The Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a biological control agent that also may adversely impact other coccinellid species. Life table parameters were used to assess the population growth potential and the effects of interspecific competition between the invasive lady beetle H. axyridis and the native coccinellids Hippodamia convergens and Cycloneda sanguinea (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) under laboratory conditions at 25 °C, using Schizaphis graminum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) as prey. The effects of the abiotic factors air temperature and humidity on these coccinellids by conducting a survey in a sorghum crop under average conditions of 18.1 °C and 53.5%, respectively, were also assessed. Fecundity was higher in C. sanguinea (1021.0 eggs per female) and H. axyridis (1029.2 eggs per female) than in H. convergens (484.5 eggs per female). The majority of the life table parameters showed no significant differences. The instantaneous rates of population increase (rm) of C. sanguinea, H. axyridis, and H. convergens were 0.195, 0.198, and 0.194 d–1, respectively. Based on the life table parameters obtained in this study, all three species of Coccinellidae showed a similar capacity to control a S. graminum population.

The etiology of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is often difficult to identify, owing mainly to limitations in currently available diagnostic tests. Characteristics of the distal femoral epiphyseal (DFE) ossification center may provide important information and help identify some causes of CH. We analyzed the contribution of DFE ultrasonography in the investigation of 11 young infants with positive screening for CH. DFE ultrasonography emerged as a simple test that helped indicate the period of onset of CH and, when associated with clinical history, hormone levels, and thyroid ultrasonography, contributed to suggest the etiology of CH.