David R. Luz

An uncommon feeding habit: mutillid wasps (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) visiting extrafloral nectaries in Malpighiaceae

(With 1 figure)The family Mutillidae comprises a diverse group of solitary wasps, with over 4000 described species (Lelej, 2005). They are characterized by strong sexual dimorphism: all females are wingless, while males almost always are fully winged and capable of flight. Adult females are generally parasitoids of immature stages of other aculeate Hymenoptera. When inside a host nest they are known to drink hemolymph from the host larvae or prepupae. Adult males, on the other hand, generally feed on nectar. Additionally, both females and males can also collect honeydew from Hemiptera or sweet exudates from extrafloral nectaries as the main article in their diets (Brothers, 1989).Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are nectar-producing plant structures that are usually not directly involved in pollination (Elias, 1983). Such structures are extremely variable anatomically and morphologically, and can be found on various above-ground plant parts, especially the leaf, petiole, pedicel and stem ( Weber and Keeler, 2013 ). These EFNs are particularly attractive to ants (e.g. Almeida and Figueiredo, 2003), which play an important role in plant’s indirect defense against herbivores ( Koptur, 1992 ). They can also attract a variety of other nectar-foraging insects, like hymenopteran parasitoids that may attack herbivorous insects (Jervis et al., 1993).According to Weber and Keeler (2013) EFNs are present in 3941 species of vascular plants, representing 745 genera in 108 families; yet as reported by the authors, only 1.0-1.8% of flowering plant species have EFNs. Here we present the first record of Mutillidae feeding on extrafloral nectaries in Malpighiaceae, a family of herbs, shrubs, vines and trees that comprises about 1300 species worldwide (Davis and Anderson, 2010).In December 2013, during a field trip to the Serra da Canastra National Park, in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, we noticed the presence of a large number of hymenopterans flying near to/or feeding on EFNs of two different shrub species of Malpighiaceae, including winged males and wingless females of Mutillidae. The plants were identified as Banisteriopsis campestris (A.Juss.) Little, which bear a pair of EFNs at the base of the leaves (Figure 1B), and B. vernoniifolia (A.Juss.) B. Gates (Figure 1A), with the EFNs located at the leaf blades ( Figure 1D ). The observations were conducted on plants growing on red latosol soils in a grassland area near the “Curral de Pedras” (20.224° S 46.486° W; 1400 m.a.s.l.).Thirteen mutillid wasp specimens (ten males and three females) were collected feeding on EFNs of Banisteropsis. Following their collection, these specimens were identified as four different species, comprising subfamilies Mutillinae and Shaeropthalminae. Females were identified as Darditilla vianai Casal, 1968 (Figure 1E) and Pseudomethoca cfr. cerasina (Gerstaecker, 1874) (Sphaeropthalminae), and Timulla scoparia (Gerstaecker, 1874) (Mutillinae). Males were identified as Traumatomutilla floccosa (Gerstaecker, 1874) (five specimens), Pseudomethoca sp. (three specimens, probably the male of

Frigitilla gen. nov., a new genus of Amazonian Mutillidae (Hymenoptera)

Mutilla frigidula Cresson, 1902 was transferred to Tobantilla by Williams et al. (2011), based on morphological similarities with females of that genus. Discovery of the male of this species indicated significant morphological differences from Tobantilla. We therefore erect the genus, Frigitilla gen. nov., for Mutilla frigidula. Herein, we describe the male of F. frigidula (Cresson, 1902), comb. nov., associate it with its host (Trypoxylon spp.), and discuss its relations to other mutillid genera. The impact of collecting method and specimen age on the integumental coloration of specimens is discussed, emphasizing the need to diagnose species on consistent structural features rather than differences in color pattern.

On the limits of complexity in living forms

In a recent book chapter, Morris, S.C., 2013. Life: the final frontier for complexity? In: Lineweaver, C.H., Davies, P.C.W., Ruse, M. (Eds.), Complexity and the Arrow of Time. pp. 135-161. argues that there are limits to the complexity of life forms and that with the exception of human beings these limits have already been reached. We recommend seeing human use of technology as a natural, evolutionary process. We then proceed to claim that biological engineering other species to increase their complexity can be an efficient way to delay the heat death locally. Whenever, wherever in the universe living things become intelligent enough to perform these kinds of operations, they will be able to increase complexity around them as long as a gradient of energy is available. This conclusion has deep impact on both science and philosophy.

The first sexual associations in the genus Darditilla Casal, 1965 (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae)

Abstract New sex associations are proposed for four species of Darditilla: Darditilla amabilis (Gerstaecker, 1874); Darditilla bejaranoi Casal, 1968; Darditilla debilis (Gerstaecker, 1874); and Darditilla felina (Burmeister, 1854). Darditilla botija Casal, 1965, syn. n. is the male of Darditilla amabilis; the other three males were previously unknown. Mutilla decorosa Kohl, 1882, syn. n. is conspecific with Darditilla felina. Descriptions and extended diagnoses are provided for previously unknown males and for females that were not adequately described. These represent the first sex associations for the genus Darditilla.

New species of Traumatomutilla André in the T. tabapua and T. integella species-groups (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae)

Five new species of Traumatomutilla André from Brazil are described: T. fratres Bartholomay Williams sp. nov., T. anhanga Bartholomay Williams sp. nov., T. barathra Bartholomay Williams sp. nov., T. poranga Bartholomay Williams sp. nov. and T. pantherina Bartholomay Williams sp. nov. Traumatomutilla tabapua Casal, 1969, T. luscoides André, 1908 and T. integella (Cresson, 1902) are redescribed. T. verecunda (Cresson, 1902) is proposed as junior synonym of T. integella based on morphological evidence. T. luscoides is transferred from the T. integella to the T. tabapua species-group.

Paleocene origin of the Neotropical lineage of cleptoparasitc bees Ericrocidini-Rhathymini (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Cleptoparasitic bees abandoned the pollen collecting for their offspring and lay their eggs on other bees’ provisioned nests. Also known as cuckoo bees they belong to several lineages, especially diverse in Apinae. We focused on a lineage of Apinae cleptoparasitic bees, the clade Ericrocidini+Rhathymini, which attack nests of the oil-collecting bees. We sequenced five genes for a broad sampling in this clade plus a large outgroup and reconstruct phylogeny and divergence times. We confirmed the monophyly of the clade Ericrocidini+Rhathymini and its position inside the ericrocidine line, together with the tribes Protepeolini, Isepeolini and Coelioxoidini. Our results corroborate the current taxonomic classification. Ericrocis is the basal most lineage in Ericrocidini and the position of Acanthopus and the most diverse genus Mesoplia were inconclusive. Ericrocidini+Rhathymini diverged from Parepeolus aterrimus 74 mya in the Cretaceous. Considering the robust molecular evidence of their sister relationships, the striking differences on the first instar larvae morphology of the two groups are probably adaptations to the distinct nesting biology of their hosts. As other parasites in the ericrocidine line, both groups possess larvae adapted to kill the immature host and to feed on floral oil provisioned by the host female. The evolution of host specialization in the line Ericrocidini+Rhathymini retroced to the Eocene when they arose synchronously with their hosts, Centris and Epicharis.

The mutillid wasps of the Dasymutilla paradoxa species-group (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae)

The Dasymutilla paradoxa species-group is newly proposed to include taxa formerly included in the genera Dasymutilla Ashmead, 1899, Traumatomutilla André, 1901 and some previously incertae sedis. This species-group now includes the following eight species: D. fasciventris Mickel, D. guanacaste Manley & Pitts, D. naranjo Manley & Pitts, D. paradoxa (Gerstaecker), comb. nov., D. paraparadoxa, sp. nov., D. phya (Cameron), comb. nov., D. relata (Cameron), and D. sliepniri Manley & Pitts. Dasymutilla paraparadoxa Luz, Bartholomay & Williams, sp. nov. (Mexico, Guatemala) is described and illustrated. New synonymy is proposed (valid names are first) for: Dasymutilla fasciventris Mickel, 1938 (=Dasymutilla citromaculosa Manley & Pitts, 2007, syn. nov., =Dasymutilla chamela Manley & Pitts, 2007, syn. nov.); Mutilla paradoxa Gerstaecker, 1874 (=Sphaerophthamla [sic!] icaris Cameron, 1895, syn. nov.); Sphaerophthalma [sic!] phya Cameron, 1895 (=Sphaerophthalma [sic!] melissa Cameron, 1895, syn. nov.). The key to species is given.

First records of the genus Allotilla Schuster, 1949 (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) in Brazil

The monotypic genus Allotilla Schuster, 1949, previously known only from the Chaco biogeographic province of Argentina and Paraguay, is recorded for the first time in Brazil. These new records extend the known range of the genus to a new biogeographic dominion.

Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae, Serra do Itajaí National Park, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil

A study concerning the bee fauna of the Serra do Itajai National Park, state of Santa Catarina, was carried out during ten months in the domain of the Atlantic Rainforest. Bees were collected monthly between October 2006 and December 2007, in two sampling localities, from 8:00 h to 16:00 h, totaling 151 h of sampling. Bees were captured with entomological nets in flowers, during flight, on the ground or while foraging for sweat on collectors. A total of 1,616 individuals were collected (1,240 females and 376 males), distributed in 89 species, 46 genera, 16 tribes and five subfamilies. Apinae was the richest subfamily with 47 species. The genera with the greatest number of species were Augochloropsis Cockerell, 1897 (nine), Ceratina Latreille, 1802 (nine) and Dialictus Robertson, 1902 (seven). Paratetrapedia fervida (Smith, 1879) was the most abundant species, comprising 11.57 % of the sampled individuals

Insecta, Hymenoptera, Apidae: range extensions and new state records from Santa Catarina, Brazil

Between 25 and 30 thousand bee species are estimated to be distributed in the different regions of the world (Michener 2007). Moure et al. (2007) list 1,678 valid names for Brazilian species, which are distributed into five subfamilies (Andreninae, Apinae, Colletinae, Halictinae, and Megachilinae, sensu Melo and Gonçalves 2005). Nevertheless, Silveira et al. (2002) believe that the Brazilian bee fauna is composed of approximately 3,000 species.