Tropical forests are among the most biodiverse biomes on the planet. Nevertheless, quantifying the abundance and species richness within megadiverse groups is a significant challenge. We designed a study to address this challenge by documenting the variability of the insect fauna across a vertical canopy gradient in a Central Amazonian tropical forest. Insects were sampled over two weeks using 6-m Gressitt-style Malaise traps set at five heights (0 m–32 m–8 m intervals) on a metal tower in a tropical forest north of Manaus, Brazil. The traps contained 37,778 specimens of 18 orders of insects. Using simulation approaches and nonparametric analyses, we interpreted the abundance and richness of insects along this gradient. Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Coleoptera had their greatest abundance at the ground level, whereas Lepidoptera and Hemiptera were more abundant in the upper levels of the canopy. We identified species of 38 of the 56 families of Diptera, finding that 527 out of 856 species (61.6%) were not sampled at the ground level. Mycetophilidae, Tipulidae, and Phoridae were significantly more diverse and/or abundant at the ground level, while Tachinidae, Dolichopodidae, and Lauxaniidae were more diverse or abundant at upper levels. Our study suggests the need for a careful discussion of strategies of tropical forest conservation based on a much more complete understanding of the three-dimensional distribution of its insect diversity.

The aim of this work was to study the diet of Hemidactylus frenatus in an urban area of Colombian Caribbean region. Twenty five specimens were captured on human edifications at the Sincelejo municipality (Sucre). After dissection and analysis of the stomach content, we identify 12 prey groups being Hemiptera the item with the highest importance value index (IVI = 152.7). The data shows a generalist and opportunistic feeding pattern, feeding mainly on arthropods.

This work represents the first report of host-parasite associations between flies of the family

Measuring species richness of tropical forests is a major challenge. Such measurement is a key information in many senses, from an evolutionary perspective to conservation of threatened, fragile habitats. Data has gradually shown that the canopy of tropical forest is a hugely complex component of the forest, but a precise assessment of the diversity of megadiverse groups in the canopy is still wanting. We collected large samples of insects were along a period of two weeks using 6-meter Gressitt-style Malaise traps set at five heights on a metal tower in a tropical forest north of Manaus—one trap at the ground level, one trap above the canopy (32 m) and three traps at intermediate levels (8, 16 and 24 m). The samples contained 37,778 specimens belonging to 18 order of insects. Fifty-seven families of flies (Diptera) were found, 39 of which were identified to 368 genera and 856 species. The species of these 39 families of flies fit into eight patterns of vertical distribution of abundance and species richness of the fauna, with patterns of one or two peaks of species at different levels. A total of 527 (61.6%) of the 856 fly species recognized in the samples were not collected at the ground level. The canopy-associated species of Diptera showed a high species richness and a relatively low abundance indicating that they represent vulnerable components of tropical diversity. The biology of the flies families and genera we collected in the canopy suggest that the evolution of flies went through a unique process: independent clades of Diptera explored in different ways the resources originated along the very evolution of the angiosperm forest canopy along the early Cenozoic. Unlike other primarily phytophagous groups of insects, flies radiated into a large array of biologies associated with the canopies: parasitoids, hematophagous, phytosaprophagous, kleptoparasites, sap feeders, gall-makers etc. The results only stress the need of additional strategies to protect this diversity.

Sexual dimorphism in pupae of Hylesia continua, is presented. The length and width are higher in females than males. The genital opening is between the eighth and ninth abdominal segments in females and in the ninth in males. Two cases of lepidopterism caused by this species are also reported.

Trichodischia Bigot, 1885 is a Neotropical genus with a confusing taxonomic history. This was initially composed of two species: T. caerulea Bigot, 1885 and T. soror Bigot, 1885. Later, the genus Trichoraea Cortés, 1974 was erected for T. caerulea. When reviewing the taxonomic history of both species, we discovered that both genera have been considered synonymous based on erroneous information and without a formal synonymy being proposed. Herein, we redescribed T. soror, provide images of adults and describe the male terminalia for the first time. In addition, by examining the type material, we propose Trichoraea as a junior synonym of Trichodischia, syn. nov., confirm T. caerulea comb. rest. and T. soror as valid species and provide some comments about the taxonomy and host record of the genus.

No abstract

The life history traits of blow fly Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) was studied under semi-controlled laboratory conditions at 29.14°C temperature, 72.53% relative humidity, and 12-h photoperiod. The raw data were analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table, considering the development rates among individuals of both sexes. Cochliomyia macellaria survival rate was 0.43 (♂) and 0.40 (♀), while life expectancy was 17.9 (♂) and 20.9 (♀) days, for adult males and females, respectively. The total fecundity was 681.15 eggs/female, with an average of 3.65 batches/female and 199 eggs/batch. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0.327 days, the finite rate of population increase (λ) was 3.35 days, the mean generation time (T) was 17.15 days, and the net reproduction rate (R ) was 272.46 offspring/individual. The population parameters found here corroborates that C. macellaria population act as a r selected species under laboratory conditions. Additionally, development data and accumulated degree days (ADD) for each stage of C. macellaria are provided and its implications for the forensic use are discussed.