Gervásio Silva Carvalho

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.

Phylogeny and biogeography of Neotropical spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopidae: Ischnorhininae): revised tribal classification based on morphological data

The spittlebug family Cercopidae is currently divided into two subfamilies: the paraphyletic Old World Cercopinae and the monophyletic New World Ischnorhininae. The most recent classification scheme proposed by Fennah in 1968 divided the New World Cercopidae into four tribes: Tomaspidini, Ischnorhinini, Hyboscartini and Neaenini. Herein we present a phylogenetic analysis of Ischnorhininae using 108 morphological characters and including 53 of the 59 recognized genera, to evaluate the tribal‐level classification and understand the processes underlying the current distributional patterns of these genera. We found significant support for the monophyly of many Neotropical genera, but Fennahs tribal classification is revised because tribes Neaenini, Ischnorhinini and Tomaspidini were recovered as polyphyletic. Hyboscartini was synonymized with Tomaspidini. A taxonomic key to tribes and genera of Neotropical spittlebugs is provided based mostly on recovered apomorphies. The biogeographical analysis suggests a Neotropical origin of ischnorhinines, more specifically in northwestern South America. This was possibly coincident spatially and temporally with the origin of grasses, with ancestral range expansions southward to the Amazonian and Paraná regions, and posterior vicariant events, possibly related to the expansion of forests in the Chacoan region, the South America diagonal of open formations. Dispersals to the Chacoan region and to the Nearctic region are hypothesized to have occurred only within genera. In the Chacoan region it is associated with more recent events, such as the diversification of C4 grasses and establishment of the savannas and seasonally dry forests.

Brochosomes-for-eggs of the Proconiini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Cicadellinae) species associated with orchards of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Brochosomes are ultramicroscopic reticulate bodies produced by the Malpighian tubules of leafhoppers. Brochosomes are usually either spherical (brochosomes-for-integument) or elongated (brochosomes-for-eggs). In this study, the Proconiini species were diagnosed according to their brochosomes-for-eggs. Brochosome-for-eggs traits and dichotomous key were also discussed. The specimens were collected in nine orchards of Citrus sinensis (Valencia orange), using yellow sticky traps. The orchards are located in seven counties in the state of Rio Grande do Sul: Tenente Portela, Ijui, Jaguari, Harmonia, Taquari, Montenegro, and Pelotas. Data were collected from October 1999 to December 2000, and from October 2001 to March 2002. Seven species capable of producing brochosomes-for-eggs were identified: Acrogonia citrina Marucci & Cavichioli, Homalodisca ignorata Melichar, Molomea consolida Shroder, Molomea lineiceps Young, Molomea magna (Walker), Oncometopia facialis (Signoret), and Oncometopia fusca Melichar. This study shows that the diversity among brochosomes-for-eggs was a useful tool to identify the Proconiini species.

Análise de parcimônia de endemismo de cercopídeos neotropicais (Hemiptera, Cercopidae)

Parsimony analysis of endemicity of Neotropical spittlebugs (Hemiptera, Cercopidae). The spittlebugs have an extent distribution in the American continent. Their diversity may determinate endemism areas based on their occurence in different localities. We have used Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity method, which is an important historic biogeography tool for detecting and establishing the relationship among endemics areas. A data matrix was built up based on the occurence registration for the species by 66 genus in whole localities divided in five degrees quadrats in the Neotropical Region, using 49 OGUs (Operative Geografic Units). The presence of the taxa in the areas was coded 1 and the absence 0. The data matrix was analysed based on parsimony analysis through the computer program Hennig 86. Nine endemic areas were stipulated (Mexico + Central America, Venezuelan Savana, Guiana + Suriname, Chaco, Trans-andean, Cerrado, Amazon, Pampa and Atlantic Forest) in the first analysis corroborated with ecological and physiographic patterns in each region. The second analysis was made using 48 genera to obtain the relationship among the nine areas stipulated before. In this analysis just one cladogram (3((1,2)((8,9)(6(7(4,5)))))) was obtained with 192 steps, consistence index 0.80 and retention index 0.85.

Spittlebug Cephisus siccifolius damaging eucalypt plants in the State of Bahia, Brazil

Os insetos-praga mais comuns em plantios de eucalipto no Brasil sao formigas cortadeiras e lagartas desfolhadoras. Eventualmente, outros insetos como percevejos e cigarrinhas podem danificar essas plantas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar e descrever os sintomas de ataque, em um plantio de eucalipto de 25,77 hectares, no Estado da Bahia, onde 99,3% das arvores tinham sido atacadas pela cigarrinha-de-espuma Cephisus siccifolius (Walker 1851) (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae). Os danos foram maiores em galhos e folhas. A mortalidade de arvores foi baixa, apesar de se observar 4,7 colonias de cigarrinhas por arvore, com 21,9 ninfas por colonia. O corte das arvores infestadas foi recomendado como controle.

Análise de parcimônia de endemismo de membracídeos neotropicais (Hemiptera, Membracidae, Hoplophorionini)

The Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) consists in an important tool of the historical biogeography which has the purpose of detecting distribution patterns of organisms and the relationships among areas of endemism. Insect distribution data included in Membracidae-Hoplophorionini occurring in the American Continent were used in the present research in order to establish the relationships among eight predetermined areas of endemism which are: 1) Mexico, 2) Greater Antilles, 3) Central America, 4) North Andes, 5) Central Andes, 6) South Andes, 7) Amazon, e 8) South East Brazil. The data matrix was based on the presence (coded as 1) and abscence (0) of taxa in the areas. The analysis was performed with the use of computer program Hennig86 (Farris 1988) applying the comands ie (implicit enumeration), and xs w (successive weighting). Resulted in the cladogram (A2,((A6,(A1 ,(A3,(A4,A5)))),(A7,A8))) with 236 steps, consistency index = 0.94 and retention index = 0.86. Areas 7 and 8 follow a subtropical and tropical vegetation pattern made up respectively by pluvial forests and groves. The remaining areas (except 2) agree with mountainous vegetation of the Andes pattern and groves throughout the extention.

A new genus and nine new species of Neotropical spittlebugs (Hemiptera, Cercopidae, Tomaspidinae)

The following new taxa of South American Cercopidae are described: Ferorhinella gen. nov., with type species Sphenorhina brevis Walker, 1851; Deois (Deois) knighti sp. nov. (Brazil), Deois (Deois) sexpunctata sp. nov. (Brazil), Deois (Pandysia) constricta sp. nov. (Brazil), Mahanarva (Ipiranga) bahiaensis sp. nov. (Brazil), Maxantonia bifurcata sp. nov. (Brazil), Neosphenorhina curvipenis sp. nov. (Brazil), Sphenorhina brevispina sp. nov. (Ecuador), Sphenorhina nigricephala sp. nov. (Ecuador), Sphenorhina minuta sp. nov. (Brazil), Tropidorhinella onorei sp. nov. (Colombia), Zuata luteofascia sp. nov. (Colombia). Ferorhinella brevis (Walker, 1851) comb. nov. In addition, descriptions are given for a new colour form of Mahanarva (M.) phantastica (Breddin, 1904) and a newly found variation in the male genitalia of Deoisella fasciata Costa & Sakakibara, 2002.

Egg Brochosomes of Proconiini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Cicadellinae) species associated with cultivation of grapevines

Brochosomes production is considered a feature of Cicadellidae, and may represent an outstanding innovation which has played an important role in the development and diversification of this insect group. The objective of this study was to identify the species of Proconiini that produced egg brochosomes associated with grapevines in the Serra Gaucha region of Brazil. Egg brochosome characteristics and an identification key are also discussed. The specimens were collected using yellow sticky cards in four vineyards (Vitis vinifera L.) from October 2004 to May 2006. Eight species capable of producing egg brochosomes were identified:Acrogonia citrina Marucci & Cavichioli; Homalodisca ignorata Melichar; Molomea consolida Schroder; Molomea lineiceps Young; Molomea personata (Signoret); Oncometopia facialis (Signoret); Oncometopia fusca Melichar; and Tapajosa rubromarginata (Signoret). Egg brochosomes are useful structures to identify Proconiini species in vine.

Ultrastructure and redescription of Notozulia entreriana (Berg) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

The ultrastructure of the spittlebug Notozulia entreriana (Berg) is presented. The study resulted in 32 scanning electron microscope photos, with detailed species description.

Revisão dos gêneros sitalces, eusitalces e parasitalces (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Abracrini) e descrição de très novos gêneros

Revision of the genera Sitalces, Eusitalces and Parasitalces (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Abracrini) and description of three new genera. The South American Abracrini genera Sitalces Stal, 1878, Eusitalces Bruner, 1911, Parasitalces Bruner, 1911, Liebermannacris gen. nov., Robustusacris gen. nov., and Arimacris gen. nov. are reviewed, described, redescribed and redefined. Four species are new combinations: Liebermannacris dorsualis (Giglio-Tos, 1898) comb. nov., Liebermannacris punctifrons (Stal,1878) comb. nov., Arimacris trinitatis (Bruner, 1906) comb. nov., and Robustusacris balzapambae (Rehn, 1913) comb. nov., all removed of Sitalces Stal, 1878. Nine species are new synonymous: Sitalces robustus Bruner, 1908 (of S. volxemi Stal, 1878); S. infuscatus Bruner, 1908; S. nudus Bruner, 1908; S. ovatipennis Bruner, 1908; S. madeirensis Rehn, 1916 (of Liebermannacris dorsualis (Giglio-Tos, 1898); S. rubripes Hebard, 1924 (of Robustusacris balzapambae (Rehn, 1913); E. amazonicus Gunther, 1940 and S. apolinari Hebard, 1923 (of Eusitalces vittatus Bruner, 1911); E. rubripes Gunther, 1940 (of P. vulneratus (Bruner, 1919)). Lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated. Keys to identification of the genera and species, measurements, map of the geographical distribution and illustrations are added.