No abstract

Feeding behavior can explain how predaceous Pentatomidae use different food sources as a result of ecological and evolutionary changes. This study describes the salivary glands of adults of the predator Supputius cincticeps (Stål) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) to assist in understand the feeding habits of this natural enemy. A pair of principal and accessory glands in the prothorax form the salivary system of S. cincticeps. The principal glands are bilobed with a spherical anterior lobe and are smaller than the posterior lobe, which has a prolonged sack form. The accessory glands are present in a long and tubular form that arises from the terminal portion of the curved accessory duct. The salivary system of S. cincticeps presents the same morphological pattern of other Asopinae predators.

Kale (Brassica oleraceae var. acephala) is of great importance in human nutrition and local agricultural economies, but its growth is impaired by the attack of several insect pests. Social wasps prey on these pests, but few studies report the importance of this predation or the potential use of wasps as biological control for agricultural pests. This study aimed to survey the species of social wasps that forage in kale (B. oleraceae var. acephala), recording the influence of temperature and time of day on the foraging behavior of these wasps. The research was conducted at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Minas Gerais - Bambuí Campus, from July to December 2015, when twelve collections of social wasps that foraged on a common area of kale cultivation were made, noting the temperature and time of collection for each wasp. Polybia ignobilis, Protonectarina sylveirae and Protopolybia sedula were the most common wasp species foraging in fields of kale. Interspecific interactions between wasp species did not affect their coexistence within kale fields, with peak foraging occurring between 1000 and 1100 hours. Social wasps are important predators of herbivorous insects in the agricultural environment and the coexistence of a great diversity of these predators can help control pest insects that occur in the crop. Moreover, knowing factors that influence foraging behaviors of common wasp species that occur in this crop is important for effective use of these insects in the biological control of pests.

Ocotea catharinensis (Lauraceae) is an endangered tree species from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Currently, little is known about the reproductive ecology of this species. Aiming to propose conservation measures, we described aspects related to phenology, floral biology, pollination, seed dispersal and mating system of O. catharinensis. We conducted phenological observations in 62 individuals for 2 years. In one reproductive event, we evaluated nectar production, stigmatic receptivity and pollen viability. Floral visitors were observed, identified and classified on a scale of pollination effectiveness. Seed dispersers were observed and identified using camera traps. Finally, the mating system was evaluated through pollen/ovule ratios, experimental pollination treatments and genetic analysis with molecular markers. Ocotea catharinensis presented a supra-annual fruiting pattern with a substantial reduction of reproducing individuals from bud phase to ripe fruit phase. Several mechanisms prompting cross-fertilisation were identified, such as attractive, herkogamic and protogynic flowers. The main floral visitors and pollinators were from the Diptera order, and all seed dispersers were birds. The species presented a predominantly outcrossed mixed mating system with significant selfing rate (17.3%). Although based on restricted evidence, we hypothesised that selfing is an escape mechanism for situations unfavourable to cross-fertilisation. Specifically, for the studied population selfing is a response to reduced population size, which is caused by the non-reproduction of all potentially reproductive individuals and by past exploitation events. Therefore, conservation efforts should be able to enhance population sizes, as well as prevent overexploitation.

No abstract

Adparaproba gabrieli Carvalho is a phytophagous neotropical bug with a restricted distribution to southeast Brazil. The histology of the digestive system and that of the male and female reproductive tracts of A. gabrieli was studied. We found that the male had a pair of testes with two follicles per testis, two short vasa defentia that joined in a muscular ejaculatory duct with two pairs of well-developed accessory glands. The female has a meroistic telotrophic ovary with three ovarioles per ovary. There is a pair of sac-like salivary glands. The digestive tract, after the pharynx, has a long, thin oesophagus ending in a muscular proventriculus. The transition fore-midgut is marked by a stomodeal valve, and the midgut is the main organ with an anterior portion with columnar cells and an posterior one with flattened cells. The hindgut is short and differentiated in the ileum and rectum. The Malpighian tubules are also described and the phytophagous feeding habit of A. gabrieli is discussed.

The bronze bug 'ihamnastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellape (Hemiptera: Thau mastocoridae) is a pest of Corymbia and Eucalyptus. Thus far, there are no effective control methods for this pest in commercial plantations. A study of the reproductive tract could provide basic strategies for controlling this insect. T. peregrinus females and males, of different ages, were obtained from mass rearing and analyzed using light microscopy. The male reproductive tract has a pair of testes with three globular follicles isolated by a peritoneal sheath, and two pairs of well-developed mesadenial tubular accessory glands. The female reproductive tract includes a pair of ovaries, each with two meroistic telotrophic ovarioles, opening into two long lateral oviducts, which joints in a short common oviduct. This common oviduct ends in a large and folded, thick-cuticle lined bursa copulatrix. Eggs with embryos in the stages of anatrepsis, catatrepsis, and post dorsal closure were found in the reproductive tract of females. The reproductive tract of T. peregrinus males and females are similar to those of other Thaumastocoridae, but differ in the number of ovarioles per ovaiy in its females.

Horismenus abnormicaulis sp. nov., H. patensis sp. nov. and H. zuleidae sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), all authored by Pikart, Costa & Hansson, are described from material obtained from seed pods of Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. (Fabaceae) collected in Northeastern Brazil. The seed pods were infested with larvae of Coleoptera (Chrysomelidae (Bruchinae) and Curculionidae). The associations of the Horismenus species and the beetle larvae have not been established. Morphological similarities between these new species and previously described species with host known suggest that H. patensis and H. zuleidae are primary parasitoids of Bruchinae, whereas H. abnormicaulis may act as a hyperparasitoid on other Horismenus species. The three species are compared with similar species of Horismenus.