Triatoma ryckmani Zeledón & Ponce, 1972 is a species found in sylvatic habitat at Central America. Considered rare in the past and poorly studied, nowadays can be found inside houses with potential of dispersal and colonization. All five instars of T. ryckmani are described based on optical and scanning electron microscopy. The postembryonic development of the head analyzed by ontogenetic morphometry showed the largest changes occur in the first three instars. Information about morphology of the immature stages of disease vectors can be helpful in the identification process increasing speed and efficiency of control strategies.

The environmental monitoring programs used to assess the quality of the habitats are often common to insects, mainly as frugivorous butterflies, as easily accessible biological indicators. These have ample availability of information, an easy to perform and low cost study method, in addition to responding easily to environmental changes, making it an efficient tool in environmental diagnosis. The way or objective of this work was to inventory as frugivorous butterflies in two different points, edge and center of an urban fragment belonging to the Universidade Federal de Rondonópolis, state of Mato Grosso, using as an environmental indicator. As a hypothesis, it was believed to detect differences in species richness, the amount of composition and composition between two areas. A sampling was carried out between the months of February and May 2019, using 10 Van Someren-Rydon weapons, of which six were distributed at the edges and four in the center (interior) of the fragment. Take place as trapped collections once a week lasting three days at each event. 105 individuals belonging to nine species of Nymphalidae were captured, respectively, as subfamilies: Biblidinae (71), Satyrinae (31) and Charaxinae (03). There was no significant difference between species richness, quantity and composition in the edge area and in the center of the fragment.

The objectives of this study were to carry out a survey of families of Hymenoptera, with emphasis on Ichneumonidae, in an area of Caatinga, and register the occurrence of new species, if any, for the biome. Samples were taken with Malaise traps between September and November 2008 in a native area of vegetation of Serra do Lima, municipality of Patu, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. 7,562 hymenopterans, from 11 superfamilies and 31 families, were collected. The most abundant superfamilies were: Chalcidoidea (2,887 specimens / 38.33% of the total), Platygastroidea (1,572 / 20.87%) and Vespoidea (1,131 / 15.02%) which constituted more than 70% of the captured hymenopterans. A total of 160 specimens of Ichneumonidae from 17 subfamilies were sampled, of which four are new records for Rio Grande do Norte: (Lycorininae, Nesomesochorinae, Phygadeuontinae and Tryphoninae). Altogether, 26 genera were recognized, with 16 new records for the state. Cryptophion espinozai Gauld & Janzen (Campopleginae) and Labena marginata Szépligeti (Labeninae) were registered for the first time in Caatinga. The obtained data demonstrate a considerable diversity of the studied groups in this area and also affirms the necessity of additional studies to establish the richness of this fauna in a more extensive and conclusive way.

Anopheles darlingi Root and Anopheles aquasalis Curry are the main vectors of malaria that occur in the State of Maranhão. Entomological surveys based on the behavior and infectivity of these vectors are important for the elaboration of disease control strategies. The objectives of this work were to study the behavioral patterns of mosquitoes, determining population and hematophagic peaks, dietary preferences, infectivity rate and characterization of breeding sites in two municipalities in the State of Maranhão: Buriticupu and São José of Ribamar. Larvae and pupae were collected in breeding sites and adult females in home environments. Mosquito behavior, their dietary preferences and Plasmodium spp infection rates were analyzed. The vegetation and physicochemical patterns in the breeding sites found are in agreement with those described for species from the Amazon region and the Brazilian Atlantic coast. Anopheles darlingi was the most prevalent mosquito in Buriticupu breeding and home environments. This species was found mainly fed on human blood and naturally infected with Plasmodium vivax Grassi & Feletti and Plasmodium falciparum Welch. Anopheles aquasalis was more frequent in breeding sites in São José de Ribamar, as well as in home environments, whose specimens were mainly fed with human and bird blood. The main peaks of mosquito occurrence in Buriticupu were between 6 pm to 9 pm and in São José de Ribamar we did not record a definite peak. In the first municipality A. darlingi showed dominance over Anopheles albitarsis Lynch Arribálzaga s.l., Anopheles oswaldoi Peryassú, Anopheles nuneztovari Gabaldón and Anopheles evansae Brèthes,, besides presenting a correlation with rainfall. In the second municipality, A. aquasalis was dominant over A. albitarsis s.l. and there was a correlation between these two species and the rainy season. We conclude that the collected data contribute to elucidate the dynamics of malaria transmission in the region and guide the control actions directed to the elimination of the disease in the country.

Social insects use different strategies to defend their colonies, including camouflage. In order to expand knowledge, regarding the strategy of camouflage in social wasps, information is presented on the camouflage pattern of the species: Parachartergus smithii (De Saussure), Parachartergus wagneri Du Buysson, Chartergellus communis Richards, Metapolybia cingulata (Fabricius) and Mischocyttarus anthracinus Richards.These species are uncommon in inventory studies in Brazil. Records occur in different Conservation Units, between 2011 and 2019, in the Minas Gerais State, Brazil Southeastern. Camouflage seems to be the main defense strategy for these species, due to the color and shape of their nests in line with the substrate, as well as their docile behavior. The exception is Metapolybia cingulata, which in addition to camouflage shows aggressive behavior in some situations, which suggests the use of different strategies in the colony defense.

Elio Corseuil (20/07/1930-26/07/2020)

Abstract. Scarabaeids are economically very important due to their provision of several environmental services, in particular to cattle rearing, because they are highly active in the decomposition of cattle feces in pasture environments. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the season of dung beetle occurrence, and the effect of weather on their abundance and species richness in different environments. A total of 44,355 adults were captured: 105 samples in each of three different environments (agroecosystem, pasture and native forest), adding 315 samples for two consecutive years (November 2005 to November 2007). Fifty-three species were found in that three environments,being 51 of Scarabaeidae, including two subspecies of Dichotomius, and two of Hybosoridae: Coilodes humeralis (Mannerheim) and Coilodes sp.1. We verified a correlation between temperature and rainfall and the occurrence of Scarabaeidae species associated with bovine feces. The species with highest population levels were:Labarrus pseudolividus Balthasar in the pasture, and Ataenius platensis (Blanchard) in both: agroecosystem and native semi-deciduous forest. There was a positive correlation between higher temperature and rainfall with an increase in the abundance of adult dung beetles in the environments. The number of adults caught and species richness of dung beetles was significantly greater in the pasture when temperature and rainfall were higher. The combined analysis of the three environments showed that from Oct to Dec, when temperature and precipitation were highest, there was a significant increase in the capture of dung beetles in the traps in comparison to the period from Apr to Jul (coldest season). Esquemas populacionais dos escaravelhos (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) em três ambientes no Centro-Oeste do Brasil Resumo. Scarabeídeos são economicamente muito importantes devido à pestação de vários serviços ambientais, em especial para bovinocultura, porque atuam fortemente na decomposição de fezes bovinas em ambientes de pastagem. Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram avaliar as épocas de ocorrência das espécies de besouros “rola bosta” e o efeito do clima sobre a abundância e riqueza de suas espécies em diferentes ambientes. Um total de 44.355 adultos foram capturados: 105 amostras em cada um dos diferentes ambientes (agroecossistema, pastagem e floresta nativa), somando 315 amostras durante dois anos consecutivos (novembro de 2005 a novembro de 2007). Cinquenta e três espécies foram encontradas nos três ambientes durante dois anos de amostragem, 51 de Scarabaeidae (incluindo duas subespécies de Dichotomius) e duas espécies de Hybosoridae: Coilodes humeralis (Mannerheim) e Coilodes sp.1. Houve correlação entre a temperatura e as chuvas com as épocas de ocorrência das espécies Scarabaeidae associadas com fezes bovinas. As espécies com níveis populacionais mais elevados foram: Labarrus pseudolividus Balthasar na pastagem e Ataenius platensis (Blanchard) em ambos: agroecossistema e floresta nativa semidecídua. Existe uma correlação positiva entre temperaturas mais elevadas e chuvas com aumento na captura dos “rola bosta” em armadilhas. O número de adultos capturados e a riqueza em espécies dos “rola bosta” capturados foi significativamente superior quando a temperatura e a pluviosidade foram mais altas. A análise combinada dos três ambientes mostrou que de outubro a dezembro, quando a temperatura e a precipitação foram mais elevadas, houve um aumento significativo na captura destes besouros nas armadilhas.

Abstract. We record, for the first time, the presence of Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in the Rio de Janeiro state, in an apiary constituted by 36 honeybee hives Apis mellifera L. No eggs or larvae of A. tumida were found, only adults. Since this is the second Brazilian state to record an infestation of small hive beetles, the responsible institutions and beekeepers on each federative unit must stay aware of this in order to prevent or retard their spreading. Notas sobre Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) em apiário no estado do Rio de Janeiro Resumo. Foi notificada pela primeira vez a presença de Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidade) no estado do Rio de Janeiro em um apiário formado por 36 colmeias de abelhas Apis mellifera L. Não foi constatado presença de ovos ou larvas de A. tumida, somente adultos. Por ser o segundo estado do país a relatar ocorrência de uma espécie exótica considerada uma praga em criações de abelhas do gênero Apis em outros países e por deter pouco conhecimento sobre o impacto desse invasor na apicultura nacional, os órgãos competentes em cada unidade federativa deverão ficar atentos e montar estratégias de prevenção e vigilância, a fim controlar e/ou erradicar A. tumida em solo brasileiro.