Maria Christina de Almeida

Floral biology of Stachytarpheta maximiliani Scham. (Verbenaceae) and its floral visitors

This study describes the reproductive system of Stachytarpheta maximiliani (Verbenaceae), including its floral biology, nectar and pollen availability and insect foraging patterns, identifying whose species act as pollinators. It was carried out in a Brazilian Atlantic rain forest site. Observations on the pollination biology of the Verbenaceae S. maximiliani indicate that their flowering period extends from September through May. Anthesis occurs from 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and nectar and pollen are available during all the anthesis. Many species of beetles, hemipterans, flies, wasps, bees and butterflies visit their flowers, but bees and butterflies are the most frequent visitors. The flowers are generally small, gathered in dense showy inflorescences. A complex of floral characteristcs, such as violet-blue color of flowers, long floral tubes, without scents, nectar not exposed, high concentration of sugar in nectar (about 32%), allowed identification of floral syndromes (melittophily and psicophily) and function for each visitor. The bees, Bombus morio, B. atratus, Trigonopedia ferruginea, Xylocopa brasilianorum and Apis mellifera and the butterflies Corticea mendica mendica, Corticea sp., Vehilius clavicula, Urbanus simplicius, U. teleus and Heraclides thoas brasiliensis, are the most important pollinators.

Parasitismo de percevejos-praga do maracujazeiro no Brasil por Hexacladia smithii Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

We describe the new association of Hexacladia smithii (Ashmead) parasitizing two passion fruit bugs, Holhymenia histrio (Fabricius) and Anisoscelis foliacea marginella (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Coreidae), in Brazil.

Coexistência entre abelhas sem ferrão e formigas: ninho de Paratrigona myrmecophila (Apidae) construído em ninho de Camponotus senex (Formicidae)

A nest of Paratrigona myrmecophila Moure, found in a nest of Camponotus senex (Fr. Smith), is described. Besides records on nest structures, some notes on interspecific interactions, nest defense, population size, honey organoleptic properties, and comments on the coexistence of these two organisms are provided.

Homonímia em Tiphiidae (Hymenoptera)

A new name, Tiphiallen nom.n. is proposed for Allenella Genise, 1992 (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae), preoccupied by Iredale, 1944 (Mollusca, Gastropoda).