Abstract.Here we present new geographical records for Probethylus callani Richards, 1939 and Probethylus schwarzi Ashmead, 1902 in Brazil.

Resumo. A partir de coletas realizadas com armadilhas Malaise em três fragmentos de Caatinga com diferentes níveis de degradação antrópica localizados em Jequié, Bahia, entre abril de 2005 e julho de 2007 foram obtidos 1.087 exemplares de Ichneumonidae, de 17 subfamílias. Constatou-se que ambiente com maior número de exemplares coletados foi o Remanescente de Caatinga (RC) (494 exemplares/45,4% do total), seguido por Agroecossistemas (AE) (399/36,8%) e Borda do Pasto (BP) (194/17,8%). Cremastinae e Cryptinae foram as subfamílias mais numerosas nas áreas estudadas e, conjuntamente, representaram 50,6% do material coletado. A diversidade de subfamílias foi bastante semelhante nas áreas amostradas. Como resultados deste estudo 18 subfamílias e 36 gêneros de Ichneumonidae tem ocorrência registrada para o bioma Caatinga dentre os quais oito subfamílias e 23 gêneros de Ichneumonidae foram registradas para o estado da Bahia. Duas espécies foram identificadas, Neotheronia lineata (Fabricius) (Pimplinae) e Joppocryptus occiputalis (Cresson) (novo registro para Bahia), entretanto, apesar dos esforços, são necessários mais estudos para a melhor compreensão da diversidade dos Ichneumonidae da Caatinga.Fauna of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) in Caatinga areas of Southwestern Bahia, BrazilAbstract. Between April 2005 and July 2007, 1,087 specimens of Ichneumonidae from 17 subfamilies were obtained from samples performed with Malaise traps in three Caatinga fragments with different levels of anthropogenic degradation located in Jequié, Bahia,  Brazil. It was found that the environment with the largest number of specimens collected was the Caatinga Remnant (CR) (494 specimens / 45.4% of the total), followed by Agroecosystems (AE) (399 / 36.8%) and Pasture Border ( PB) (194 / 17.8%). Cremastinae and Cryptinae were the most numerous subfamilies in the studied areas and together represented 50.6% of the collected material. The diversity of subfamilies was quite similar in the sampled areas. As a result of this study 18 subfamilies and 36 genera of Ichneumonidae have been recorded for the Caatinga biome among which eight subfamilies and 24 genera of Ichneumonidae were recorded for the state of Bahia. Two species were identified, Neotheronia lineata (Fabricius) (Pimplinae) and Joppocryptus occiputalis (Cresson) (new record for Bahia). However, despite efforts, further studies are needed to better understand the diversity of Ichneumonidae fauna in Caatinga biome.

Melipona mandacaia is a stingless bee endemic to northeast Brasil. We describe the M. mandacaia karyotype using C-banding technique. fluorochrome staining and treatment with restriction enzymes and discuss the position of this species in the context of the phylogeny of the genus. Melipona mandacaia has 2n = 18 (14 SM + 2 M + 2 A). Heterochromatin was detected in the pericentromeric region of pairs 1, 2 and 8 and in the form of small blocks in the remaining pairs. Staining with base-specific fluorochromes showed that this heterochromatin was rich AT (QM and DAPI), except in the region corresponding to the NOR which was rich GC (CMA3) and was cleaved by the HaeIII enzyme. Melipona mandacaia is a member of Group I Melipona. Treatment with DraI/Giemsa discloses a larger number of bands than treatment with DraI/QM. Pre-cleavage with DraI gave rise to a larger number of bands following QM staining; a circumstance evidently due to a removal of the DNA-protein complex that prevented the association of the fluorochrome with AT-rich DNA. The results highlight the complex nature of heterochromatin.

No abstract

Although many species of the genus Trigona have been taxonomically described, cytogenetic studies of these species are still rare. The aim of the present study was to obtain cytogenetic data by conventional staining, C banding and fluorochrome staining for the karyotype characterization of the species Trigona fulviventris. Cytogenetic analysis revealed that this species possesses a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 32, different from most other species of this genus studied so far. This variation was probably due to the centric fusion in a higher numbered ancestral karyotype, this fusion producing the large metacentric chromosome pair and the lower chromosome number observed in Trigona fulviventris. Heterochromatin was detected in the pericentromeric region of the first chromosome pair and in one of the arms of the remaining pairs. Base-specific fluorochrome staining with 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) showed that the heterochromatin was rich in AT base pairs (DAPI + ) except for pair 13, which was chromomycin A 3 (CMA 3 ) positive indicating an excess of GC base pairs. Our data also suggests that there was variation in heterochromatin base composition.