The baruzeiro or baru (Dipteryx alata Vogel) is a tree species native to Brazil that is known for its production of edible nuts with high nutritional value. However, little is known about the insects associated with this forest species. Therefore, this study aims to document the occurrence of leafhoppers on baruzeiro trees in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. We therefore examined baruzeiro plants in an afforestation plot at the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (18°43'33"S; 47°31'31"W) in August 2020, located in the municipality of Monte Carmelo, Minas Gerais. The leafhopper species was identified as Aetalion reticulatum (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae). The ant species Camponotus crassus Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) was found to feed on the honeydew released by leafhoppers, demonstrating facultative mutualism between the species. This is the first report of A. reticulatum on D. alata in Minas Gerais.

Evaluation of resistance of Vigna unguiculata L. landraces, used as green beans, to Aphis craccivora Koch was tested. Eleven landraces and standard genotypes were used in a free choice protocol: BR 17-Gurguéia, VITA 7 (susceptible), BRS Guariba and TVu 408P2 (resistant). A completely randomized blocks design was used with six replicates. Seedlings were infested with five six-day-old adult insects. The number of alive adults after 48 h and of alive nymphs after 96 h was evaluated. The results evidenced that there are high genetic diversity among the landraces, the antibiosis as the main mechanism of resistance. By means of multivariate analysis we suggest crosses among the commercial cultivar BRS Guariba and the most dissimilar varieties CCE-088, CCE-075, CCE-013 and CCE-062 to obtain superior hybrids.

Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), a highly polyphagous scale insect and a known pest of various crops, is reported for the first time infesting neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Meliaceae) in Brazil. Infestations of this diaspidid were observed on the trunks, branches, and leaves of neem trees in Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil.

The family Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera) comprises over 6,000 described and widely distributed species. However, studies on interactions with other insects such as ants, parasitoids, and with food plants in the Neotropical region, are still scarce, even though such information are fundamental for better understanding the natural history of this taxonomic group. This study reports a new food plant to larvae of Lycaenidae species in the neotropics, as well as its parasitoid. A Lycaenidae larva was found and collected for immature stage observation under laboratory conditions. The larva fed on petals and seeds of Zornia latifolia Sm. (Fabaceae). Nineteen days after pupation in laboratory a larvipupal parasitoid of the genus Conura (Chalcididae) had egressed. This is the first report of tritrophic relationship amongst Z. latifolia, a Lycaenidae larva and its larvipupal parasitoid of the genus Conura in a periurban area near remnants of the Atlantic Forest, in Northeastern Brazil.

Currently, there is a global concern regarding exotic species due to, among other factors, their great ability to reproduce and spread rapidly through the novel environment. As such, these species often compete for nesting places and food resources or convey pathogens. Anthidium manicatum (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) is a non-native solitary bee occurring in Brazil. This study aimed to collect data about the occurrence sites of this species to investigate the historical sequence of its spread throughout the country. Based on this, we estimated population data such as the number of males and females, phenology and bioclimatic niche overlap with native species. The occurrence records were retrieved from speciesLink and Global Biodiversity Information Facility. All analyses were performed in R. The collected data demonstrate that, except for the 1960s, the records of the occurrence of A. manicatum in Brazil are few and constant, being notified since the mid-1930s in at least nine Brazilian states. In total, 778 individuals were sampled, with males being recorded about 1.7 times more than females. This species seems to be bivoltine, with generations in May and November. Anthidium manicatum showed a low and moderate bioclimatic niche overlap with two native species, Anthidium sertanicola Moure & Urban and Anthidium latum Schrottky, respectively. These data provide relevant information on the biology and status of A. manicatum in Brazil. However, since most Brazilian scientific collections have not digitalized their data in the platforms consulted here, some ecological features described here may be underestimated.

Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) is an important pest worldwide. Methods of monitoring and control using baited traps are not yet established in coffee plantations in the Brazilian Amazon. The objective of this work was to record, for the first time, results of the use of baited traps in coffee plantation located in Rondônia, in favor of the control and pest monitoring. Two areas were delineated: i) with use of the traps baited with  ethanol/methanol (1:1), treatment; ii) without use of traps (control). For comparison of results, two factors were considered: damaged fruits (damage by H. hampei) and infested (H. hampei inside of fruits). It was observed higher levels of damaged fruits per plants in the control area compared to the area where traps were used. The density of the pest population per plants found on infested fruits was also higher in the control area compared to the trapping area. These results suggest that traps baited with ethanol/methanol (1:1) are an effective alternative for population control of pest also in the coffee plantations in Rondônia, where there is no such management with this tool. Use of the baited traps to monitor the insect accurately revealed that the flight stimulus of the colonizing females is influenced by values of the environmental variables. According to the results, colonizing females are more active in the afternoon. Therefore, in order to achieve more efficient control of H. hampei, the best time to apply control agents is between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm.

Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is a vector of arboviruses associated with dengue, chikungunya, zika and yellow fever. Based on empirical knowledge, plants belonging to genus Crotalaria (Fabaceae) attract dragonflies, which are the main natural predator to A. aegypti and help controlling populations of this mosquito. The aim of the present study is to investigate (i) whether Crotalaria is a food source for A. aegypti and (ii) whether Crotalaria attracts predators to this mosquito, mainly dragonflies. The study was carried out from January to March 2018 in two Crotalaria spectabilis Roth (Fabaceae) cultivation fields, which covered 100 m2 (each) in Missal County, Paraná State, Brazil. Samples of all arthropods foraging on C. spectabilis were collected. Observations in situ were carried out to investigate whether A. aegypti individuals visit C. spectabilis flowers. In total, 14,967 arthropods were recorded foraging on C. spectabilis (288 in cultivation field 1 and 14,679 in cultivation field 2). Dragonflies and damselflies were recorded foraging on C. spectabilis crops, but no A. aegypti individual was recorded in active collections and observations in situ. These results indicate that C. spectabilis works as food source and/or place used by several arthropods to find preys. The incidence of dragonflies and damselflies flying in C. spectabilis monocultures indicates that these plants attract dragonflies, as well as that Crotalaria can help indirectly controlling A. aegypti populations.

Resumo. Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae), um afídeo altamente polífago e praga de muitas culturas de interesse econômico, é relatado pela primeira vez causando deformações na gema apical e nos folíolos novos de mudas de Dalbergia miscolobium Benth (Leguminosae) em Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil. Diferentes concentrações de soluções de detergente neutro e água foram testadas para controlar o afídeo, com o uso de nove mudas infestadas. Os afídeos foram previamente contados em cada planta e dois tratamentos foram utilizados (detergente neutro a 5% e 10%), além da testemunha, onde só foi aplicado água. Ambas as doses causaram mortalidade e a concentração de 5% apresentou 83,8% de eficiência, o que indica que esse tratamento é eficaz para diminuir a população desses insetos em mudas de jacarandá-do-cerrado. Occurrence and control of the black aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on “jacarandá-do-cerrado” seedlings (Dalbergia miscolobium Benth.) with the use of neutral detergent Abstract. Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a highly polyphagous aphid and pest of many economic crops, is reported for the first-time causing deformations in the apical bud and on the new folioles of Dalbergia miscolobium Benth (Leguminosae) seedlings in Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil. Different concentrations of neutral detergent and water solutions were tested to control the aphid using nine infested seedlings. The aphids were previously counted in each plant and two treatments were used (5% and 10% of neutral detergent), and the control, where only water was applied. Both concentrations caused mortality and the 5% showed an efficiency of 83.8%, which indicates that this treatment is effective to decrease the population of these insects in “jacarandá-do-cerrado” seedlings.

Resumo. No presente estudo avaliou-se o efeito de plantas herbáceas floríferas (PHF) e plantas espontâneas (PE) sobre Dermaptera em algodoeiro colorido. O experimento foi conduzido em área com algodoeiro, Gossypium hirsutum L., cultivar BRS verde (Malvaceae), contendo bordas com plantas herbáceas floríferas (PHF) e plantas espontâneas (PE), durante o período de outubro/2011 a maio/2013. A amostragem foi quinzenal utilizando-se armadilhas tipo alçapão (Pitfall). Os dados obtidos foram submetidos às análises de fauna e variância. O total de 3.527 indivíduos e quatro espécies de Dermaptera foram capturados no algodoeiro colorido e plantas herbáceas. As espécies de dermápteros predominante foi Labidura riparia (Pallas). A maior diversidade de espécies de dermápteros ocorreu em plantas espontâneas (H'= 0,661) e o maior número de indivíduos de em Fagopyrum esculentum Moench e plantas espontâneas. Conservative biological control: Herbaceous plants on diversity and abundance of dermaptera in colored cotton Abstract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of flowering herbaceous plants (FHP) and weed plants (WP) on Dermaptera in colored cotton. The study was conducted in colored cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., BRS Verde, with FHP and WP, from October/2011 to May/2013. The sampling was fortnightly with pitfall traps. The data were submitted to faunal analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The total of 3,527 individuals and four species of Dermaptera were captured in colored cotton and herbaceous plants. Labidura riparia (Pallas) were Dermaptera predominant, respectively. The higher diversity of species for Dermaptera the greater number was in Fagopyrum esculentum Moench and weed plants (H'= 0,661).

Resumo. Nesse trabalho registramos a ocorrência de moscas neotropicais do gênero Epiplatea (Diptera: Richardiidae: Epiplateinae) em carcaças de suínos para o estado do Amazonas, incluindo notas taxonômicas e de distribuição. New record of Epiplatea (Diptera: Richardiidae: Epiplateinae) in carcasses of Sus scrofa Linnaeus in Amazonas State Abstract. In this work we report the occurrence of Neotropical flies of the genus Epiplatea (Diptera: Richardiidae: Epiplateinae) on pig carcasses for the state of Amazonas, including taxonomic and distribution notes.