La garrapata es un importante problema de ectoparásitosis en bovinos, su principal método de control es a través de ixodicidas químicos, los cuales causan resistencia, afectan a especies endémicas, dañan directamente al ganado y han representado un riesgo para la salud humana. El uso de entomopatógenos es una alternativa inocua que implica menor costo económico, ambiental y ayuda a su control, sin causar afectaciones. Con base en esto, se realizó una búsqueda de entomopatógenos en tres regiones de Jalisco (Sierra de Amula, Costa Sur y Sur), México, con dos tipos de microhábitats: corrales y zonas de pastoreo / descanso. La captura de entomopatógenos se realizó con el insecto cebo Galleria mellonella a través de muestras de suelo recolectadas. La presencia de microorganismos entomopatógenos se detectó tanto fuera como dentro de los corrales, con una mayor abundancia de Metarhizium, Beauveria, y en menor cantidad nematodos entomopatógenos del género Heterorhabditis, así como el hongo Cordyceps que se encontró sólo en un sitio de colecta. Esta investigación da a conocer la riqueza de entomopatógenos en zonas ganaderas del sur de Jalisco y sugiere una alternativa para desarrollar estrategias para el control de la garrapata en campo minimizando así la aplicación de productos químicos.
Racelda jaderi sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Ectrichodiinae) is described from French Guiana based on six male specimens. Short taxonomical notes on Racelda aberlenci B & eacute;renger & Gil-Santana, 2005 and Racelda robusta B & eacute;renger & Gil-Santana, 2005, are provided, with emphasis on their male genitalia, which are fully described for the first time.
We evaluated the diversity of Collembola communities associated with Distichia muscoides cushions and their temporal variation over an eleven-month period in peatlands located within the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve. Sampling was conducted across eight sites using a soil corer. The springtails were extracted using a modified Galen Berlese funnel method. The specimens were mounted in Hoyer’s medium and identified using a phase-contrast microscope. Abundance, species accumulation curves were calculated, richness, Shannon, and Simpson indices were estimated. To assess differences in collembolan abundance, richness and diversity between eight peatlands, we used non-parametric one-way ANOVA and a multiple comparison post hoc test of mean ranks for the significance of differences. To assess seasonal influence, we used the Mann-Whitney U test. A total of 264 samples and 4,982 springtails specimens were collected, belonging to seven species, that were for the first time recorded associated with D. muscoides. The most abundant species was Bagnallella biseta, followed by six least abundant species: Entomobrya sp., Sminthurides ringueleti, Mucrosomia caeca, Hypogastrura purpurescens, Brachystomella cf. gabrielae, and Protaphorura fimata. The richness was low and the Shannon and Simpson indices showed low diversity. The relative abundance of the springtails was not influenced by the seasonal climatic variation.
Biodiversity conservation efforts benefit from more detailed information about the distribution of species impacted by human activity. This is especially true in the state of Rond & ocirc;nia in Brazil's Legal Amazon, where habitat disturbance has been extensive in recent years. This study addresses the information gap by updating the species list of orchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini), a group highly sensitive to environmental change. We compiled and analyzed data available in catalogs and scientific articles originating from studies conducted in the state. Our study identified a total of 69 valid species of orchid bees in Rond & ocirc;nia. Euglossa (Glossurella) parvula Dressler, 1982 is recorded for the first time in the state. The genus Euglossa exhibits the highest species richness, with 42 species, followed by Eufriesea (13 species), Eulaema (8 species), Exaerete (5 species), and Aglae (1 species). The high species richness found, even in the context of increasing deforestation, reinforces the importance of taxonomic and ecological studies to support conservation efforts and the sustainable use of natural resources in the Amazon.
Prey quality is a key determinant of the trophic ecology of generalist predators and directly affects their biological performance. Understanding these interactions in insects from the Caatinga biome is essential for predicting responses under climate change scenarios. This study evaluated the developmental and reproductive parameters of Zagreus bimaculosus fed on two mealybug species, Diaspis echinocacti and Dactylopius opuntiae, to assess differences in nutritional suitability and ecological compatibility. The embryonic period was significantly longer on D. opuntiae (14.4 days) than on D. echinocacti (11.9 days). Larval development comprised four instars, with the first and third instars being shorter on D. opuntiae, while total larval duration did not differ between diets and viability exceeded 95%. Pre-pupal and pupal development occurred faster on D. opuntiae, reducing the duration of these stages without affecting viability. As a result, total development time was shorter on D. opuntiae (52.3 days) than on D. echinocacti (55.7 days). Female fecundity was significantly higher when fed the exotic prey, whereas the pre-oviposition period did not differ between treatments. Overall, the results indicate that D. opuntiae enhances development and fecundity of Z. bimaculosus, suggesting greater ecological compatibility and potential to sustain predator populations in forage cactus-dominated environments.
Phera wallengreni is a leafhopper species (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) distributed in Mexico, is recognized as an agricultural pest due to its potential role as a vector of plant pathogens. This note record the first recorded predator-prey interaction involving this species. Remains of P. wallengreni were found in the stomach contents of a Southern Pigmy Skink (Plestiodon parvulus), an endemic lizard species of the country, collected in a pine-oak forest in San Sebasti & aacute;n del Oeste, Jalisco, Mexico. This finding establishes a new trophic interaction and suggests that P. parvulus may contribute to the biological control of Phera wallengreni as an agricultural pest.
Social wasps of the genus Polistes Latreille, 1802 are susceptible to predation by various taxa, especially ants. This work reports, for the first time, the raiding and predation of a colony of Polistes cinerascens de Saussure, 1854 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), by Camponotus rufipes (Fabricius, 1775) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a rocky area of a rupestrian grassland in Minas Gerais, Southeast Brazil. The record was made spontaneously during the dry season. During the attack, the ants removed eggs, larvae, and pupae from the nest, even breaking open previously sealed cell envelopes. The typical architecture of the Polistes nest, supported by a single stalk, and the social wasps' defensive behaviors were insufficient to prevent the raid. The ability of C. rufipes to exploit vertical structures, such as the stalk of P. cinerascens nests, demonstrates its capacity to act as an opportunistic predator. The record expands our knowledge of interspecific interactions in rupestrian grassland. This suggests that such events may be more frequent than available data indicate, highlighting the importance of further studies on these ecological relationships.
Abstact. Desert spiders generally are tolerant or resistant to desiccation, as they must develop strategies to live in high temperatures and prevent continued water loss. However, in extreme conditions, as the temperature increases, their metabolism increases, so they could lose water as the temperature rises. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of temperature on water loss in the spider Sicarius thomisoides. Spiders were subjected to different temperatures: 20 degrees C, 30 degrees C and 40 degrees C. Our results indicate that this spider has excellent resistance to desiccation, since, on average of the three temperatures, losing only 7.25 +/- 3.14% of the initial weight at 40 degrees C, being able to resist extremely high temperatures. In addition, we could not determine a significant effect of body size. Water loss was similar among individuals of different stage of development.
New species of the tribe Cryptognathini from South America are described: Calloeneis werenkrautae n. sp., from Argentina and Cryptognatha gabrieli n. sp. and C. alberycae n. sp., both from Brazil.
Studying the biological aspects of predators is a fundamental tool that helps to understand the potential of insects in an insect pest control management program. Exochomus insatiabilis Rodriguez-V & eacute;lez, a recently described species, has been observed feeding on the main citrus pest Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama). There is a lack of information on the biology of this coccinellid, so this study aimed to determine its life table, biological cycle, adult longevity, and fecundity table when fed with D. citri. The specific mortality rate (qx) remained low in the last three instars, indicating that the temperature, humidity, and feeding conditions are suitable for the development of these stages. Of 166 eggs, 100 reached adulthood in 37.32 +/- 12.84 days. During this time, 60.24% completed their biological cycle feeding solely on D. citri. The average adult longevity was 100.61 +/- 32.09 days, while the sex ratio was estimated at 0.88:1, equivalent to a 1:1 ratio. The number of eggs laid was recorded at 204.6 +/- 2.23, with a daily average of 1.32 +/- 0.32. The results obtained establish for the first time the biological cycle of E. insatiabilis, confirming that D. citri provides the necessary requirements for completing its development to the adult stage.
Se describen dos nuevas especies de la familia Coccinellidae para Chile: Eriopis cortesi n. sp. de la Región de Magallanes y Stenadalia chilechicoensis n. sp. de la Región de Aysén. Con ello las especies citadas para Chile aumentan a 124. Se incluyen registros adicionales del género Stenadalia Weise, 1926, delimitando su distribución geográfica en América del Sur.
Se presenta una clave para identificar a las especies de Salpingidae presentes en Chile, complementada con imágenes de partes corporales y hábito de los ejemplares estudiados. Se incluye, además, un catálogo actualizado de los taxones que considera datos de distribución. Se discute acerca de la composición taxonómica de la familia en el país.
Las avispas parasitoides de la familia Chalcididae cumplen funciones ecológicas claves en los ecosistemas naturales y agrícolas; no obstante, su diversidad permanece poco estudiada en países megadiversos como Ecuador. Aquí se reporta por primera vez en el país, la presencia de Brachymeria pandora (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) emergiendo de una pupa de Historis odius dious Lamas, 1995 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Este hallazgo constituye el primer registro confirmado de esta interacción hospedante–parasitoide en Ecuador y amplía el rango de distribución conocido de esta microavispa en América del Sur. Con este nuevo registro se incrementa a ocho el número de especies del género Brachymeria registradas en territorio ecuatoriano. Se incluyen fotografías de los especímenes de ambos sexos, una lista actualizada de los hospedantes lepidópteros conocidos y un modelo preliminar de su distribución potencial en Sudamérica. Dada su baja especificidad de hospedantes y amplio espectro de los mismos, se discute el potencial de B. pandora para el control biológico y los riesgos ecológicos asociados al liberar parasitoides generalistas. Finalmente, se resalta la importancia de estudiar grupos poco representados en investigaciones, como los Chalcididae, pues incluso los registros aislados pueden contribuir a llenar vacíos críticos de conocimiento.
La expansión urbana se asocia con tasas de extinción local, con la consecuente eliminación de especies nativas. Las ciudades generan una gran variedad de entornos, desde áreas altamente urbanizadas hasta espacios verdes como bosques fragmentados, parques y lotes baldíos. Estudios con hormigas en ambientes urbanos muestran una mezcla de especies nativas e introducidas. Para conocer las especies de hormigas en las zonas urbanas del estado de Jalisco, se realizó la colecta en ocho municipios entre 2021 y 2022. Se recolectó en tres sitios, por municipio: centro, parque y afueras; tres transectos por sitio y en cada transecto se marcaron tres unidades de muestreo. En cada sitio se utilizaron trampas de caída (excepto en el centro), cebos atún y nuez, además una colecta directa de 15 minutos en 10 metros a la redonda. Se obtuvieron 16.720 individuos, que corresponden a 140 especies, agrupadas en 44 géneros y ocho subfamilias. Los municipios más diversos fueron Cihuatlán con 57 especies y Puerto Vallarta con 45 especies, ambos con la menor altitud; los municipios menos diversos son Tapalpa con 15 especies y Ojuelos con 18 especies, estos cuentan con la mayor altitud. Se encontraron 20 especies introducidas.
Two species of kissing bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae), Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille, 1811) and Triatoma pallidipennis (Stål, 1872), are recorded for the first time in northern Mexico, specifically in the states of Nuevo León (T. dimidiata and T. pallidipennis) and Tamaulipas (T. dimidiata); these correspond to the northernmost records of the species in the country. A specimen of T. dimidiata from Nuevo León tested positive for Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, 1909, the causing agent of American trypanosomiasis, also known as Chagas’ disease.
Harvestmen are arachnids with a generalist, opportunistic diet that consists primarily of invertebrate prey; but may also exploit non-animal food sources, including fruit and fungi, although such records remain scarce for several species. The feeding habits of some species, such as Geraecormobius sylvarum Holmberg, 1887, are poorly known. This study recorded G. sylvarum feeding on the mushroom Coprinellus cf. disseminatus in a seasonal semideciduous forest in Paraná, Brazil on January 19, 2025. The observation sheds new light on the trophic interactions between harvestmen and Psathyrellaceae fungi and provides the first record of G. sylvarum consuming Coprinellus cf. disseminatus. This behavior can be attributed to the nutritional value and availability of the mushroom, though further research is required to determine its frequency and significance in the harvestmen’s diet.
Se describen cuatro nuevas especies y una nueva subespecie de lepidópteros Arctiinae de los bosques montanos de la vertiente oriental de los Andes y de la Amazonía de Perú: Opharus petalae sp. nov., Vanewrightia borussiadortmund sp. nov., Leucotmemis torrida stevnsorum ssp. nov., Pseudomya nelli sp. nov. y Treanna zapateri sp. nov. Se presentan fotografías de los adultos y de los órganos genitales de los machos y hembras, cuando estos últimos han estado disponibles, de las nuevas especies y de especies muy similares con las que se pueden confundir. Se utilizan caracteres morfológicos externos e internos (órganos genitales), patrón de coloración alar, patrones de distribución geográfica y las secuencias de barcoding, cuando ha sido posible, como criterios para discernir los taxones.
Con el propósito de determinar la abundancia relativa y el parasitismo natural de la “mosca de Jalisco”, Lydella jalisco Woodley (Diptera: Tachinidae) sobre poblaciones del “barrenador mexicano del arroz”, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), en caña de azúcar, se realizó unmuestreo extensivo mediante recolecta de estados inmaduros de “barrenadores del tallo”, entre los meses de enero a marzo de 2022, y julio y agosto de 2023, en parcelas con signos de daño, en cinco municipios de Nayarit (Tepic, Xalisco, Ahuacatlán, Santa María del Oro y Santiago Ixcuintla). De un total de 1.411 muestras se obtuvieron 154 pupas y 1.259 larvas: 1.137 (90,3% de Diatraea sp.) y 122 (9,7% de E. loftini); no obstante, la presencia de E. loftini se registró en todos los sitios muestreados. Se determinó un 34,4% de parasitismo por parte de L. jalisco sobre estados inmaduros de E.loftini obtenidos exclusivamente en la zona cañera de Santiago Ixcuintla, lo que representa el primer reporte en Nayarit, México.
The spiders of the genus Latrodectus (Theridiidae), commonly known as widow spiders, includes species of medical importance due to the high toxicity of their venom. Envenomation can range from mild to severe, occasionally resulting in fatal outcomes. In Mexico, four Latrodectus species have been recorded: L. mactans Fabricius, L. geometricus C. L. Koch, L. hesperus Chamberlin and Ivie, and L. occidentalis Valdez and Espinosa. Until recently, only L. mactans had been reported in Mexico City, though its range appears limited to the Tamaulipecan province and Sierra Madre Oriental. This study reports, for the first time, the presence of L. hesperus and a novel lineage designated as Latrodectus sp. 2 in Mexico City. Spider specimens were collected from 14 localities across Mexico City and identified using both morphological keys and molecular methods. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (CO1) was amplified via conventional PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and sequenced to confirm species identity. Of the 24 spiders analyzed, 10 were identified as L. hesperus and 14 as Latrodectus sp. 2. Phylogenetic analyses validated the presence of both taxa.
Harvestmen are arachnids with a generalist, opportunistic diet that consists primarily of invertebrate prey; but may also exploit non-animal food sources, including fruit and fungi, although such records remain scarce for several species. The feeding habits of some species, such as Geraecormobius sylvarum Holmberg, 1887, are poorly known. This study recorded G. sylvarum feeding on the mushroom Coprinellus cf. disseminatus in a seasonal semideciduous forest in Paran & aacute;, Brazil on January 19, 2025. The observation sheds new light on the trophic interactions between harvestmen and Psathyrellaceae fungi and provides the first record of G. sylvarum consuming Coprinellus cf. disseminatus. This behavior can be attributed to the nutritional value and availability of the mushroom, though further research is required to determine its frequency and significance in the harvestmen's diet.
