The order Phasmatodea includes insects known as stick insects. In Brazil, few taxonomic, ecological or evolutionary studies have been published in recent years, the reason is related to the few number of researchers dedicated to this particular group. Cladomorphus phyllinus Gray is one of the largest Brazilian insects and perhaps one of the most studied species of Phasmatodea in the country. It is considered as a phytophagous, generalist, and feeds mainly on guava leaves (Psidium guajava), powder-puff (Calliandra sp.) or Angico (Piptania sp.). Females of this species reproduce in a sexual and asexual manner, by the production of diploid daughters from unfertilized eggs (thelytokous parthenogenesis). The absence of records on the reproductive capacity of virgin parthenogenetic females of C. phyllinus led us to record the longevity, fertility, and eggs viability of ten specimens. The results obtained were compared to those found in the scientific literature for mated females of the same species. The fertility and eggs viability were observed to be much lower for the parthenogenetic females when compared to the mated females; however, the longevity for virgin females was longer than that recorded in the literature for mated females.

Ecosystem fragmentation negatively affects biological diversity and compromises different environmental services. This situation occurs in two important biomes in Brazil, the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. There is little information on the effects of fragmentation on animal taxa, including social wasps. It was hypothesized that fragments that are small in size and subject to anthropogenic pressures have reduced social wasp richness and colony numbers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of forest fragmentation on Polistinae richness and colony number at Atlantic Forest and Cerrado sites in southern central Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. The study was conducted in three fragments, Mata do Baú, Cachoeira da Lajinha, and Cachoeira do Padeiro, from October 2020 to March 2021, using active collection to record social wasp species and colony numbers. A total of 42 species and 80 colonies were recorded in the three fragments. Forest fragment size alone did not influence social wasp communities, but communities were significantly affected by a combination of factors, including fragment size, adjacent vegetation, and anthropogenic pressures. Species richness was higher in Mata do Baú and Cachoeira da Lajinha, which did not differ from each other, than in Cachoeira do Padeiro; however, all fragments had exclusive communities. Therefore, an increase in anthropogenic pressure in any of the three fragments may lead to losses in social wasp species.

The present communication deals with a faunistic study on two species of Latrodectus Walckenaer with medically important issues from Oman. Several specimens of Latrodectus have been collected at various localities in Sultanate of Oman. This study records two species of Latrodectus from Oman, of which Latrodectus cinctus Blackwall only from northern Oman and Latrodectus geometricus C.L. Koch from both northern and southern Oman.

The puruí Alibertia edulis (Rich.) A. Rich. (Rubiaceae) is a naturally occurring species in the Cerrado biome in Brazil; its fruits serve as food for the local fauna (birds and mammals) and humans. Here, we report on a beetle feeding on the fruits of A. edulis in the Cerrado of Minas Gerais (MG). Monthly collections were carried out in four A. edulis trees in two areas of Cerradão in the vicinity of the municipality of Monte Carmelo, MG, between September and October 2018. These were a legal reserve area of Fazenda Juliana (ARL; Juliana Farm; 18°42'30 "S and 47°33'05 "W) and an area at the Atalho Community (ACA; 18°41'39 "S and 47°34'49 "W). Fruits with or without attack symptoms were collected from the treetop in the four cardinal directions. A total of 100 fruits (50 from each area) were collected from the trees and packed into plastic bags. The fruits were then transported to the laboratory, stored in plastic containers isolated with voile fabric, and checked daily for the emergence of adult insects. After emergence, the insects were identified. During the evaluation period, 33 beetles emerged in puruí fruits from ARL and 13 from ACA. The species has been identified as Eubulus (Kirsch) sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The animals consumed the entire fruit endocarp, leaving it with emergence orifices caused by the adult emergence. It is concluded that Eubulus sp. feeds on the pulp of A. edulis and is able to compete for this resource with other animal species.

Various host compounds have been investigated to produce an alternative attractant for monitoring and controlling pest insects. Several studies evidenced that volatile molecules released by coffee and mangoes attracted both male and female Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), a significant pest in fruit crops. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of the commercial glycolic extract of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) and a commercial mango essence (Mangifera indica L.) to attract C. capitata. We identified the main volatile compounds (VOCs) emitted from such products. The experiments were conducted in field cages and showed that the glycolic extract of coffee attracts both sexes of C. capitata, while the mango essence attracts only males. After seven days, the pH of the coffee extract and mango essence did not change. These results indicate that attractants based on commercial fruit extracts and essences can be an option for integrated pest management of the Mediterranean fruit fly in orchards.

The objectives of this work were to document two new occurrences of Oligonychus (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) in coffee plant, present the damage and climatic conditions that may have favored the high population at the time of records, and report the occurrence of natural enemies. The records were done in three production areas in Itacoatiara, Silves, and Urucará, state of Amazonas. We verified the occurrence of Oligonychus mangiferus (Rahman and Sapra) and Oligonychus peronis Pritchard and Baker. In two crops, O. mangiferus was observed causing severe damage, probably due to favorable climatic conditions which coincided with the peak of the dry season in the region. For both species, we observed the occurrence of natural enemies such as predatory insects and mites, and acaropathogenic fungus. Based on the results, the occurrence of O. mangiferus and O. peronis in coffee farming is now known. These pests, especially O. mangiferus, can damage crops during the dry season.

Social wasp nests create an environment rich in resources, such as food and shelter, which consequently attract predators, parasites, and parasitoids. Parasitoids attacks can be one of the main causes of mortality among social wasps in the early stages of development. Therefore, the aim of this work is to report the occurrence of parasitoids in Mischocyttarus cassununga Von Ihering (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) nests, in an area of Cerrado, at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Minas Gerais (IFMG) - Campus Bambuí, Brazil. There was an emergence of four parasitoids from two nests of M. cassununga, identified as Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae), the first record of this parasitoid in M. cassununga in a Cerrado area.

There are different methodologies used to make an inventory of social wasps. In general, these methods are divided into active search and passive collections. Each method has a different performance, depending on the environment in which the collection is being carried out. Thus, the choice for the proper methodology according to the study area will impact the success of sampled species. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of sampling methodologies for social wasps (active search and bait traps) in different phytophysiognomies (Regenerating Cerrado, “Cerradão”, Restored Forest, Semideciduous Forest and Riparian Forest) in the state of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. The active search sampled a greater number of species, with the exception of the Regenerating Cerrado. Regarding abundance, the active search was also more efficient, except in “Cerradão”, where there was no difference between the methods, and in Regenerating Cerrado, where the traps sampled a higher number of individuals. The fact that none of the methods collected all the sampled species indicates that it is appropriate to use more than one collection method in order to obtain a sampling closer to the true richness of the studied sites.

Arisemus atlanticus Vilarinho, Araújo, Bravo & dos Santos sp. nov. and Arisemus benignoi Vilarinho, Araújo & Bravo sp. nov. are described from the Central Corridor of the Atlantic Forest. Currently, thirty-three species of the genus has been described from the Neotropical Region and only one from Brazil.

The use of high-resolution images in studies of morphology, taxonomy and systematics has been increasingly frequent, especially in Insecta. However, suitable lighting systems are still very expensive and/or difficult to use. On the other hand, currently the use of 3D printers has helped to make lighting equipment more accessible for researchers to equip their laboratories. Here we present a low-cost circular LED dome lighting system for capturing scientific micro and macro photography on a self-assembly stereomicroscope. We also present the necessary components for making the dome, as well as the elements used to capture the photographs.