Lúcia Massutti de Almeida

Levantamento da fauna de Coleoptera que habita a carcaça de Sus scrofa L., em Curitiba, Paraná

This paper sought to assess the Coleoptera fauna associated with carcasses of Sus scrofa L., 1758, which is usually used as model in Forensic Entomology. The addition and sequential substitution of insect species could be used to estimate the post mortem interval (PMI). The present study took place in Centro Politecnico (UFPR), between september 2005 to september 2006. A pig weighting 15 kg was sacrificed each season and put inside a cage. Sampling is made daily in a tray placed below the carcass and in a Shannon modified trap, and each 14 days in five pit-fall traps. 4,360 beetles were collected, belonging to 112 species of 26 families, 12 were considered of forensic potential. The active collecting made in the tray was responsible for the largest number of beetles (2,023 specimens), followed by the modified Shannon trap (2,016 specimens) and by the pit-fall traps (324 specimens). Staphylinidae was more abundant in the modified Shannon trap, while Silphidae was more abundant in pit-fall traps. The main habits found are predator/parasite (55%) and omnivorous (38,05%), with only a few species considered necrophagous (1,31%).

Diagnosis and key of the main families and species of South American Coleoptera of forensic importance

The objective of this paper is to provide diagnosis and keys of the families and species, with illustrations of the main groups. A table of all related species recorded from South America is presented, including the substrate in which they were collected and their geographical distribution. The list comprises 221 species included in 15 families, of which 70% of the species are from Brazil. Scarabaeidae is the most diverse family with 121 species, followed by Staphylinidae with 68. Also we provide one database of Coleoptera species associated with carcasses in South America.

First record of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae): a lady beetle native to the Palaearctic region

Specimens of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) an asiatic species were caugth in Capao do Tigre, Curitiba, Parana, South of Brazil, for the first time, feeding on Tinocallis kahawalnokani (Kirkaldy) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) on Lagerstroemia indica Linnaeus (Lythraceae).

Susceptibility of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) to cypermethrin, dichlorvos and triflumuron in southern Brazil

Susceptibility of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) to cypermethrin, dichlorvos and triflumuron in southern Brazil. The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), is an important insect pest in poultry houses in Brazil. Susceptibility of the lesser mealworm collected from eight poultry houses in Parana state, southern Brazil, was evaluated for cypermethrin, dichlorvos and triflumuron. Adult A. diaperinus were tested in bioassays with cypermethrin and dichlorvos. Larvae were fed rabbit feed wetted with a triflumuron-water solution. Concentration-mortality regressions were estimated using Probit analysis and resistance ratios were calculated based on the susceptible population. Among the field populations evaluated, cypermethrin LC50 values for adults, ranged from 68.1 to 6,263 ng (AI)/cm2. LC50 values for adults challenged with dichlorvos ranged from 10.3 to 1,385 ng (AI)/cm2. One population from Pato Branco showed reduced susceptibility to triflumuron (LC50 = 272 µg (AI)/ml of solution) when compared to the most susceptible population (LC50 = 109.8 µg (AI)/ml). Application of cypermethrin and dichlorvos analogues should be managed with caution to minimize insecticide resistance problems.

Harmonia axyridis: a threat to Brazilian Coccinellidae?

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) is a polyphagous Asian species, well-known as a classical biological control agent of aphids around the world, introduced probably accidentally in Brazil, sampled for the first time in 2002. It is an important intraguild predator, competing for food with native coccinellids. It was studied H. axyridis alimentary sources and host plants, its abundance compared with native and established species, the influence of abiotic factors and the seasons over the abundance of H. axyridis throughout one year, and discussed the mechanisms which influence the displacement of species. Harmonia axyridis was found in 38 plant species, among them 20 were new records, feeding on 20 aphid species, eight of them new alimentary records. Between 2006/2007, eight Coccinellidae species were collected and H. axyridis was the most abundant (91.23%). Harmonia axyridis peak of abundance occurred in August and September 2007, probably influenced by the temperature and food availability. From 1999 to 2007 a reduction and variation in the diversity of collected species of Coccinellidae were observed with the predominance of H. axyridis, which may indicate their displacement.

The Impact of Temperature on Biological Aspects and Life Table of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

ABSTRACT The impacts of temperature on Harmonia axyridis and its potential as a control agent of Cinara atlantica, the Carolina conifer aphid, were evaluated. The experiments were conducted with eggs from field-collected adults. Each egg batch was kept at 15 °C, 20 °C and 25 ° C, 70% RH and 12:12 h. L:D. After hatching, the larvae were reared individually until adult emergence and all insects were kept under the same conditions. The mean period of egg incubation, total developmental time and egg viability were longer at 15 °C that than at the other 2 temperatures. Survival was 100% for all the larval, pre-pupal and pupal stages. The longevity was longer at 15 °C and 20 °C than 25 °C The mean number of eggs produced was significantly higher at 15 °C than at the other 2 temperatures. The post-oviposition period increased with increasing temperature. The highest specific fertility was recorded at 15 °C, followed by 25 °C and 20 °C, respectively. The net reproductive rate was higher at 15 °C than at the 2 higher temperatures. The time interval between each generation (T) decreased with increasing temperature and the population doubling time (DT) was higher at 15 °C than at 20 °C and 25 °C. The intrinsic rates of increase (rm) were very similar at the 3 temperatures, but the finite rate of population increase (&lgr;) was higher at 25 &xgr;C than at the 2 lower temperatures. The results indicate that H. axyridis shows great potential as a biological control agent of C. atlantica.

Coleoptera associated with pig carcass exposed in a forest reserve, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

The Coleoptera fauna of forensic importance associated with Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 carcass decomposition in Ducke Reserve, Manaus, Brazil, was determined. A total of 41 species, belonging to six families and 11 subfamilies were collected. Staphylinidae presented the higher richness with 17 species sampled, followed by Histeridae, with 11 and Scarabaeidae with nine species. Euspilotus azureus (Sahlberg, 1823) (Histeridae), Aleochara sp. (Staphylinidae) and Oxelytrum cayennense (Sturm, 1826) (Silphidae) occurred in all stages of decomposition. Omalodes lucidus Erichson, 1824 and Scapomegas auritus Marseul, 1855 (Histeridae) are recorded for the first time in the Amazon, being also reported for the first time associated with a decomposing carcass. The fauna differs from those of other Brazilian regions, emphasizing the importance of studies to determine the regional insect fauna of forensic importance that can be used in criminal investigations.

Exigências Térmicas, Período de Desenvolvimento e Sobrevivência de Imaturos de Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The development and survival of the immature stages of the lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) were studied at four constant temperatures (22°C, 25°C, 28°C, and 31°C). The development was completed at all temperatures. At 22°C, longer development period and lower survival were observed. The optimal temperature was 31°C which promoted shorter development and higher survival. The basal temperature and thermal constant for egg, larva and pupa development were: 17.8°C, 19.2°C, and 16.5°C and 40.09, 239.48 and 59.56 degree-days, respectively.

Keys for the identification of Coleoptera (Insecta) associated with stored products

An illustrated key to identify nine families of Coleoptera commonly found in stored products is presented. Keys for the identification of Anobiidae [Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius, 1792), Stegobium paniceum (Linnaeus, 1761)], Bruchidae [Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say, 1831), Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman, 1833)], Curculionidae [Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus, 1763), S. zeamais Motschulsky, 1885], Silvanidae [Ahasverus advena (Waltl, 1832), Cathartus quadricollis (Guerin, 1892), Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauvel, 1889), O. surinamensis (Linnaeus, 1758)] and Tenebrionidae [Gnathocerus cornutus (Fabricius, 1798), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797), T. confusum du Val, 1868] are also provided. These keys cover the most frequent Coleoptera found in stored products, specially grains, and are to the adult stage only. Illustrations of external morphology and general characteristics are provided for each species reported.

Operclipygus hospes (Lewis) (Coleoptera, Histeridae): a Beetle of Potential Forensic Importance for Buried Bodies

Operclipygus hospes (Lewis) is reported as a new record of Histeridae associated with buried bodies in the Neotropical region. It is also suggested that O. hospes has an important role in forensic entomology as a seasonal indicator. To assist in the recognition and the use of this species in forensic entomology, diagnosis and illustrations of the main characters of the genus and species are provided.