Prosierola is characterized by having a pair of conspicuous anteromedial metapostnotal foveae on the metapectal-propodeal disc. Little is known about this genus because it is rarely sampled in collections. Therefore, the main goal of this contribution is to expand the knowledge of intraspecific morphological variations and geographical distribution of its species that occur in Brazil. We sorted material from the main collections and obtained 69 specimens of Prosierola nasalis (Westwood) recorded for the first time from Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Pará, Rio Grande do Norte and Rio Grande do Sul; one of Prosierola obliqua Evans recorded for the first time from Distrito Federal; five of Prosierola rotunda Schiffler & Azevedo recorded for the first time from Pará; and 13 of Prosierola rufescens Evans recorded for the first time from Brazil (Amazonas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais). The mesoscuto-scutellar foveae placed on the dorsal surface of the mesoscutellum shown to be highly variable in size, distance, and shape at both the intra- and interspecific levels.

In this paper, we provide taxonomic notes for species of the Trigona (Dichrotrigona) Engel, 2021, with additional photographs. An identification key and a distribution map of the species of this subgenus is also provided here. We also update records of Trigona (Dichrotrigona) sesquipedalis Almeida, 1984 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) with the first records for the state of Roraima, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to describe Scaptotrigona nigrohirta sp. nov. and Scaptotrigona hylaeana sp. nov., in order to make their names valid, since at least one of these species has already been widely studied and cited, however, never been formally validated. Also, we have added some comparative notes among some species.

A larva de último ínstar de Nephepeltia berlai Santos, 1950 é descrita e ilustrada, a partir de material procedente do Municipio de Cascavel, Estado do Paraná, Brasil. A caracterização do gênero com base nos imaturos é redefinida.Description of the Last Instar Larva of Nephepeltia berlai (Odonata, Libellulidae)Abstract.The larvae of the last instar of Nephepeltia berlai Santos, 1950 is described and illustrated based on material collected in Cascavel Municipality, Paraná State, Brazil. The generic concept based in the immatures is redefined.

Sandflies are important vectors of tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis in different countries. This study aimed at analyzing the histomorphological characteristics of digestive and reproductive organs in Lutzomyia wellcomei (Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson) using light microscopy techniques. Thirty females from the rural area of Nísia Floresta, Rio Grande do Norte state were selected, microsectioned and analyzed with an optical microscope using conventional hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results show three well-characterized regions in the digestive tube: the stomodeum, mesentery and proctodeum. The stomodeum is lined internally with a basal and epithelial membrane; the mesentery has a peritrophic matrix formed above the stomodeum lining consisting of the simple cubic epithelium overlapping the conjunctive, also common to a capsule of gonadal lining; and the proctodeum, which structurally resembles the mesentery, but with a pyloric sphincter limiting the posterior midgut. Enveloping the digestive tube is the peritoneal membrane, of mesodermal origin. Richly-detailed internal morphological characteristics of L. wellcomei have widened knowledge of this Leishmania braziliensis (Vianna)-transmitting species, an etiologic agent of American tegumentary leishmaniasis.Características Histomorfológicas de Órgãos da Digestão de Lutzomyia wellcomei Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson (Diptera, Psychodidae)Resumo. Os flebotomíneos se destacam como importantes transmissores das leishmanioses tegumentar e visceral em diferentes países. O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar características histomorfológicas de órgãos da digestão de Lutzomyia wellcomei (Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson) por meio de técnicas de microscopia. Trinta fêmeas provenientes de área rural do município de Nísia Floresta, Rio Grande do Norte foram selecionadas, microseccionadas e analisadas por microscopia ótica. Métodos de coloração histológica por hematoxilina-eosina foram empregados nas análises. Os resultados mostram o trato digestório com as três regiões bem caracterizadas, estomodeo, mesêntero e proctodeo. O estomodeo possui uma membrana basal e uma membrana epitelial que o reveste internamente; o mesêntero possui matriz peritrófica formada acima do revestimento do estomodeo constituído de epitélio cúbico simples sobreposto ao conjuntivo comum também a uma cápsula de revestimento gonadal; e o proctodeo que se assemelha estruturalmente com o mesêntero, possuindo ainda, uma região pilórica limitando o intestino médio do posterior. Envolvendo o tubo digestório, está a membrana peritonial, de origem mesodérmica. As características morfológicas internas, observadas com riqueza de detalhes em L. wellcomei ampliam o conhecimento acerca dessa espécie, transmissora de Leishmania braziliensis (Vianna), agente etiológico de leishmaniose tegumentar americana.

Onchoscelis germari (Boheman) é uma espécie de gorgulho associada com Simarouba amara Aubl. (Simaroubaceae), popularmente conhecida como “caixeta”. Sessenta e três exemplares adultos foram coletados e examinados em laboratório para determinação do dimorfismo sexual. As seguintes diferenças morfológicas foram observadas e ilustradas: 1) rostro, nos machos, mais rugoso, com pontuação maior e mais densa, tricarenado dorsalmente nos 2/3 basais, e revestido por cerdas eretas semelhantes a escamas e que se estendem até perto do meio; rostro, na fêmea, mais liso, com pontuação fina e mais esparsa, apenas a carena mediana distinta, e com revestimento denso mais concentrado na base; 2) inserção da antena, nos machos, mais próxima do ápice; e nas fêmeas mais ou menos no meio do rostro; 3) sulco esternal, nos machos, mais raso e com suas margens laterais apenas indicadas ou ausentes no prosterno; nas fêmeas o sulco é mais profundo e as margens laterais mais acentuadas no prosterno; 4) último tergito abdominal visível e distinto nos machos, enquanto que nas fêmeas é encoberto pelo penúltimo tergito.Sexual Dimorphism in Onchoscelis germari (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)Abstract. Onchoscelis germari (Boheman) is a weevil species associated with Simarouba amara Aubl (Simaroubaceae), commonly named “caixeta”. Sixty three specimens were collected and observed in laboratory for sexual dimorphism differences. The following morphological aspects were observed and illustrated: 1) rostrum of males more rough, coarse and with more dense punctures, tricarinate at the basal 2/3, and covered with erect scales from its base to near middle; rostrum of females smoother, with fine and sparse punctures, only the median longitudinal distinct, and only the base covered by erect scales; 2) males with antenna inserted near the apex of rostrum; and near the middle in females; 3) sternal channel of males flatter, with its lateral margins only indicated or absent in the prosternum; the sternal channel of the females deeper, with its lateral margins more prominent; 4) the eighth abdominal tergite of males visible and distinct; while in the females covered by the seventh abdominal tergite.

Taxonomic identification is essential in the field of forensic entomology. Insects are important in the decomposition of cadavers. The flies are generally attracted to cadavers and one of the most important contributions is to estimate the postmortem interval. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which allows rapid and accurate identification of different species of forensics flies, has been highlighted as it allows better visualization of the external morphology of immature and some adults. The purpose of this study was to examine in details the morphological aspects of sensilla on the antennae of female and male of Xanthacrona bipustulata Wulp using SEM, since many of them could not be observed just by the use of light microscopy.

Tendo em vista o potencial de Phaedon confinis Klug como biocontrolador de Senecio brasiliensis Less e a carência do conhecimento taxonômico das espécies de Phaedon registradas para o Brasil, o trabalho teve como objetivos descrever a larva de 3º instar, bem como acrescentar novos caracteres do adulto e ilustrações para o reconhecimento da espécie. As larvas de P. confinis são eruciformes, subcilíndricas, alongadas e ligeiramente convexas; superfície dorsal marrom-escura e ventral com regiões amareladas mais claras; quatro cerdas na fronte; seis estemas arranjados em três grupos; labro marrom, com quatro pares de cerdas; placa pronotal com dez cerdas; região pleural do protórax com tubérculo T; meso- e metatórax com tubérculos Dai e Dae aproximados, mas não fusionados, e tubérculos Es-Ss fusionados entre si e pela linha mediana; garras tarsais simples; abdômen com tubérculo Dae ausente e Dai presente e pouco pronunciado; tubérculos abdominais com duas cerdas em Dpi e Dpe. Adulto com corpo oval e convexo dorsalmente; pronoto e élitros glabros; coloração predominante azul violeta metálica; margens laterais do pronoto arredondadas, castanho-amareladas com mácula central azul-metálica; estrias elitrais com pontuações profundas e ordenadas em oito fileiras longitudinais; regiões castanho-amareladas na cabeça, protórax e pernas; cabeça com duas pequenas máculas pretas ovais, posteriores aos olhos na região do vértice.Description of the 3rd Instar Larva and Characters of Adult Phaedon confinis Klug (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)Abstract. In view of the potential of Phaedon confinis Klug as an biological control agent of the Senecio brasiliensis Less and the lack of taxonomic knowledge of the species Phaedon recorded for Brazil, this paper aimed to describe the 3rd larval instar, redescribe the adult, as well as add new characters and illustrations to acknowledgment of the specie. The P. confinis larvae are eruciform, subcylindrical, elongated and slightly convex; dorsal surface dark brown and ventral surface with yellowish lighter regions; four setae in the front; six stemmata arranged in three groups; brown labrum, with four pairs of setae, pronotal plate with ten setae; pleural region of prothorax with tubercle T; meso- and metathorax with tubercles Dai and Dae close, but not fused, and tubercles Es-Ss fused between themselves by midline; simple tarsal claws; abdomen with tubercle Dae absent and Dai present, little pronounced; abdominal tubercles with two setae in Dpi and Dpe. Adult has oval body and dorsally convex; pronotum and elytral glabrous; predominant colour blue metallic violet; lateral margins of pronotum rounded, yellowish brown with central macula metallic blue, elytral striae with deep punctuation and arranged in eight longitudinal rows; yellowish brown regions on the head, prothorax and legs; head with two small oval black maculae, posterior to the eyes in vertex region.

Sandflies are important vectors of tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis in different countries. This study aimed at analyzing the histomorphological characteristics of digestive and reproductive organs in Lutzomyia wellcomei (Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson) using light microscopy techniques. Thirty females from the rural area of Nísia Floresta, Rio Grande do Norte state were selected, microsectioned and analyzed with an optical microscope using conventional hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results show three well-characterized regions in the digestive tube: the stomodeum, mesentery and proctodeum. The stomodeum is lined internally with a basal and epithelial membrane; the mesentery has a peritrophic matrix formed above the stomodeum lining consisting of the simple cubic epithelium overlapping the conjunctive, also common to a capsule of gonadal lining; and the proctodeum, which structurally resembles the mesentery, but with a pyloric sphincter limiting the posterior midgut. Enveloping the digestive tube is the peritoneal membrane, of mesodermal origin. Richly-detailed internal morphological characteristics of L. wellcomei have widened knowledge of this Leishmania braziliensis (Vianna)-transmitting species, an etiologic agent of American tegumentary leishmaniasis.

Abstract. Piophila casei (Linneus), known as the cheese skipper fly, is a sarcosaprophagous dipteran, meaning it has a wide range of feeding habits: proteins, decaying animal and vegetable matter, and feces. The biological aspects of P. casei are relevant to several fields, including forensic entomology and human and veterinary medicine. This work presents the ultrastructure characteristics of P. casei, compares the structures present during its development using light microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and reports the development time of eggs, larvae and pupae under controlled laboratory conditions (23°C, 60% relative humidity and 12 h of light). Colony of adults previously maintained in the laboratory (third generation) was used in this study. The morphology of the insect and of structures such as the cephalopharyngeal skeleton, the anterior and posterior spiracles and the structures and organs of the head, thorax and abdomen of the first, second and third instar larvae were characterized. The total development time of the egg from laying until the emergence of the adult was 448 hours (18.66 days); this included 8 hours for embrionary development, 248 hours for larval development and 192 hours for pupal development.Ultraestrutura e tempo de desenvolvimento de estágios imaturos de Piophila casei (Linneus)Resumo. Piophila casei (Linneus), conhecida como “cheese skipper fly”, é uma mosca sarcosaprófaga, possui habito alimentar diverso. Pode alimentar-se de proteínas diversas, matéria animal e vegetal em decomposição e fezes. Os aspectos biológicos de P. casei são relevantes principalmente para a entomologia forense, medicina humana e veterinária. Este trabalho apresenta características da ultraestrutura de P. casei, comparando as estruturas dos três instares larvais do desenvolvimento, utilizando microscopias de luz e eletrônica de varredura (MEV), além de descrever o tempo de desenvolvimento de ovos, larvas e pupa sob condições controladas de laboratório (23 °C, 60% humidade relativa e 12 h de luz). A morfologia geral do inseto e estruturas como o esqueleto cefalofaríngeo, os espiráculos anterior e posterior,  as estruturas e órgãos da cabeça, tórax e abdômen da larva de primeiro, segundo e terceiro instares foram caracterizadas. O tempo total de desenvolvimento de ovo até a emergência do adulto foi de 448 horas (18,66 dias), sendo 8 horas para desenvolvimento embrionário, 248 horas para desenvolvimento larval e 192 horas para desenvolvimento pupal.