effects of temperature and Ultraviolet radiation on its potential in vitro. Nevertheless, there is a lack of studies about its endophytic colonization in vivo, especially in field conditions in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of B. bassiana applied to cowpea seed on the growth of the plants under laboratory and field conditions, and on their resistance to insect attack. Cowpea seeds were treated with suspension of 5 x 108 conidia/mL of B. bassiana. The plants were cultivated in two independent conditions (laboratory and field). The resistance to attack of the pest in field conditions was assessed by monitoring weekly the plants three times a week during 12 weeks, from the initial vegetative to the reproductive stage. According to the results, in laboratory conditions, there were significant differences among the inoculated and control plants for the variables of height of the plants (31.17 cm for treatment and 23.00 cm for control plants) and dry mass of the root (2.38 g for treatment and 0.97 g for control plants). In field conditions, the observed pest insects were miner fly [Liriomyza sp.] (Diptera: Agromyzidae), Cerotoma arcuata Olivier, 1791 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the polyphagous hemipteran [Crinocerus sanctus (Fabricius, 1775)] (Hemiptera: Coreidae). The treated plants were less affected than control plants by these pests, especially at the beginning of the vegetative phase.

Neonicotinoid insecticides can cause a reduction in feeding rate, locomotion, and behavioral changes such as a reduction in flight speed and distance traveled by adult bees. Chronic exposure to sublethal concentrations can result in behavioral disorders and memory loss. This study investigated the effects of insecticides on Amazonian stingless bees, evaluated whether Melipona interrupta Latreire, 1811, is sensitive and does not reject food contaminated with Thiamethoxam, and compared the effects on native stingless bees from the northern region to Apis mellifera. Mortality was evaluated in these bees when exposed to Tiamethoxam (absolute standard AS and Actara 250 WG - commercial product) and Dimethoate AS as a positive control, thus verifying the lethal concentration 50 (LC50) for the species M. interrupta, popularly known as jupará. The mortality of forager workers exposed to active ingredient formulations indicated an LC50 of 24.77 ng/μL for Dimethoate, validating the tests, and 1.28 ng/μL for Tiamethoxam AS and 1.22 ng/μL for Actara 250 WG, values much lower than those found for A. mellifera bees, which were 4.28 ng i.a./µL of Tiamethoxam. Therefore, we concluded that formulations with the active ingredients Dimethoate and Tiamethoxam are highly toxic to Amazonian bees of the species M. interrupta.

Social wasps are commonly considered generalists in their feeding habits, but there are genera with little information regarding their diet, such as Mischocyttarus de Saussure, 1853 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), the most species-rich wasp genus in the world. The objective of this study is to report Mischocyttarus rotundicollis (Cameron, 1912) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) feeding on a spider in the southeastern region of Brazil, aiming to expand information about its feeding behavior. The record occurred occasionally on September 23, 2023, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the ecotone region between the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. The feeding of a species from the Araneidae family occurred in its web, and the individual of M. rotundicollis used the tarsi of its legs to cling to the silk threads of the web, which could suggest a specialization for the exploitation of this food resource. Our record provides further information on the feeding behavior and diet of M. rotundicollis and presents the first information on spider feeding by this species. Further studies are suggested to evaluate this possible hypothesis of specialization of the genus for foraging in spider webs.

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.

Case reports are extremely valuable in forensic entomology and very rare in Brazil. In this report we describe a case of multiple colonization of a preserved male cadaver found indoors in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, by four dipterans species of four different families: Fannia canicularis (Linnaeus, 1761) (Diptera: Fanniidae), Microcerella halli (Engel, 1931) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Muscina stabulans (Fallén, 1817) (Diptera: Muscidae) and Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). The development time data of the species were used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMI). Considering the methodology applied in this study and the values calculated for the species development, it was possible to estimate a minimum PMI of 24 days. Besides the diversity of dipteran species colonizing a single human body in an indoor environment, this case report reinforces the importance of these species as forensically indicator to estimate the time of death.

The species Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) is of great importance for human health, as it is responsible for the transmission of viruses that can cause dengue, chikungunya, zika and urban yellow fever. The proposal of this study is to test the efficiency of a new trap model in capturing and trapping Ae. aegypti based on favoring the insect's ecology. This trap model was analyzed regarding the attractiveness for egg-laying, and the trapping of larvae and consequently the adults. The tests were carried out using white traps (original version) and black traps (adapted from the original), both in field and laboratory conditions. In the field, the black traps showed 100% effectiveness compared to white traps, showing more positive results for the attractiveness of Ae. aegypti mosquito and adult imprisonment. According to the results for this trap model, from both test in the field and in the laboratory, it was concluded that this new product is effective in capturing Ae. aegypti and it guarantees mosquito trapping safety, also low-cost production, practicality, logistics and possibility of its use by the local population. After the validation and effectiveness of the trap “drinking-fountain like”, the definitive trap called Mosquitex was developed, which is brand new for this mosquito, with patent registration INPI - BR2020190112226 - 2019, and with the possibility of assisting in the control and monitoring of Ae. aegypti in urban areas.

This study describes the antennal ultrastructure in Cyclocephala forsteri Endrodi, 1963, Cyclocephala melanocephala (Fabricius, 1775) and Cyclocephala tucumana Brethes, 1904 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Adult of Cyclocephala Dejean, 1821 specimens were collected using a light trap placed near a pasture area, segregated by gender, based on male-specific dilated pre-tarsomeres and preserved in 70% alcohol. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the antenna lamellae were obtained from ten specimens at Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) in Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil. We identified trichoid, chaetic, placoid, coeloconic, basiconic sensilla, and pores in antenna of all the species. Placoid sensilla were prevalent in the antennal lamellae. The antennae of C. forsteri females had 5,457 sensilla, of which 5,327 (97.62%) were placoid, 123 (2.25%) coeloconic, and seven (0.13%) basiconic, while the antennae of males showed 5,351 sensilla, with 5,238 (97.89%) being placoid, 100 (1.87%) coeloconic, and 13 (0.24%) basiconic. The antennae of C. melanocephala females presented 6,814 sensilla, with 6,581 (96.58%) being placoid, 231 (3.39%) coeloconic, and two (0.03%) basiconic; while those of males had 6,333 sensilla, with 6,023 (95.11%) being placoid and 310 (4.89%) coeloconic. Finally, the antennae of C. tucumana females had 1,981 sensilla, with 1,845 (93.13%) being placoid, 127 (6.42%) coeloconic, and nine (0.45%) basiconic; while the antennae of males had 3,756 sensilla, with 3,656 (97.34%) being placoid, 99 (2.64%) coeloconic, and one (0.02%) basiconic. Overall, adults of C. melanocephala and C. tucumana presented dimorphism in the antennal sensilla.

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.