Paulo Sérgio Fiuza Ferreira

Ephemerelloidea (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) do Brasil

No presente trabalho sao apresentados novos registros da superfamilia Ephemerelloidea para o Brasil. Sao tambem apresentadas chaves de identificacao para os adultos e ninfas de todas as familias, generos e especies documentadas para o pais. Os generos incluidos nesse trabalho sao: Amanahyphes Salles & Molineri (1 especie), Coryphorus Peters (1 especie), Leptohyphes Eaton (5 especies), Leptohyphodes Ulmer (1 especie), Macunahyphes Dias, Salles & Molineri (1 especie), Melanemerella Ulmer (1 especie), Traverhyphes Molineri (4 especies), Tricorythodes Ulmer (6 especies), Tricorythopsis Traver (9 especies).

Morphology of the Phytophagous bug Platyscytus decempunctatus (Carvalho) (Heteroptera: Miridae)

Platyscytus decempunctatus Carvalho is a small mirid living throughout its life cicle plant Solanum cernuum Vell. (Solanaceae). The internal morphology of P. decempunctatus was studied and found that the female has a telotrophic ovary with three ovarioles in the right ovary and five in the left one. In the male reproductive trait there is a well developed tubular accessory gland. The phytophagous feeding habitat of P. decempunctatus was confirmed by the observations of chlorophyll pigments in the gut of all dissected specimens. The tubular salivary glands and the Malpighian tubules were also discussed.

Miridae (Heteroptera) fitófagos e predadores de Minas Gerais, Brasil, com ênfase em espécies com potencial econômico

A total of 296 species of Miridae belonging to 17 tribes were recorded from State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. New host plant records include 141 species of 43 orders and 69 families. Of this total, 98.5% of plants have some agricultural, pharmacological or ornamental importance; 29 orders and families of host plants have two or more mirid species.

Key to the genera of Ephemerelloidea (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from Brazil

A key to the Brazilian genera of Ephemerelloidea, nymphs and adults, belonging to the families Coryphoridae, Leptohyphidae and Melanemerellidae is presented. Currently, seven genera of this superfamily are known in Brazil. The Leptohyphidae is the most representative family, with five genera registered from the country, Leptohyphes Eaton, 1882, Leptohyphodes Ulmer, 1920, Traverhyphes Molineri, 2001, Tricorythodes Ulmer, 1920 and Tricorythopsis Traver, 1958. The families Coryphoridae and Melanemerellidae are monotypic, represented by Coryphorus Peters, 1981and Melanemerella Ulmer, 1920.

Habitat Complexity and Caryocar brasiliense Herbivores (Insecta: Arachnida: Araneae)

ABSTRACT Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Malpighiales: Caryocaraceae) trees have a wide distribution in the cerrado. This plant is protected by federal laws and is left in deforested areas of the cerrado. This situation increases the damage to leaves, flowers, and fruits from chewing insects. We studied the effect of habitat complexity and plant architecture on the diversity and abundance of the Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera herbivores and their predators on trees of C. brasiliense in cerrado, pasture, and on the Campus of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. We observed 13 rare, 2 common, and 1 constant species of herbivores insects; and 3 rare, 8 common, and 1 constant species of predators on trees. Higher diversities and number of species of herbivores insects and their predators were observed in pasture than in the cerrado and on the campus of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Herbivorous insects were most abundant in pasture and least abundant on the university campus. Predators were most abundant in pasture and least abundant in the cerrado. Ants, spiders, and predatory bugs are important in the reduction of the defoliators and leaf miners insects. The percentages of defoliation and populations of defoliators and ants were higher on C. brasiliense trees with wider crowns. We found a positive correlation of soil aluminum concentration with percent defoliation and numbers of lepidopteran leaf miners. On the other hand, increased soil pH was correlated with reduction in percent defoliation and numbers of lepidopteran leaf miners.

Las especies de Coccus que afectan Coffea Arabica en Brasil (Coccoidea: Coccidae) y redescripcion de dos especies

Five Coccus on Coffea arabica from the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais were studied. Females were prepared and mounted in Canada balsam. Coccus brasiliensis Fonseca and Coccus lizeri (Fonseca) were redescribed and Coccus alpinus De Lotto, Coccus celatus De Lotto and Coccus viridis (Green) were characterized. A key to species and illustration of all of them are included. Coccus alpinus and C. celatus are new records for Brazil and the Neotropical Region.

Seasonal abundance and sexual variation in morphometric traits of Oxelytrum discicolle (Brulle, 1840) (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Ferreira, P.S.F.; Pires, E.M.; Guedes, R;N.C.; Mendes, M. and Coelho, L.A. Seasonal abundance and sexual variation in morphometric traits of Oxelytrum discicolle (Brulle, 1840) (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Biota Neotrop. May/Aug 2006, vol. 6, no. 2, http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v6n2/pt/abstract?article+bn02206022006. ISSN 1676-0611 A total of 293 specimens of Oxelytrum discicolle were sampled weekly over a period of two years using a black light trap. The study took place in an Atlantic Forest reserve located near Vicosa city, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The period of peak abundance of O. discicolle occurred during the wet season between the months of October and March. Statistical analysis showed that the abundance of individuals was significantly and positively correlated with temperature, but not with rainfall or relative humidity. Of 28 morphological measurements taken on each collected specimen, seven were found to be sexually dimorphic; however, neither morphology nor the degree of sexual dimorphism varied significantly among seasons.

SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF HEMIPTERANS ON CARYOCAR BRASILIENSE (MALPIGHIALES: CARYOCARACEAE) TREES IN THE CERRADO

ABSTRACT Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Malpighiales: Caryocaraceae) trees have a wide distribution in the cerrado. This plant is protected by federal laws and is untouched in deforested areas of the cerrado. Under these circumstances, the damage to leaves, flowers, and fruits from sucking hemipterans has increased. We studied populations of sucking insects and their predators on C. brasiliense trees in the cerrado during each season for 3 successive years. The numbers of sucking insect individuals on C. brasiliense trees were similar among the seasons of the year. However, the highest number of species and greatest diversity occurred in winter. Predators were most abundant in spring and winter, with highest diversity and number of species in winter. We observed 7 rare, 2 common, and 1 constant species of sucking insects; and 4 rare, 8 common, and 1 constant species of predators on C. brasiliense trees. The greatest numbers of various sucking insect species were observed by seasons as follows: Aconophora sp. (Membracidae) on fruits and Frequenamia sp. (Cicadellidae) on leaves in the winter; Aphis gossypii (Glover) (Aphididae) and Mahanarva sp. (Cercopidae) in the spring; and Dikrella sp. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on the leaves in the summer and autumn. For predators, Crematogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) had the lowest abundance on the leaves in the summer, and highest abundance in the flowers in the winter and spring, while in spring it was most abundant on the fruits, and in the autumn Trybonia sp. (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) on the leaves was the most abundant. Higher number of ants Crematogaster sp. was observed in Caryocar brasiliense trees that presented large numbers of Dikrella sp.. Higher numbers of predators Trybonia sp., Chrysoperla sp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and total of predator thrips were associated with decreasing numbers of Dikrella sp., A. gossypii, and total of sucking insects respectively. The increase in the numbers of individuals and species of predators were correlated with the reduction of these same ecological parameters of the sucking insects. We argue that this differential temporal distribution of sucking insects and their predators was influenced for phenology of plant and weather.

Morphology of the reproductive and digestive tracts of Adparaproba gabrieli (Heteroptera: Miridae)

Adparaproba gabrieli Carvalho is a phytophagous neotropical bug with a restricted distribution to southeast Brazil. The histology of the digestive system and that of the male and female reproductive tracts of A. gabrieli was studied. We found that the male had a pair of testes with two follicles per testis, two short vasa defentia that joined in a muscular ejaculatory duct with two pairs of well-developed accessory glands. The female has a meroistic telotrophic ovary with three ovarioles per ovary. There is a pair of sac-like salivary glands. The digestive tract, after the pharynx, has a long, thin oesophagus ending in a muscular proventriculus. The transition fore-midgut is marked by a stomodeal valve, and the midgut is the main organ with an anterior portion with columnar cells and an posterior one with flattened cells. The hindgut is short and differentiated in the ileum and rectum. The Malpighian tubules are also described and the phytophagous feeding habit of A. gabrieli is discussed.

New species of Tricorythopsis Traver (Ephemeroptera: Leptohyphidae) from northern Brazil

Two new species of Tricorythopsis Traver (Ephemeroptera: Leptohyphidae) are described based on nymphs from northern Brazil. Tricorythopsis yucupe sp. n. is distinguished by the pronotum with lateral margins expanded; forewing pads elevated just before apex and keel shaped; coxae with projections; femora with short setae; tarsal claws with three to five marginal denticles, and two rows of 1–2 + 1 submarginal denticles; dorsal tubercles present on terga 7–9; colour pattern. Tricorythopsis bahiensis sp. n. is distinguished by the wide femora bordered with long setae; tarsal claws with three or four marginal denticles, and two rows of 5 + 3–4 submarginal denticles; dorsal tubercles absent in abdominal segments; colour pattern. Duas novas espécies de Tricorythopsis Traver (Ephemeroptera: Leptohyphidae) são descritas baseadas em ninfas do norte do Brasil. Tricorythopsis yucupe sp. n. é distinguido pelo pronoto com margens laterais expandidas; extremidade das tecas alares elevadas em forma de quilha; projeção nas coxas presentes; fêmures com cerdas curtas; garra tarsal com 3–5 dentículos marginais e duas fileiras de 1–2 + 1 dentículos submarginais; tubérculos dorsais presentes nos tergos abdominais 7–9; padrão de coloração. Tricorythopsis bahiensis sp. n. é distinguido pelo fêmur largo, bordeado com longas cerdas; garra tarsal com 3–4 dentículos marginais pequenos e duas fileiras de 5 + 3–4 dentículos submarginais; ausência de tubérculos abdominais; padrão de coloração.