. Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw, 1802) is an invasive anuran introduced in Brazil that is associated with the displacement and the decline of populations of native species worldwide. There is evidence that biological invasions are facilitated by certain attributes of the invading species, for instance niche breath, and that invasive species have a broader ecological niche with respect to native ones. We designed a study to ascertain the temporal, ontogenetic, and sex differences in the niche dynamics of the American bullfrog. We sampled monthly from June 2008 to May 2009 in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. For each individual, we gathered biometric and stomach content data. We then estimated the niche breath of the juveniles and adults, and compared it between the sexes. A total of 104 females and 77 males were sampled. Lithobates catesbeianus has a generalist diet, preying upon invertebrates and vertebrates. Even though the diet of the studied population varied seasonally, it did not differ between the sexes nor did it respond to biometric variables. Niche breadth was more restricted in the winter than in the autumn. The trophic niche of juveniles and adults did not overlap much when compared with the trophic niche overlap between males and females. Adult males and females had a considerable niche overlap, but females had a broader trophic niche than males in the winter and in the spring. These niche characteristics point to an opportunistic predation strategy that may have facilitated the process of invasion and establishment of this species in the study area.

Operclipygus hospes (Lewis) is reported as a new record of Histeridae associated with buried bodies in the Neotropical region. It is also suggested that O. hospes has an important role in forensic entomology as a seasonal indicator. To assist in the recognition and the use of this species in forensic entomology, diagnosis and illustrations of the main characters of the genus and species are provided.

Histeridae is a group of beetles with diverse morphology known as generalist predators and which occurs in a wide variety of habitats. The objective of this paper was to present the first list of Histeridae from the Campos Gerais region (Parques Estaduais de Vila Velha, do Cerrado, e do Cânion Guartelá) and provide information about species from protected areas in the state of Paraná. Also were provided appropriate collecting methods for the group. The Histeridae from Campos Gerais are represented by 29 species belonging to eight genera: Haeteriinae sp. (Erichson, 1834)) foram registrados pela primeira vez para os Campos Gerais. A fauna de Histeridae se mostrou diversa quando comparada a levantamentos em outras formações vegetacionais. Entretanto, a maioria das espécies não demonstra uma seleção de hábitat para áreas abertas. Considerando a perda de habitat ocorrida nos Campos Gerais, salienta-se a importância dos levantamentos faunísticos através de métodos apropriados e listagens regionais de Coleoptera para o conhecimento da biodiversidade. Palavras-chave : biodiversidade, histeroidea, insecta, região Neotropical, América do Sul.

ABSTRACT. Identification key and diagnosis of forensic interest Histeridae (Insecta: Coleoptera) from Brazil. The histerid species are mostly predator and can be found in different environments. Among the groups associated with carcasses, some are reported as relevant in medicolegal entomology. However, the Histeridae taxonomic data is poorly known, especially in the Neotropics. The aim were to elaborate an identification key and provide diagnosis of the Histeridae species with forensic interest from Brazil. Also, the distribution and biological data of the species were added. KeywoRdS. Histerids, medicolegal entomology, Neotropical, taxonomy.ReSUMo. As espécies de Histeridae são quase que exclusivamente predadoras e podem ser encontradas em uma grande diversidade de ambientes. Dentre os grupos associados a carcaças, alguns são citados como relevantes na entomologia forense médico-legal. Entretanto, há pouca informação taxonômica para a família, principalmente na Região Neotropical. Desta forma, os objetivos do trabalho foram elaborar uma chave de identificação e caracterizar as espécies de Histeridae de interesse médico-legal no Brasil. Além disso, são apresentadas informações de distribuição geográfica e aspectos biológicos das espécies. As seguintes espécies são registradas como relevantes na entomologia forense no Brasil: Aeletes nicolasi Leivas,

Os Hexapoda (Insecta e Entognatha) têm sido utilizados como bioindicadores nas distintas áreas de atuação da Entomologia,tais como agrícola, médica-veterinária, forense e na biologia da conservação. Esta última detém grande parte dos estudos e aplicabilidade dos hexápodes como indicadores biológicos em ambientes terrestres e aquáticos. Os últimos anos apresentaram avanços significativos no uso desse grupo como bioindicadores, uma vez que foram subsidiados por aprimoramento de ferramentas estatísticas, aumento no número de grupos de pesquisa, coleções entomológicas e uso de abordagens com diferentes níveis taxonômicos. Concomitantemente, esses avanços têm propiciado maior contribuição no desenvolvimento acadêmico, social e econômico, o que a torna uma ferramenta eficaz na elaboração de políticas públicas e estratégias econômicas. Apesar da aplicabilidade efetiva dos hexápodes como bioindicadores, ainda existem dificuldades que limitam ou impossibilitam conclusões mais robustas quanto ao seu uso, como carência sobre o conhecimento da biodiversidade tropical e história natural das espécies. Essas barreiras representam os principais desafios a serem superados nos próximos anos.

According to the current Histeridae classification, Omalodini is composed of 100 species described in 12 genera distributed in the Neotropical, Afrotropical, Marseul; Theropatina Mazur. Our aims were to test the monophyly of Omalodini, using cladistic analysis, and propose a hypothesis of the phylogeny of the tribe. The matrix was composed of 49 terminal taxa (34 from the ingroup and 15 from the outgroup) and 131 characters of the adult morphology. The data were analysed under equal weights and implied weights. In both analyses, Omalodini represents a polyphyletic group and the trees obtained from equal weights analysis (two most parsimonious trees) were chosen in order to recover the tribe's monophyly. We recognize three lineages in Omalodini: Ebonius, undescribed genus and Omalodes, being supported by six transformations (Ebonius + (undescribed genus + Omalodes)). The sister group of Omalodini was defined as a clade composed of Histerini, Platysomatini and Hololeptini. The subgenera of Omalodes were not resolved consistently under different implied weight analyses. It is necessary to emphasize that Omalodes (Omalodes) comprises the largest group of Omalodini and requires an analysis with better sampling for more precise resolution of the internal phylogeny of the genus. The groups excluded a posteriori from Omalodini, Theropatina, Asolenus, Atribalus, Blypotehus, Lewisister, Notolister, Perfidolenus, Rhypochares, Sphyracus and Scapomegas, could not be allocated to any of the existing tribes of Histerinae.

ResumoOs invertebrados terrestres que participam ativamente na formação do solo podem ser utilizados como indicadores de perturbação ambiental. Assim, objetivou-se realizar uma avaliação da composição da fauna de invertebrados terrestres, em uma área rural, no município de Campina Grande do Sul. As coletas foram realizadas em um fragmento de Floresta com Araucária, com dois pontos amostrais estruturalmente diferenciados, através de armadilhas pitfall. Foram capturados 1776 invertebrados, pertencentes aos fi los Arthropoda, Annelida, Mollusca e Plathyhelminthes, sendo Arthropoda e Hexapoda os grupos mais representativos. Dentro dos Hexapoda, onze ordens foram registradas, destas, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Collembola e Diptera foram as mais abundantes. O fragmento estudado, embora esteja em recuperação há cerca de 10 anos após interferência antrópica de aproximadamente 40 anos e, todavia, ser rodeado de áreas utilizadas para agropecuária, agricultura e estradas, comporta diferentes grupos de invertebrados terrestres de níveis trófi cos abrangentes, sendo importantes para a estrutura espacial e a composição da serrapilheira do fragmento. Unitermos: Arthropoda, fl oresta com araucária, fragmento, pitfall AbstractEvaluation of the composition of terrestrial invertebrates in a rural area of Campina Grande do Sul, Paraná, Brazil. The terrestrial invertebrates participate actively in the formation of the soil, and can be utilized as bioindicators of environmental disturbance. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the fauna composition of terrestrial invertebrates, in a rural area of Campina Grande do Sul. The collection was carried out in a single fragment of Araucária Forest, with structurally differentiated two-point samplings, through pitfall traps. A total of 1,776 invertebrates was captured, pertaining to Arthropoda, Annelida, Mollusca and Plathyhelminthes phyla, of which Arthropoda and Hexapoda were the most representative groups. In Hexapoda, eleven orders were registered, and of those, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Collembola and Diptera were the most abundant. Although the studied fragment had been under recuperation for about 10 years after approximately 40 years of antropic interference, and was therefore surrounded by areas utilized for farming, agriculture and highways, it contained different groups of terrestrial invertebrates on wide-ranging thropic levels, which were important for the spatial structure and the composition of litterfall of the fragment.

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