Many insect species are known only by their scientific names, with scarce information about their biology, even when they are widely distributed and promising predators in crop environments. For predatory species such as social wasps, foraging rhythm, prey diversity, flight range, and colony size are cornerstones of characterizing their impact on the environment. Here, we studied these aspects for the widespread social wasp Agelaia centralis (Cameron, 1907), in a Colombian oil palm plantation. We recorded the foraging rhythm and the type of items brought to the nest. A preliminary flight distance was assessed. Colony sizes were calculated using Schumacher-Eschmeyer and Lincoln-Petersen estimators. The round flights ranged between 198 and 325 individuals/10 min, with a peak in the morning and another in the afternoon. The efficiency index for load items ranged between 18.2 and 19.7. Between 87% and 90% of the solid items carried to the nest were prey. These included Araneae, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera, but most samples (>72%) were unidentifiable due to malaxation. Wasps released up to 400 m were recaptured from the nest. Estimated colony sizes ranged between 893.6 and 6122.4 individuals. Between 5% and 28% of individuals of a colony are foraging within a 10 min observation slot. The study sets basic information to calculate the impact of this social wasp as an arthropod predator in an agricultural environment.

A survey of the epiphytic flora associated with mangrove roots was undertaken in Málaga and Buenaventura bays, Colombia, in the tropical eastern Pacific. Roots were collected and preserved in 96% ethanol. In the laboratory, all the epiphytic flora was removed and identified. Three females of Anaphes sp. (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae) were found inside thalli of the red alga Catenella caespitosa (Withering) LM Irvine. The three specimens were fully developed but slightly teneral and still in their host eggs, so they could not be identified to species. This is the first record of any insect developing inside the thallus of a marine alga.

The cosmopolitan family Braconidae is found in a wide range of habitats despite being composed by highly specialized parasitoids. The genus Centistes includes a total of 97 described species, distributed in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. However, for the Americas there is just a recent revision of the Costa Rican fauna, with the description of twenty-three new species, but there has not been a comprehensive work about the genus for mainland South America. In this work, we studied the variation and richness of the genus through analyses of discrete characters, linear morphometry, ratio analyses, and geometric morphometrics. A key for the known South American species is provided and 15 new species are described: C. bellus Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. grandis Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. helmuthi Shaw sp. nov., C. hemicirculus Rom & aacute;n & Sarmiento sp. nov., C. hexagonalis Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. iguaquensis Rom & aacute;n & Sarmiento sp. nov., C. itamontiensis Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. itatiaiaensis Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. lobungula Rom & aacute;n & Sarmiento sp. nov., C. rosae Rom & aacute;n & Sarmiento sp. nov., C. singularis Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. soaresi Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. succinum Rom & aacute;n & Sarmiento sp. nov., C. truncatus Rom & aacute;n & Sarmiento sp. nov., and C. tubigaster Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov. The addition of these new species places Centistes as the second richest genus after Meteorus for the Euphorinae in South America.

The impact of land use changes on pollinator diversity can vary depending on factors such as the size of remaining natural habitat patches, the type and intensity of anthropogenic activities, and the functional composition of pollinator communities. This understanding is particularly crucial for mangrove ecosystems, which are critically endangered by human activities and prioritized in global conservation strategies. This study investigates how anthropization affects mangrove pollinator diversity by examining how pollinators with different functional traits respond to variations in mangrove patch size and anthropogenic changes in the surrounding landscape matrix. We found that overall pollinator abundance, richness, and diversity increased in smaller mangrove patches, potentially helping to mitigate negative effects such as inbreeding and genetic drift-common in naturally patchy and isolated mangrove populations. However, these pollinator metrics declined with increasing landscape anthropization, with notably lower values in urbanized landscapes compared to agricultural ones, despite the smaller patch sizes in more anthropized settings. This negative trend was consistent across pollinators with varying traits, though the magnitude of the effect differed among pollinator groups. Ground-nesting and exposed-nesting pollinators were most influenced by patch size, while lepidopterans and wasps, as well as species with either very small or large body sizes, solitary behavior, and nesting in exposed sites or cavities, were most affected by landscape anthropization. Conservation and management efforts should prioritize habitat provisioning for these most impacted groups to support mangrove ecosystem resilience.

The cosmopolitan family Braconidae is found in a wide range of habitats despite being composed by highly specialized parasitoids. The genus Centistes includes a total of 97 described species, distributed in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. However, for the Americas there is just a recent revision of the Costa Rican fauna, with the description of twenty-three new species, but there has not been a comprehensive work about the genus for mainland South America. In this work, we studied the variation and richness of the genus through analyses of discrete characters, linear morphometry, ratio analyses, and geometric morphometrics. A key for the known South American species is provided and 15 new species are described: C. bellus Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. grandis Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. helmuthi Shaw sp. nov., C. hemicirculus Román & Sarmiento sp. nov., C. hexagonalis Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. iguaquensis Román & Sarmiento sp. nov., C. itamontiensis Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. itatiaiaensis Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. lobungula Román & Sarmiento sp. nov., C. rosae Román & Sarmiento sp. nov., C. singularis Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. soaresi Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov., C. succinum Román & Sarmiento sp. nov., C. truncatus Román & Sarmiento sp. nov., and C. tubigaster Almeida & Penteado-Dias sp. nov. The addition of these new species places Centistes as the second richest genus after Meteorus for the Euphorinae in South America.

The evolution of animal genitalia has been an intriguing topic of research since Darwin proposed that sexual selection is acting upon these traits. Pseudoscorpions (Arachnida) are an interesting model to test this hypothesis since they exhibit a wide array of sexual traits and sexual strategies, including the development of elaborate spermatophores. In this context, we (1) explored the phylogenetic relationships within Withiidae using somatic, sexual characters, and molecular data; (2) estimated times of diversification of the lineages within the family; and (3) explored rates of change of male genitalia characters. We found strong support for the monophyly of Withidae and for both the Neotropical and the non-Neotropical clades; as for the sister group of Withiidae, there is no conclusive evidence since molecular data suggest Atemnidae, supporting previous molecular studies, but the combined morphological and molecular data pointed to Cheliferidae instead, with high support in both cases. The dating analysis suggests that Withiidae originated in the Cretaceous and its main diversification occurred during the Eocene. We also found that sensory traits such as the position of the trichobothria isb and ist, and not genital traits such as length of the ejaculatory canal, change faster, challenging the prediction of higher change rates in the former. In conclusion, for pseudoscorpions, factors other than sexual selection may contribute to stronger selective pressures over their morphology.

Objetivo: Through a co-words analysis of the papers published on the Revista Colombiana de Entomolog & iacute;a, study historical changes in research and the influence of the national government policies in sciences and technology. Methods: Authorship frequencies and co-word network analyses with packages of the R programming language. Frequencies of authorship and networks were divided into four periods according to changes in national policies about scientific publications. Results: The co-word network 1975 to 1995 is made up of 14 keywords (nodes) and 47 relations (edges), that from 1996 to 1999 is made up of 28 key words with 35 relations, that of 2000 to 2015 is composed of 52 keywords with 50 relationships; and the fourth from 2016 to 2022 is composed of 31 keywords with 29 relationships. The keyword with the highest number of links (degree) and betweenness centrality is "biological control". The words with the highest closeness values are different in each period; For example, from 1975 to 1995 it is "chrysanthemum", from 1996 to 1999 it is "coffee", from 2000 to 2015 it is "mass breeding" and from 2016-2022 it is "insects". International authors consistently appeared from the year 2000 in agreement with the publication of more explicit regulations against endogamy. Conclusions: Research trends are linked to the more important crops of the country along its history, with a strong interest in biological control. The changes in the themes related with publication policies are more evident in the year 2000, when the exogamy policy was established for the magazines, and the emphasis in international partnerships for the local academia. Public policies are not related to the characteristics of women's participation in the Colombian Journal of Entomology, maintaining a low percentage throughout the entire period studied, attributing the exceptional cases of female productivity to general social processes.

Despite the significance of the Galapagos archipelago, the richness of diverse groups such as braconid wasps remains poorly studied. Seven species of chelonine Braconidae are recorded for the Galapagos islands for the first time: Chelonus buscki Viereck, 1912, Chelonus carinatus Provancher, 1881, Chelonus johni Marsh, 1979, Chelonus refluus (Papp, 2010), Chelonus sulcifera (Papp, 2016), Chelonus topali (Papp, 1999), and Chelonus turgoclarus (Papp, 2010). No endemic species were identified for the islands. We also explore island population differences with respect to island area, age, and distance between islands. The populations of C. buscki and C. carinatus were statistically differentiated between islands. Morphological differences were associated with island area only for C. buscki while no relationship was found between differentiation and age or geographic distance between islands for any species. These results could be a consequence of recent colonization events.

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In February 2023, an outbreak of lepidopteran larvae was observed on a soursop grove (Annona muricata L.; Magnoliales: Annonaceae) at the Agrosavia Palmira Research Station in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The adult moth was identified as Gonodonta nutrix Stoll (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), a species found from North to South America. The larvae of G. nutrix typically target plants in the Solanaceae family, especially Brunfelsia americana L. and Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato), as well as species within the genus Annona L. (Annonaceae). The moths can damage the skin of these fruits and occasionally harm citrus fruits with their mouthparts. This study presents information on the morphology and biology of G. nutrix, including life-cycle data and a life table. The larvae were found to be parasitized by a braconid parasitoid from the genus Glyptapanteles Ashmead, 1904 Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae). Future research is needed to quantify the level of parasitization by Glyptapanteles sp. on G. nutrix and to assess its potential as a biological control agent. Additionally, we provide information on the geographical distribution of G. nutrix in Colombia and the New World, drawing on scientific literature, GBIF data, and citizen science contributions. An examination of entomological collections from six Colombian museums revealed a specimen dating back to 1978, however, this is the first written record of G. nutrix in Colombia.

In the Galapagos Islands, invasive wasps negatively affect the local fauna through competition with native predators. These wasps also pose a risk to humans because of their stings. Thus, it is important to constantly survey these insects. Currently there are three species of vespids known from the Galapagos: two social species are invasive, while a solitary species is cryptogenic. After structured sampling using malaise traps, hand nets, and pan traps on most of the islands of the archipelago, and a review of related collections, the distribution of Brachygastra lecheguana is expanded to Genovesa Island; precise localities and vegetation zones are recorded for Polistes versicolor; and updated information on the distribution of the cryptogenic solitary vespid Pachodynerus gaullei is provided.

The historical and geographical properties of the archipelagos allow a detailed study of species diversification, and phenotypic traits can indicate the extent of such processes. Eupelmus pulchriceps (Cameron, 1904) is an exotic species to the Galapagos archipelago, and generalist parasitoid that attacks a beetle species that consumes the seeds of the invasive shrub Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. Despite extensive sampling, the wasp is recorded only in Santa Cruz and San Cristobal islands of the Galapagos archipelago. Thus, using 112 female wasps, we compare body size, proportion, and allometric differentiations within and between the two islands. There were no body size differences between islands. A PerMANOVA indicates differences between the islands and a single differentiation between two localities of one island. Allometric differences between islands were not the same for all structures. These results are consistent with the greater distance between islands than between localities and suggest a differentiation process. The variables with allometric differentiation are associated with wings and ovipositor, possibly responding to different ecological pressures. It is interesting that this parasitoid, recently arrived at the archipelago, is already showing differentiation. Also, it is essential to monitor the behavior of these wasps in the archipelago, given their potential to access other species affecting the trophic interactions of the local biota.

Living at high altitudes impose physiological and ecological challenges to which species may respond altering their body size, body proportions, and the shape of their body parts. Despite the importance of this topic for understanding the origin of species diversity, little attention has been invested in this phenomenon at the populational level. This paper study the relationship between altitude and body size, body proportions, and forewing shape venation of two populations of the parasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes. Wasps were collected from Diatraea spp. larvae from sugarcane crops in two Colombian mountain ranges that cover between 600m and 2143m of altitude. Linear measurements of different body regions and geometric morphometrics of the forewing were subject to multivariate comparisons and allometric analyses to assess variation and to compare trends between ranges. Central (600m to 1704m) and Eastern Cordillera (877m to 2143m) populations showed different trends between body size and altitude. Allometric trends were not uniform within or between populations nor between structures. The allometric slopes of five body measurements from a single altitude differed from these from its own mountain range suggesting that body size trends along the cordilleras are a consequence of altitude and not of intrinsic body resource allocation processes. Wing shape between populations differed; however, these changes were poorly related to altitude. In agreement with recent studies in other groups, the observed allometric and wing shape differences between the two C. flavipes populations could be a plasticity response to altitude with interesting implications for posterior genetic differentiation.

Objetivo: analizar la estructura científica de la colaboración en la revista Caldasia a lo largo de su historia. Método: Utiliza el análisis de redes de coautoría y usa el software Gephi. Resultado: La red del periodo de 1940 a 1995 está formada por cinco comunidades, donde un autor para comunicarse con otro autor requiere cruzar tres autores para interactuar con otros investigadores, mientras que la red del periodo de 1996 a 2002 está formada por tres comunidades; en esta red un autor solo requiere cruzar dos autores para interactuar con otros autores. La red de 2003 a 2015 está formada por diez comunidades, en esta red un autor requiere cruzar un promedio de autor y medio para interactuar con otros investigadores. La red del periodo de 2016 a 2021 está formada por nueve comunidades y para interactuar con otros autores se tiene la misma distancia de la red anterior para comunicarse. La intermediación en las redes de coautoría en cada uno de los periodos muestra que solo 20 de 89 autores son intermediarios de información. El número de artículos en colaboración oscila entre uno a seis y los conglomerados de las redes de coautoría están formados por uno a nueve autores. Conclusiones: Las redes de coautoría de los cuatro periodos no están cohesionadas y están formadas por conglomerados que responden a intereses diferentes de investigación, o bien, a periodos diferentes o a afiliaciones institucionales distintas.

Moths of the genus Diatraea Guilding (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) are stalk-boring pests of sugarcane throughout the neotropics. In Colombia, the economically important species are D. busckella, D. indigenella, D. saccharalis, and D. tabernella. Augmentative releases of the gregarious endoparasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) are one tactic used to manage this pest complex. We compared the laboratory performance of two C. flavipes populations, one field-collected, and one commercially-sourced, on all four host species, hypothesizing lower performance of the commercial population on host species other than D. saccharalis due to continuous rearing on this species. Parasitism success did not vary with parasitoid source, but varied among host species, being highest in D. indigenella and lowest in D. tabernella, with other species intermediate. Sex ratio was female-biased, averaging 0.635, and did not vary with parasitoid source or host species. Wild wasps developed more slowly than commercial wasps on all hosts, being slowest on D. tabernella, whereas commercial wasps were slowest on D. busckella. Both parasitoid populations produced their largest broods in D. indigenella, but commercial wasps produced smaller broods than wild wasps in D. busckella and D. tabernella, and substantially lower weight gain of host larvae post-parasitism, suggesting impaired host regulation ability. In all host species, wild wasps produced larger female progeny, based on wing area, than commercial wasps. When all metrics of parasitoid performance (fitness) were combined into a single index of host suitability, D. indigenella was the most suitable host for both parasitoid populations. Both parasitoid sources had similar performance on D. saccharalis, the host used to rear the commercial population, whereas wild wasps performed better on all other Diatraea species. The inadvertant consequences of artificial selection in mass-reared cultures of gregarious endoparasitoids are discussed, specifically the evolution of faster development and smaller body size.

The pseudoscorpion family Withiidae is widely distributed around the world, with most of its diversity in tropical areas. Five new species and a new genus from Colombia are described: Cystowithiusflorezisp. nov., Parawithiusbromelicolasp. nov., Oligowithiusachaguasp. nov., and the genus Paciwithiusgen. nov. with two species Paciwithiusvalduparensissp. nov. and Paciwithiuschimbilacussp. nov. A reassessment of the subgenus Dolichowithius (Oligowithius) Beier, 1936 allows the elevation to a full generic level, and the transfer of the only known species to Oligowithius, forming the new combination Oligowithiusabnormis (Beier, 1936), comb. nov.

Abstract. Propositions of homology are fundamental in systematics, since they provide the basis for supporting clades. Consequently, such phylogenetic propositions rely on correct character and character state definitions. Although male genital morphology is a key source of information for understanding the phylogeny and classification of the Withiidae (Pseudoscorpiones), they have only been subjected to examination in six of the 170 species of the family. The suprageneric classification of the Withiidae is unstable, as subfamilies and tribes are not well supported by morphological characters, and only the unranked group of genera Cacodemoniini is currently accepted. The aim of the present work is to characterize the male genital armature of the Cacodemoniini and propose homology statements for these structures based upon their morphological correspondence. Through direct examination and literature review of 12 of the 13 genera of the Cacodemoniini, we provide the first structural correspondence statements and descriptions of variation for the dorsal apodemes, the ejaculatory canal, the lateral apodemes, and the lateral rods; we also conclude that unlike other pseudoscorpions, the Cacodemoniini have paired, independent lateral rods and a long ejaculatory canal formed not by the dorsal apodemes exclusively, but by a fusion of the dorsal and the lateral apodemes. The proposed interpretations lay the groundwork for phylogenetic testing of homologies and may allow a better understanding of the formation of the spermatophore, given that it is molded by the genital armature.