The imago and soldier castes of a new Rugitermes Holmgren, 1911 species, R. tintosp. nov. are described. It is the ninth species of Rugitermes from South America and the first record of this genus from Colombia. Unlike its congeners, the soldier of R. tinto has very dark head capsule pigmentation and acute protuberances projecting from frontolateral ridges.

Termites are known to influence soil nutrient cycle and decomposition processes, but its diversity and ecology in Colombian gallery forests have been little studied. Richness and relative abundance of termites found in gallery forest fragments protected within commercial forest plantations were quantified. Sampling was conducted at three sites surrounding the creeks Huerta La Grande, Claro and Los Micos, along 50 m long linear transects divided into five plots (10 × 2 m); in total, there were nine transects and 45 plots. Termite sampling involved the examination of fallen branches, pieces of wood in contact with the soil, arboreal termitaria, epigeal nests and soil samples of 20 cm deep (four per plot). Thirty-eight species, from the families Termitidae (Apicotermitinae, Termitinae, Nasutitermitinae, Syntermitinae) and Rhinotermitidae (Heterotermitinae), were found. No differences regarding termite species, abundance or feeding guilds were detected among sampling sites; neither, association between richness or termite abundance, and tree size, or accumulation depth of leaf litter on the soil or canopy light. The termite diversity found in fragments of gallery forest highlights the importance of maintaining this type of vegetation to preserve biodiversity and the ecosystem services derived from the biological activity of termites.

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RESUMENEn este estudio se llevó a cabo la identiicación taxonómica, observaciones de biología en condiciones de laboratorio y ocurrencia en campo de un coccinélido que se alimenta de chupadores de savia que infestan varias especies de arbustos ornamentales de Bogotá. Adicionalmente, en el laboratorio se realizó la descripción de las características morfológicas propias de cada estado de desarrollo y se comparó el tiempo de desarrollo de la larva y el adulto alimentados con Aconophora elongatiformis Dietrich (Membracidae), Callophya schini Tuthill (Psyllidae) y una especie de Phylloxeridae. El Coccinellidae fue determinado como Mulsantina mexicana Chapin. Los resultados sugieren que M. mexicana puede contribuir a regular poblaciones de algunas especies de itófagos que se establecen en árboles ornamentales de Bogota las cuales puede utilizar como presas alternativas dentro de su dieta. ABSTRACTThis study comprised the taxonomic identiication, biological observations in laboratory conditions and ield observations of one species of Coccinellidae that feeds on sap-suckers infesting several ornamental trees in Bogota, Colombia. In laboratory conditions, using eggs collected in the ield, we characterized morphologic parameters for each of its stages, and compared developmental time of its larva and adults when fed with Aconophora elongatiformis Dietrich (Hem.: Membracidae), Callophya schini Tuthill (Hem.: Psyllidae) and one species of Phylloxeridae. The Coccinellidae was determined as Mulsantina mexicana Chapin. Our results suggest M. mexicana may help to regulate populations of several phytophagous species of ornamental trees in Bogota that serve as alternative preys in its diet.

Seven commercially-available mulches were aged outdoors for 0, 6 and 12 months then compared for suitability to the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in non-choice and multi-choice tests under laboratory conditions. Mean differences in mulch consumption, individual termite weight change, and termite worker survival were examined in non-choice tests while mulch consumption and termite aggregation were measured in multi-choice tests. Non-choice tests did not reveal differences in consumption between mulches of the same age. However, mulch consumption and survival increased with mulch age and termite weight loss decreased with mulch age. In multi-choice tests feeding and aggregation preferences shifted with mulch age.

We examined the diversity, habitat preferences, and intraspecific variation of Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) populations within Missouri. Approximately 600 subterranean termite colonies were sampled from paired urban and woodland environments plus home infestations throughout the state. Samples were first identified to species using morphological characters and morphometrics. In addition, a portion of ≈428 bp from the 16S rRNA from 365 samples was sequenced to confirm morphology-based species identifications and to describe intraspecific genetic variability of Reticulitermes populations in Missouri. Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks), Reticulitermes tibialis Banks, and Reticulitermes hageni Banks were found in Missouri. Twenty-one haplotypes of R.flavipes were identified, which represents one of the highest haplotype diversities reported for this species from a single state. Moreover, nine of these 21 haplotypes have not been reported in the United States before this study. Three haplotypes of R. hageni, five haplotypes of R. tibialis, and four haplotypes of R. virginicus were identified. The most abundant haplotypes of R.flavipes and R. hageni occur in woodlands, urban environments, and home infestations, suggesting a probable local origin for most of the subterranean termite infestations occurring in Missouri.

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