Ana Paula Ott

Abundância e sazonalidade de cigarrinhas (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellinae) em vegetação herbácea de pomar de laranja doce, no município de Montenegro, Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Abundance and seasonality of leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellinae) in herbaceous vegetation of sweet orange orchard at Montenegro County, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This paper aimed to study leafhoppers populational dynamics and constancy on herbaceous vegetation of a sweet orange orchard (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, Valencia variety) in southern Brazil. The survey was performed with sweeping net method, from February/2001 to January/2002. Monthly, 10 samples of 50 sweeps were taken in the herbaceous vegetation between orchards lines (n = 500 sweeps/sampling). A total of 928 individuals were collected, belonging to nine species: Bucephalogonia xanthophis (Berg, 1879), Diedrocephala variegata (Fabricius, 1775), Hortensia similis (Walker, 1851), Macugonalia leucomelas (Walker, 1851), Parathona gratiosa (Blanchard, 1840), Plesiommata corniculata Young, 1977, Sibovia sagata (Signoret, 1854), Sonesimia grossa (Signoret, 1854), and Tapajosa rubromarginata (Signoret, 1855). The highest abundance was registered in summer and spring. Hortensia similis and M. leucomelas were the only species considered constant during the survey. Leafhopper abundance was lower in the April and December, probably due to abiotic factors (rainfall) and vegetation structure (plants height) effects.

Abundância e sazonalidade de Bothriurus signatus (Arachnida, Scorpiones) em diferentes formações vegetais em São Francisco de Paula, RS, Brasil

A survey of litter scorpions was conducted in three types vegetation (primary forest, secondary forest and silvicultures) in an area of Araucaria forest in southern Brazil. Pitfall traps were used over 20 months for the sampling of scorpions. A total 165 scorpions of Bothriurus signatus Pocock, 1893 were sampled. Males were more abundant than females and these more abundant than juveniles. The scorpions were more abundant in primary forest and silvicultures than in secondary forest. The activitie peak of scorpions was registered during the spring. The total length of the adult scorpions ranged from 3.05 to 4.52 cm with males significantly larger than females. No pregnant females were registered among collected specimens.

Aranhas e ácaros predadores em copas de tangerineiras Montenegrina, mantidas sob manejo orgânico, em Montenegro, RS

A survey was conducted to study the spider and predatory mite fauna occurring in the canopies of tangerine trees (Citrus deliciosa Tenore, cultivar Montenegrina) of an organically managed orchard, at Montenegro County, RS. During a year, fortnightly, 24 randomly trees were selected and sampled in two canopies areas, by using a sheet of white cloth (1 m 2 ). A total of 3,129 arachnids were collected, being 2,559 spiders and 570 mites. Based on the adults, 53 species of Araneae were recognized, belonging to eight families. Among those, the most abundant were Sphecozone sp. (Linyphiidae) (21.8%) and Chrysso pulcherrima (Mello-Leitao) (Theridiidae) (9.9%). Autumn exhibited the greatest abundance of young and adults of Araneae (29.2%) and spring was the season richest in species (40). Margalef and Shannon-Wiener diversity indexes also showed the highest values in spring. The latter index did not show differences among seasons. Simpson complementary index was equal among seasons, refl ecting the same degree of species dominance. In Acari, eight species were identifi ed in three families. The most abundant species were the mites Leptus sp.1 (Erythraeidae) (59.4%) and Amblyseius saopaulus Denmark & Muma (Phytoseiidae) (30%). Autumn was the season richest in mite species (eight). The highest abundance (47%) was observed on winter and the lowest (0.88%) on summer. Among mites, Phytoseiidae showed the highest richness. Among the spiders, Anyphaenidae was the most abundant and Theridiidae had the highest species richness, following the patterns observed for the group.

A new species of Andocaeculus (Acari, Caeculidae) from the Pampa biome, southern Brazil

A new caeculid species Andocaeculus caioi sp. nov. is described from Pampa biome in south Brazil. The species of this family are usually large and strong sclerotized mites with robust and spinulose legs I and II. Until now records of species for South America were known only from Chile and Argentina.

A new species of Fernandezina (Araneae, Palpimanidae) from southern Brazil

A new species of Fernandezina Biraben, 1951, F. nica sp. nov. is described from Rio Grande do Sul state, in southern Brazil. Fernandezina pulchra Biraben, 1951, is registered for Brazil and a new geographic record in Brazil is presented for F. pelta Platnick, 1975.