Alejandra González-Moreno

Three new large-bodied species of Labena (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Labeninae), with a key to the Neotropical striata species group

Abstract Labena Cresson is a large Gondwanan genus best represented in the Neotropical area. We describe three new species in the Neotropical Labena striata species group: Labena gauldiana sp. nov. from Costa Rica and Mexico, Labena yucatanica sp. nov. from Mexico, and Labena iquitosica sp. nov. from Peruvian Amazonia. These species are among the largest and most spectacular Neotropical Ichneumonidae ever collected. We also provide additional descriptive remarks regarding Labena striata Townes and Townes (including intraspecific variation) and an identification key to the six species of the striata group.

Diurnal Flight Behavior of Ichneumonoidea (Insecta: Hymenoptera) Related to Environmental Factors in a Tropical Dry Forest

ABSTRACT The biology and behavior of insects are strongly influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature and precipitation. Because some of these factors present a within day variation, they may be causing variations on insect diurnal flight activity, but scant information exists on the issue. The aim of this work was to describe the patterns on diurnal variation of the abundance of Ichneumonoidea and their relation with relative humidity, temperature, light intensity, and wind speed. The study site was a tropical dry forest at Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Mexico; where correlations between environmental factors (relative humidity, temperature, light, and wind speed) and abundance of Ichneumonidae and Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) were estimated. The best regression model for explaining abundance variation was selected using the second order Akaike Information Criterion. The optimum values of temperature, humidity, and light for flight activity of both families were also estimated. Ichneumonid and braconid abundances were significantly correlated to relative humidity, temperature, and light intensity; ichneumonid also showed significant correlations to wind speed. The second order Akaike Information Criterion suggests that in tropical dry conditions, relative humidity is more important that temperature for Ichneumonoidea diurnal activity. Ichneumonid wasps selected toward intermediate values of relative humidity, temperature and the lowest wind speeds; while Braconidae selected for low values of relative humidity. For light intensity, braconids presented a positive selection for moderately high values.

The species of the Neotropical genus Fractipons Townes, 1970 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae)

Abstract In this paper, two new species of the Neotropical genus Fractipons Townes, 1970 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) are described. A new diagnosis for the genus, a re-description of Fractipons cincticornis Townes, 1970 and a key to known species are provided. New distribution records for the genus now include Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama and Peru.

Diversity of Tabanidae, Asilidae and Syrphidae (Diptera) in natural protected areas of Yucatan, Mexico

Although dipteran communities play a fundamental role in the ecosystem, little is known about their diversity, richness and abundance in different environments. In spite of the importance of Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) as reservoirs of biological diversity, information about community parameters of most insects, including Diptera, are practically unknown in these areas. In this study, we described and compared the composition and structure of Dipteran communities (considering Tabanidae, Asilidae and Syrphidae families) within six (NPAs) of Yucatan, Southeast Mexico, comprising four main vegetation types: seasonally flooded forest, tropical deciduous forest, semi-deciduous tropical forest and coastal dune. We used Malaise-traps to collect samples during a period of two days, twice a month, for one year (2006–2007) within each NPAs. A total of 6 910 specimens belonging to 33 genera and 78 species/morphospecies were recorded. Our results show that the four vegetation types host a vast diversity of dipterans. However, species richness, abundance, diversity and similarity were higher in the communities of tropical deciduous forests compared with those from semi-deciduous forests and coastal dune vegetation, probably as a result of microhabitat differences between sites. We highlight the role of tropical deciduous forests as a refuge for Diptera species and the importance of these forests for conservation of dipteran communities.

Description of three new species of Labena Cresson from Mexico (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Labeninae), with notes on tropical species richness

Three new species of Labena Cresson (Ichneumonidae, Labeninae); L. littoralis sp. nov., L. tekalina sp. nov. and L. madoricola sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Material was collected with Malaise traps in 2008 and 2009 in the Biosphere Reserve Ria Lagartos (Mexico). Diagnostic characters to distinguish them from all other New World species of the genus are provided. In addition, the tropical species richness of the genus is shortly discussed.