Neotropical Entomology最新文献

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), commonly known as the red palm weevil, is one of the most destructive invasive pests threatening palm species worldwide. Its rapid global spread has been facilitated by the international trade of infested plant material and its cryptic life cycle. In Brazil, a country with one of the highest palm species diversities and significant coconut production along its coastline, the introduction and establishment of R. ferrugineus pose a serious threat to native biodiversity and the agricultural economy. In this study, we used the MaxEnt modeling approach to predict the potential distribution of R. ferrugineus in Brazil, based on 79 occurrence records and nine selected bioclimatic variables. The consensus model exhibited excellent predictive performance (AUC = 0.95, TSS = 0.84). Our results indicate that coastal areas of the Northeast, Southeast, and South regions present high environmental suitability for the species, with low uncertainty, while portions of the Amazon show moderate suitability coupled with higher uncertainty. The mean temperature of the driest quarter (BIO9) was identified as the most influential variable, aligning with the species' thermal preferences. The presence of highly suitable areas overlapping regions of dense palm diversity and economically important crops underscores the urgent need for early detection and integrated management strategies. Our findings provide critical insights for biosecurity planning and highlight Brazil's vulnerability to R. ferrugineus invasion.

Animal identification is pivotal for ecological studies, yet automated recognition tools for bee species remain underexplored. Here, we present a machine learning approach using a Random Forest algorithm to identify five bee species representing three phylogenetically diverse families within Apoidea based on their flight and floral buzz sounds. Acoustic parameters were extracted from recordings, with the fundamental frequency emerging as the most relevant feature for species classification. Machine learning models achieved 90.94% using flight buzz and 82.22% with floral buzz. Combining both sound types increased accuracy to 95.04%. Among all bee species, B. pauloensis showed the lowest classification performance, likely due to intraspecific variation in body size, leading to acoustic overlap with other species. Despite this, the proposed method demonstrates high performance and suggests that acoustic features can be reliably used for species-level identification. This approach holds potential for non-invasive monitoring of bee richness and abundance in diverse communities, contributing to the development of automated tools for ecological research and biodiversity assessment.

The carambola fruit fly (Bactrocera carambolae Drew & Hancock) is a quarantine pest that poses a threat to Brazilian fruit production and export. In September 2023, the pest was recorded for the first time in the municipality of Oriximiná, in the state of Pará. Control methods were implemented by the Agricultural Defense Agency of Pará, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, aiming at eradicating the pest. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of phytosanitary measures in reducing the population of the carambola fruit fly under the climatic conditions of Oriximiná, Pará, Eastern Amazon, Brazil. Monitoring took place from September 12 to November 15, 2023, in a 182 hectare urban wooded area. A total of 317 specimens were captured, including 274 males and 43 females, with higher captures in Jackson type traps (67.5%) compared to McPhail type traps (32.5%). The fruiting phase was observed in 93.1% of the fruit trees where traps were installed. Relative humidity, solar radiation, and rainfall influenced the pest's population fluctuation, which was also associated with the collection of 1059 kg of fruit. A dissimilarity was observed between trapping density and pest incidence in traps, with a movement radius of 3.3 km, low spatial dependence [Moran's Index of 0.092 (p > 0.05)], low capture rates in the largest trapping coverage area, and greater abundance in areas with high boat traffic along the Amazon River in Pará. The maximum fly/trap/day index of 0.54 highlights the effectiveness of control efforts and underscores the importance of the eradication program's actions in containing the territorial spread of B. carambolae in the Eastern Amazon and ensuring the sustainability of the national fruit production chain. .

Insect pest infestations in pasture areas have a detrimental impact on Brazilian livestock. One of the challenges currently faced by livestock farmers is the control of pests such as chinch bugs of the genus Blissus (Hemiptera: Blissidae), an emerging pest of pastures in Brazil. There is a significant gap in the literature on this group of insects. The first step in developing management tools for this pest involves establishing a mass-rearing protocol that enables individuals to be reared in sufficient numbers for subsequent studies. In this study, we present a protocol for the mass rearing of Blissus pulchellus Montadon (Hemiptera: Blissidae) in an indoor cultivation system, including the environmental conditions necessary for the growth of the evaluated host grasses (Urochloa humidicola cv. Humidicola, Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Ruziziensis, Urochloa humidicola cv. Llanero, and Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) along with the chinch bug B. pulchellus. Mass rearing of B. pulchellus during indoor cultivation was possible. Both host grasses and B. pulchellus developed adequately at 30 ± 2°C and variable photoperiods ranging from 16:8 to 14:10 light:dark. Urochloa humidicola cv. Humidicola and Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Ruziziensis enhanced the population growth of insects, enabling the collection of up to 2000 insects per tray per week. This study presents the first successful mass-rearing method for chinch bugs, Blissus sp., in an indoor cultivation system for use in different studies.

Insect pests in stor ed products cause qualitative and quantitative losses in seed lots, reducing their commercial value by directly compromising the physiological and sanitary quality of the seeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological quality and perform a proximate analysis of rice seeds infested with Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), using radiographic images. The X-ray analysis was used to detect and identify the weevil development stages and quantify the percentage of infestation in rice seeds. The physiological quality and the proximate analysis were evaluated after the seeds were subjected to four levels of infestation by S. zeamais: 0%, 2%, 3%, and 5%. The radiographic images enabled efficient detection of infestation levels, identification of the weevil's developmental stages, and assessment of damaged and empty seeds. The following physiological tests were performed: germination test, first germination count test, emergency test, retention capacity of the substrate, emergency speed index, and electrical conductivity test. For the physiological and proximate analysis, the experimental design was completely randomized, with four treatments and four replications. Statistical differences were observed in physiological assessments and proximate analysis across infestation levels, confirming that infestation intensity directly affects seed viability and nutritional value. This emphasizes the importance of effective monitoring methods to mitigate pest damage to stored seeds.

The flood mosquito Aedes albifasciatus adapts to the thermal conditions of different regions and presents demographic explosions, causing problems for livestock farming and public health, including outbreaks of western equine encephalitis. Between October 2019 and June 2021, their larval development was monitored in Tandil temporary pools, recording 35 events. For each one, the larval development time and the average daily mean temperatures were calculated. The data were fitted to several temperature-dependent bibliography nonlinear models for insects, previously setting the lower and upper thermal development thresholds (for Ae. albifasciatus in the studied region) at 7.62°C and 33°C, respectively. A new model, based on combinations of factors present in bibliography models, is proposed to estimate the larval development rate as a function of temperature. The models were validated using the root mean square error (RMSE) and concordance index (d). In addition, the distribution of percentage frequencies of the difference between the length of the period estimated by the models and that recorded in the field was calculated. The best model had the highest agreement index (0.9), the lowest RMSE (0.01), and the highest agreement between the estimated and observed development rate (83%). This model could be useful as a pre-diction tool of Ae. albifasciatus abundance peaks in the context of future outbreaks of western equine encephalitis in South America.

Based on material collected in Brazil, three new species of Americabaetis Kluge are described based on nymphal stage. Two of them, Americabaetis puri sp. nov. and Americabaetis anapes sp. nov., present a remarkable characteristic previously reported only in Americabaetis titthion Lugo-Ortiz and McCafferty: a pair of setose protuberances on meso- and metasterna. They can be distinguished from each other based on the following characteristics: shape of the meso- and metasternum protuberances; shape of the spines on the posterior margin of the abdominal terga; number of denticles on the tarsal claws; gill shape; and number of spines on the paraproct. The third species, Americabaetis urubici sp. nov., can be distinguished, among other things, by the large body size, presence of frontal keel, gills with tracheae pigmented, extending from main trunk to inner and outer margins, and paraprocts with 21 marginal spines. To enhance the knowledge of the group, this paper also provides a supplementary description for the nymphs of Americabaetis labiosus Lugo-Ortiz and McCafferty based on extensive fresh material collected near its type locality. Finally, we present the first interactive identification key for species of the genus occurring in South America, based on the nymphal stage.

Botanical derivatives constitute an alternative for reduction in the use of synthetic insecticides in the management of agricultural pests. The larval form of the diamond back moth, Plutella xylostella, is one of the main pests of the family Brassicaceae and is resistant to synthetic insecticides. The insecticidal potential of Mentha L. essential oils (EOs) on P. xylostella has been investigated. The aim of the present study was to test the potential of commercially available EOs from the genus Mentha L. on P. xylostella. EOs from Mentha arvensis L., Mentha piperita L., and Mentha spicata L. were investigated. Topical toxicity and residual contact toxicity tests were conducted, along with the assessment of biological parameters, feeding deterrence, and repellency. Phytotoxicity to Brassica oleracea L. leaves was also investigated. The oil from M. piperita was the most toxic to P. xylostella by topical contact, whereas the oil from M. spicata was the most toxic by residual contact. Overall, the Mentha oils were more toxic by topical contact than residual contact. The EOs from M. arvensis and M. spicata significantly altered the weight of the pupae and larval survival. All Mentha oils tested caused feeding deterrence in P. xylostella. The EO from M. piperita exhibited persistent repellence over time compared to the other EOs. Mentha EOs administered at doses corresponding to the LC₉₅ estimated in the concentration-response curve were tested and did not cause phytotoxicity to Brassica oleracea L. leaves. The present results demonstrate the potential insecticide of OEs commercial of Mentha in the management of the P. xylostella, causing topical and residual mortality, altering biological and behavioral aspects, and can be used as an alternative to conventional chemical control.

This study investigates the comprehensive effects of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula L. feeding on canola seed germination and seed chemical quality (proteins, lipids, oligosaccharides, dry matter, and fatty acid profile). Damaged siliques originated significantly higher percentages of abnormal seedlings and dead seeds. Seed quality analyses demonstrated that damaged seeds showed lower levels of lipids and dry matter but higher levels of crude proteins. The fatty acid profile in seed oil was altered due to stink bug feeding, with increased levels of oleic, stearic, and linoleic acids and decreased levels of linolenic acid. Regarding oligosaccharides, the fructose and stachyose levels were notably lower in damaged seeds, whereas the sucrose level was higher. Multivariate analysis using principal components analysis provided a structured overview of their interrelationships. Therefore, these results clearly demonstrate that, although N. viridula is not considered a main pest of canola, its feeding activities on this plant results in substantial seed damage and detrimental alteration of seed chemical compounds.

This study addresses historical uncertainties regarding morphological variation in the paraprocts of Tupiperla illiesi, a stonefly with a complex taxonomic history. We tested whether these variations represent phenotypic plasticity or distinct species using integrative taxonomy. Adult gripopterygids were collected from Estação Biológica de Boracéia utilizing Malaise and light traps. The morphology of the specimens was analyzed in accordance with existing literature, and selected individuals underwent DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode region. Molecular distances were estimated using the Kimura 2-parameter model, and clustering was determined using Neighbor-Joining and Bayesian methods. Species delimitation was further refined using the SPdel pipeline. The combined analysis of COI sequence and morphological differences in the paraprocts led to the identification of distinct morphotypes within T. illiesi, resulting in the description of a new species, Tupiperla tucum sp. nov.