Four species of green lacewings occur in Brazil, of which Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) exhibits the widest geographical distribution. Chrysoperla externa is a predatory insect that is potentially useful as a biological control agent of agricultural pests. Studies on the genetic diversity of lacewing populations are essential to reduce the environmental and economic harm that may be caused by organisms with a low ability to adapt to the adverse and/or different environmental conditions to which they are exposed. We used the cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial gene as a molecular marker to investigate the genetic diversity of green lacewing species collected from native and agroecosystem environments. Populations derived from native areas showed higher rates of genetic variability compared to populations from agroecosystems. Demographic changes in the form of population expansion were observed in agroecosystems, whereas populations in the native environment appeared stable over time. A statistical analysis showed significant genetic structure between each of the sampled groups, combined with its complete absence within each group, corroborating each group's identity. We infer that the loss of variability exhibited by populations from the agroecosystems is the result of genetic drift by means of the founder effect, a similar effect that has been observed in other introduced populations. Agroecosystems might therefore function as exotic areas for green lacewings, even when these areas are within the normal range of the species.

The Drosophila serido haplogroup is a monophyletic group composed of the following four cryptic and cactophilic species that are endemic to eastern Brazil: D. borborema, D. gouveai, D. seriema and D. serido. Here, we investigate the mito‐nuclear discordance in these species found among the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene, the autosomal alpha‐Esterase‐5 (α‐Est5) and the X‐linked period gene (per). Our analysis indicates that shared polymorphisms in these three molecular markers may be explained by the maintenance of ancestral polymorphisms rather than introgressive hybridization. The primary structures of COI, per and α‐Est5 genes evolve primarily under purifying selection, but we detected some sites that evolved under positive selection in α‐Est5. Considering the high variability of cacti species in eastern Brazil and the role attributed to Drosophila esterases in digestion metabolism and/or the detoxification of several compounds found in cactus tissues, we conjecture about the role of natural selection triggered by host shifts as an important factor in the intraspecific diversification of the D. serido haplogroup.

Green lacewings are insects with great potential to be use in the biological control of agricultural pests, but relatively few studies have attempted to understand the genetic structure of these agents, especially those of predatory insects. The purpose of this study was to characterize genetically populations of C. externa using sequences of subunit I of the cytochrome oxidase, a mitochondrial gene, and examine the population structure of this species in sampled areas in São Paulo state. The results indicate high genetic diversity but no genetic structure, detected by AMOVA analysis, and high levels of haplotype sharing in the network. These genetic patterns could be a consequence of environmental homogeneity provided by agroecosystem (citrus orchard), allowing gene flow among populations. Probably there is a unique population in the area sampled that could be used as a population (genetic) source for mass-reared and posterior release in these farms.Keywords: COI gene, green lacewings, mitochondrial DNA, population structure. Genética de populações de Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) e implicações para o controle biológico ResumoCrisopídeos são insetos com grande potencial para uso em controle biológico de pragas agrícolas, mas relativamente poucos estudos têm tentado compreender a estrutura genética destes agentes, especialmente no caso de insetos predadores. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar geneticamente populações de C. externa utilizando sequências da subunidade I do gene mitocondrial citocromo oxidase e avaliar a estruturação populacional desta espécie em áreas amostras no estado de São Paulo. Os resultados indicaram elevada diversidade genética e nenhuma estruturação genética, detectada pela AMOVA, além de elevado compartilhamento na rede haplotípica. Este padrão genético poderia ser uma consequência da homogeneidade ambiental favorecida pelos agroecossistemas (citricultura), permitindo fluxo gênico entre as populações. Provavelmente há uma única população, do ponto de vista genético, na área amostrada que poderia ser utilizada em criações massais e em liberações nas fazendas desta região.

No abstract

INFLUÊNCIA DA TEMPERATURA E DO TEMPO DE ARMAZENAMENTO DE OVOS SOBRE O CICLO DE VIDA DE Chrysoperla externa

RESUMO:Os crisopídeos ocorrem em diversos agroecossistemas e alimentam-se de diversos artrópodes-praga e, portanto podem ser utilizados como agentes em programas de controle biológico de pragas agrícolas. O sucesso dos crisopídeos pode estar relacionado a sua capacidade de sobrevivência e reprodução em campo. Esta característica pode ser alterada por diversos fatores, inclusive a temperatura. Objetivou-se com este estudo verificar se as temperaturas de criação das fases imaturas de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) podem influenciar a sua capacidade reprodutiva e a longevidade dos adultos. As fases imaturas foram criadas em quatro ambientes de criação, três com temperaturas constantes de 19, 25 e 31°C e outro ambiente em que houve flutuação dos fatores abióticos. Os adultos obtidos foram mantidos em salas climatizadas à 25ºC para avaliação da capacidade reprodutiva e da longevidade. Os dados obtidos não diferiram significativamente entre os ambientes onde as fases imaturas foram criadas. Conclui-se que a capacidade reprodutiva e a longevidade não serão alteradas quando as fases jovens forem criadas em temperaturas diferentes.Palavras-chave: Biologia. Chrysoperla externa. Criação. Crisopídeos. Reprodução. REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITY AND LONGEVITY OF Chrysoperla externa WHOSE IMMATURE STAGES WERE SUBMITTED TO DIFFERENT REARING TEMPERATURES SUMMARY:The green lacewings occur in many agroecosystems and eat a lot of pests, so they can be used in biological control programs for agricultural pests. The success of them is related with their capacity of living in this kind of environment and reproduce. This attribute can be influenced for many factors, such as temperature. The purpose of this study was to check if different rearing temperatures of immature stages of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) can influence their reproductive capacity and longevity. The immature stages were reared in four environments, three of them with constants temperatures of 19, 25 and 31ºC and in the fourth environment the abiotic factors were not controlled. The adults obtained of this rearing were maintained at 25ºC for evaluation of reproductive capacity and longevity. The results obtained didn´t differ significantly among the environments where the immature stages were kept. It can be concluded that the reproductive capacity and longevity will not influenced when the immature stages were reared in different temperatures.Keywords: Biology. Chrysoperla externa. Green lacewings. Rearing. Reproduction. INTRODUÇÃOOs crisopídeos ocorrem em diversos agroecossistemas destacando-se como eficazes predadores de artrópodes-praga, controlando assim a densidade populacional destes organismos. Sua utilização em programas de controle biológico se deve ao fato de serem facilmente criados em laboratório, possuírem alto potencial reprodutivo, serem vorazes predadores, além de apresentarem tolerância a determinados grupos de inseticidas (MAIA et al., 2004).Os limites da faixa favorável de temperatura para oviposição são geralmente os da mesma ordem para o desenvolv...

FECUNDIDADE DE Chrysoperla raimundoi  FREITAS &    PENNY, 2001 (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE) ORIUNDAS DE LARVAS CRIADAS EM AMBIENTES COM DIFERENTES TEMPERATURAS