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a b s t r a c tDespite the familiarity and economic significance of Coccinellidae, the family has thus far escaped analysis by rigorous phylogenetic methods. As a result, the internal classification remains unstable and there is no framework with which to interpret evolutionary events within the family. Coccinellids exhibit a wide range of preferred food types spanning kingdoms, and trophic levels. To provide an evolutionary perspective on coccinellid feeding preferences, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of 62 taxa based on the ribosomal nuclear genes 18S and 28S. The entire dataset consists of 3957 aligned nucleotide sites, 787 of which are parsimony informative. Bayesian and parsimony analyses were performed. Host preferences were mapped onto the Bayesian tree to infer food preference transitions. Our results indicate that the ancestral feeding condition for Coccinellidae is coccidophagy. From the ancestral condition, there have been at least three transitions to aphidophagy and one transition to leaf-eating phytophagy. A second transition to leaf-eating phytophagy arose within an aphidophagous/pollinivorous clade. The mycophagous condition in Halyziini originated from aphidophagy. Our findings suggest that polyphagy served as an evolutionary stepping stone for primarily predaceous groups to adopt new feeding habits. The analyses recovered a clade comprising Serangiini plus Microweiseini as the sister group to the rest of Coccinellidae. The subfamilies Coccinellinae and Epilachninae are monophyletic; however, Sticholotidinae, Chilocorinae, Scymninae, and Coccidulinae are paraphyletic. Our results do not support the traditional view of phylogenetic relationships among the coccinellid subfamilies. These results indicate that the current classification system poorly reflects the evolution of Coccinellidae and therefore requires revision.

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The coccinellid Tenuisvalvae notata (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been observed recently in association with the striped mealybug Ferrisia virgata Cockerell (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and the false cochineal scale Dactylopius opuntiae Cockerell (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) in the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Brazil. The latter species are important pests of cotton and prickly pear, respectively. In this study, we tested the two scale insects as prey for T. notata. In addition, eggs of Anagasta kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were tested as possible alternative prey for rearing T. notata. In this work, the survivorship, reproduction, and predation of T. notata were investigated. The coccinellid T. notata was able to complete development only on F. virgata with 83% larval and pupal viability. Females of T. notata fed F. virgata produced 7.6 eggs a day with an eclosion rate of 61.9%. No oviposition occurred while feeding on A. kuehniella eggs. The highest consumption rate of F. virgata occurred during the last larval instar. Our results support the use of T. notata as an agent for the biological control of F. virgata, a highly polyphagous pest worldwide.

Resumo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi registrar a predação de sementes de Syagrus coronata (Martius) (Arecaceae) por larvas de Pachymerus nucleorum (Fabricius), no município de Caetés, Pernambuco nordeste do Brasil. Os frutos foram coletadas de 10 plantas adultas de Syagrus coronata (Arecaceae) no entorno da usina experimental de biodiesel de Caetés-PE, após a definição de um raio de 1,5 m ao redor da copa, esta foi dividida em quatro quadrantes, e através de sorteio, foi colocado um coletor no quadrante vencedor a 1m da estipe. Na análise os frutos com orifício de saída e/ou pela presença da larva no processo de liberação da amêndoa, o nível de infestação alcançou 80% dos frutos analisados. Em outra situação amêndoas aparentemente sadias, ou seja, sem danos superficiais foram observadas diariamente por 60 dias as quais, ocorreram 18% de emergência de larvas até os 41dias, atingindo o pico da predação entre o décimo e o décimo oitavo dia, com 48% de toda predação. Abstract. The aim of the present study was to observe seed predation by larvae of Pachymerus nucleorum (Fabricius) on seeds of Syagrus coronata (Martius) (Arecaceae) in Caetés, Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. Fruits of 10 adult plants of S. coronata were collected in the surroundings of the experimental biodiesel plant of Caetés. The projection of the crown within 1.5 m from the stipe was devided into four quadrants, one of which was randomly selected for sampling. In the first analysis of the larvae presence or their holes of emergence, the infestation level reached 80% of the analyzed fruits. In an another situation, apparently uninfested fruits (without superficial damage) were daily observed for 60 days, occurring 18% of larvae emergence within 41 days, with the peak of predation between the tenth and the eighteenth day, period in which 48% of total predation was observed. PalavrasKeywords: Coconut bug; Palm; Predation; Syagrus coronata. _____________________________________icuri (Syagrus coronata) (Martius) Beccari, pertence à família Arecaceae (Noblick 1991). Palmeira típica do semiárido nordestino, a espécie tem uma boa adaptação às regiões secas da caatinga, abrangendo o norte de Minas Gerais, ocupando toda a porção oriental e central da Bahia, até o sul de Pernambuco, incluindo também os Estados de Sergipe e Alagoas (Noblick 1991), sendo conhecida ainda por aricuri, nicuri, alicuri e ouricuri.A frutificação de S. coronata começa seis anos após o plantio. A produção média anual em um hectare nativo de licuri é de 2.000 Kg de frutos. Nos anos de pluviosidade abaixo da média, a produção diminui, porém sempre ocorre de maneira satisfatória. No entanto, em um licurizal bem plantado e bem cultivado, a produção não deverá ser inferior a 4.000 Kg.ha A propagação de S. coronata é feita exclusivamente de forma sexuada. Como a maioria das espécies de palmeiras, o licuri apresenta dificuldades para germinar, mesmo sob condições adequadas (cuNha & JarDim 1995).Além de (rufiNo et al. 2008) que aplicaram um questionário em comunidades da Bahia e descobriram...

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Species of the genus Phaenochilus are reviewed, keyed, and illustrated, and an annotated checklist provided. A newspecies, Phaenochilus kashaya n. sp., is described from Thailand. This species feeds on an invasive pest of cycads, thecycad aulacaspis scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Diaspididae). The economic importance of cycads and cycad aulacaspis scale is discussed. A taxonomic history of Phaenochilus is provided.