Patterns of Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Richness and Relative Abundance along an Aridity Gradient in Western Venezuela

In xeric ecosystems, ant diversity response to aridity varies with rainfall magnitude and gradient extension. At a local scale and with low precipitation regimes, increased aridity leads to a reduction of species richness and an increased relative abundance for some ant species. In order to test this pattern in tropical environments, ant richness and relative abundance variation were evaluated along 35 km of an aridity gradient in the Araya Peninsula, state of Sucre, Venezuela. Three sampling stations comprising five transects each were set up. Pitfall traps and direct collecting from vegetation were assessed per transect. Overall, 52 species, 23 genera, and 7 subfamilies of ants were recorded in the peninsula. The total number of species and genera recorded by both sampling stations and transects decreased linearly with increasing aridity. Total relative abundance was highest in the most arid portion of the peninsula, with Crematogaster rochai (Forel) and Camponotus conspicuus zonatus (Emery) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) being the numerically dominant species. Spatial and multivariate analyses revealed significant changes in ant composition every 11 km of distance, and showed a decrease of ant diversity with the increase of harsh conditions in the gradient. Here, we discuss how local geographic and topographic features of Araya originate the aridity gradient and so affect the microhabitat conditions for the ant fauna.     

Richness and Abundance of Ichneumonidae in a Fragmented Tropical Rain Forest

Because of the magnitude of land use currently occurring in tropical regions, the local loss of animal species due to habitat fragmentation has been widely studied, particularly in the case of vertebrates. Many invertebrate groups and the ichneumonid wasps in particular, however, have been poorly studied in this context, despite the fact that they are one of the most species-rich groups and play an important role as regulators of other insect populations. Here, we recorded the taxonomic composition of ichneumonid parasitoids and assessed their species richness, abundance, similarity, and dominance in the Los Tuxtlas tropical rain forest, Mexico. We compared two forest types: a continuous forest (640 ha) and a forest fragment (19 ha). We sampled ichneumonids using four malaise traps in both forest types during the dry (September–October) and rainy (March–April) seasons. A total of 104 individuals of Ichneumonidae belonging to 11 subfamilies, 18 genera, and 42 species were collected in the continuous forest and 11 subfamilies, 15 genera, and 24 species were collected in the forest fragment. Species richness, abundance, and diversity of ichneumonids were greater in the continuous forest than in the forest fragment. We did not detect differences between seasons. Species rank/abundance curves showed that the ichneumonid community between the forest types was different. Species similarity between forest types was low. The most dominant species in continuous forest was Neotheronia sp., whereas in the forest fragment, it was Orthocentrus sp. Changes in the ichneumonid wasp community may compromise important tropical ecosystem processes.     

西双版纳片断热带雨林蝶类群落结构与多样性研究

对西双版纳片断热带雨林蝴蝶群落结构和多样性进行了研究。样地内共收集蝴蝶9 204号,隶属于10科,62属,84种。主要成分是：粉蝶科(粉蝶属、迁粉蝶属)、凤蝶科 (凤蝶属、麝凤蝶属)、蛱蝶科(斐豹蛱蝶属、尾蛱蝶属),眼蝶科(幕眼蝶属、矍眼蝶屑)等属的种类。属、种以风蝶科最丰富;个体数量以粉蝶科最多;喙蝶科的属、种和个体数量最少。各样地的多样性指数、均匀度和种类丰富度是：热带原始雨林自然保护区>城子片断热带雨林>植物园片断热带雨林>曼峨片断热带雨林。     

Culicidae (Diptera) selection of humans,chickens and rabbits in three different environments in the province of Chaco, Argentina

Studies were conducted to determine the selection of humans, chickens and rabbits by Culicidae in three different environments in the province of Chaco, Argentina. Mosquitoes were collected fortnightly using cylindrical metal traps containing animal bait (chickens and rabbits). The mosquitoes were collected between June 2001-May 2002. During the same period and with the same frequency, mosquitoes biting the human operators of the traps were collected during the first 15 min of exposure within different time intervals: from 09:00 am-11:00 am, 01:00 pm-03:00 pm, 05:00 pm-07:00 pm and 09:00 pm-10:00 pm. A total of 19,430 mosquitoes of 49 species belonging to 10 genera were collected. Culex species mainly selected chicken bait and Wyeomyia species selected rabbit bait. Ochlerotatus and Psorophora species were more abundant in rabbit-baited traps. Anopheles triannulatus, Coquillettidia nigricans, Ochlerotatus scapularis, Mansonia titillans and Psorophora albigenu showed a strong attraction for human bait. The Anopheles, Coquillettidia, Culex and Mansonia species were more active between 05:00 pm-09:00 pm, while Ochlerotatus, Psorophora, Haemagogus and Wyeomyia were most active from 09:00 am-07:00 pm. This study provides additional information about the biology and ecology of arbovirus vectors in Chaco.     

人为干扰对壶瓶山国家级自然保护区蝴蝶物种多样性的影响

为了解人为干扰对壶瓶山国家级自然保护区(以下简称壶瓶山保护区)蝴蝶物种多样性的影响, 调查组于2017-2018年间采用样线法抽取5条样线对壶瓶山保护区的蝴蝶群落进行调查研究, 分析了人为干扰对蝴蝶发生规律的影响, 并比较了壶瓶山保护区中不同程度人为干扰情况下的蝴蝶发生差异。本调查共观测到蝴蝶6,711只, 隶属5科19亚科119属190种, 各样线的优势种主要有宽边黄粉蝶(Eurema hecabe)、东方菜粉蝶(Pieris canidia)、酢浆灰蝶(Pseudozizeeria maha)、宽带凤蝶(Papilio nephelus)等。轻度干扰情况下物种多样性最高, 其次为无干扰条件, 而中度干扰情况下蝴蝶物种多样性最低, 即小规模的耕作-居住环境有利于蝴蝶的聚集, 而增加现有的人为干扰程度或扩大干扰范围, 可致使群落中蝴蝶物种数减少、优势类群数量增加。     

Isolated Asian steppe element in the Balkans: habitats of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Proterebia afra</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) and associated butterfly communities

A characteristic butterfly of Asian steppes, Proterebia afra (Fabricius 1787), was studied in its two relic areas of occurrence within the Balkans—the Askion Mts (a single mountain massif in NW Greece) and Dalmatia (karstic inland S Croatia)—together with co-occurring butterfly communities during its early spring adult flight period. P. afra adults tolerate harsh continental conditions prevailing at its localities during its flight. Local densities were higher in the Askion Mts (up to 100 individuals per 50 m walk) than in Dalmatia (up to 30 individuals per 50 m). Within both areas of occurrence, it inhabits dry grasslands subject to intermediate grazing pressure that retains enough dry grass litter but still suppresses shrubs and trees. Hotter slopes are preferred in more northerly Dalmatia than in the more southerly Askion Mts. More co-occurring butterfly species and more Mediterranean species were recorded in the Askion Mts (69 vs 63; 23 vs 12), but more butterfly individuals and higher species’ richness per transect were observed in Dalmatia. In ordination analyses, the main gradients organising the grassland butterfly communities distinguished between grassy plains and rocky slopes containing more woody plants. Given the distribution extents, local densities and present land use conditions, the Balkan P. afra is not currently endangered, but this may swiftly change with grazing abandonment, especially in Dalmatia, and some conservation actions should be considered in the near future.     

Impacts of forest gaps on butterfly diversity in a Bornean peat-swamp forest

Forest degradation is leading to widespread negative impacts on biodiversity in South-east Asia. Tropical peat-swamp forests are one South-east Asian habitat in which insect communities, and the impacts of forest degradation on them, are poorly understood. To address this information deficit, we investigated the impacts of forest gaps on fruit-feeding butterflies in the Sabangau peat-swamp forest, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Fruit-baited traps were used to monitor butterflies for 3 months during the 2009 dry season. A network of 34 traps (n_gap = 17, n_shade = 17) was assembled in a grid covering a 35 ha area. A total of 445 capture events were recorded, comprising 384 individuals from 8 species and 2 additional species complexes classified to genera. On an inter-site scale, canopy traps captured higher species richness than understory traps; however, understory traps captured higher diversity within each site. Species richness was positively correlated with percent canopy cover and comparisons of diversity indices support these findings. Coupled with results demonstrating morphological differences in thorax volume and forewing length between species caught in closed-canopy traps vs. those in gaps, this indicates that forest degradation has a profound effect on butterfly communities in this habitat, with more generalist species being favored in disturbed conditions. Further studies are necessary to better understand the influences of macro-habitat quality and seasonal variations on butterfly diversity and community composition in South-east Asian peat-swamp forests.     

Species composition and nocturnal activity of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) inhabiting a limestone cave in Thailand

We investigated the nocturnal activity of cave‐dwelling sand flies at different time intervals and determined their species composition and seasonal variation. Sand flies were captured on one night each month using CDC light traps from 18:00–06:00 with the collecting bag being changed every two h between February, 2010 and January, 2011. A total of 18,709 individuals, including 10,740 males and 7,969 females, was collected. The overall ratio between male and female specimens was 1:0.74. The collected specimens included 14 species from four genera, Chinius, Idiophlebotomus, Phlebotomus, and Sergentomyia. Sergentomyia phadangensis was the most abundant species (comprising 31.9% of the collected individuals), followed by Se. anodontis (22.8%) and Ph. mascomai (18.2%). The highest number of specimens was collected in July (15.6%), followed by May (15.5%) with the peak of collection recorded at the time interval of 00:01–02:00, followed by 22:01–00:00. However, there were no significant differences observed among time intervals of sand fly collections (p=0.154). Observations of the nocturnal activity of male and female sand flies throughout the night suggest that phlebotomine sand flies show the greatest activity level after midnight.     

Geographical and ecological distribution of marine halacarid genera and species (Acari: Halacaridae)

At the end of 2002, the number of marine halacarid species was 1018, that of genera 51. A single genus, Copidognathus contains 33% of all species (336). Eleven genera are monotypic. Geographical provinces with a large number of species are the tropical western Pacific, temperate northeastern Atlantic, temperate southeastern Pacific, and Mediterranean-Black Sea. Most records of halacarid species are from temperate and tropical areas; 10% of species are known from polar zones. On a generic level, 29 genera are recorded from tropical and temperate but not from polar provinces, five genera are restricted to the tropics, and none to polar regions. The majority (920 species or 90%) of all species live in the upper 200 m. Records of genera with exclusively algivorous or brackish/fresh water species are bound to littoral habitats; all the other genera occur in more than one depth zone. Arenicolous genera, though most abundant in the littoral zone, have representatives in the bathyal. Four marine genera (Copidognathus, Halacarellus, Isobactrus, Lohmannella) have representatives in coastal fresh water, and three genera, Acarothrix, Caspihalacarus and Peregrinacarus, are predominantly inhabitants of diluted brackish and fresh water. None of the free-living halacarid genera of the world's oceans appears to be endemic to one geographical province.     

Seasonality and landscape use by Tabanidae species (Diptera) in the Central Amazon, Brazil

Adults of Tabanidae may become serious pests wherever they occur due to their attack to humans and others animals. Tabanids were captured near ground, water surface and at 25 m high on primary forests and forest gaps of anthropogenic origin, to understand their abundance, seasonality, diversity and similarity on such environments. Collections were carried out in the Base II of the War Instruction Center in the Jungle (CIGS) located at 54 km from Manaus municipality, Amazonas state. Two Malaise flight interception traps and four attraction traps (two suspended at 25 m high and two above the water surface of igarapé) were installed in forest gap and primary forest, areas for 10 consecutive days, during 15 months. A total of 2,643 specimens of 66 species were captured. Diachlorini (35 species /11 genera) was the most abundant tribe, followed by Tabanini (19 species /three genera), Chrysopsini (seven species /one genus) and Scionini (five species /two genera). Seventeen species were captured only in the primary forest, 11 in the anthropic clearing, and 38 species were common to both environments. The most abundant species were Phorcotabanus cinereus (Wiedemann), Tabanus occidentalis L, Chrysops laetus Fabricius and Tabanus angustifrons Macquart. The greatest richness was found in drier months (September/October) in both areas. Theforest gap showed higher abundance of specimens (1,827) than the primary forest (816). Traps suspended above the water surface were the most efficient (1,723 specimens) probably due to the dispersion of horseflies over small streams.     

Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from Panay,Philippines, with a new species and a new genus

This paper provides the first faunal checklist for Cicadidae (Hemiptera) from Panay, Philippines, comprising five species belonging to five genera. A new species, Platypleura lourensi sp. nov., and a new genus, Ggomapsalta gen. nov., are described. Dundubia vaginata (Fabricius, 1787) and Ggomapsalta vernalis (Distant, 1916) are newly recorded from Panay. Information on geographic distributions is provided.     

Species diversity of butterflies in Changbai Mountain in China

Using a modified belt transect method, we investigated the butterfly communities in five different vertical vegetation belts of Changbai Mountain in China from 1992 to 2009; these belts were broadleaf deciduous forest, coniferous–deciduous mixed forest, coniferous forest, erman’s birch forest and alp tundra. We determined the number of species and abundance of butterflies in each belt and in the coniferous–deciduous mixed forest belt, we also compared these parameters among different months. Preston’s lognormal distribution was used to model the species abundance distributions and five indicators (Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′), Pielou uniformity index (J), Simpson predominance centralization index (C), Margalef abundance index (E) and Jaccard similarity coefficients) were used to analyze the butterfly community diversity. We found four main results. (1) Across all five vertical vegetation belts, 9641 butterflies were collected, belonging to 7 families, 98 genera and 196 species. As altitude increased, the number of butterfly genera and species gradually reduced. There was a relationship between the distribution of dominant species and the total species between each belt and the distribution of vascular plants. (2) The species abundance distribution was successfully modeled as a Preston’s lognormal distribution; the best fit was obtained when α = 0.326, the determinant coefficient of the equation was 0.74798. The species abundance distribution indicates that Changbai Mountain provides a suitable environment for butterflies; there was high species richness and an even distribution of butterfly species. There were few very common and very rare species, with most species having an intermediate abundance. (3) As altitude increased, H′ and E gradually became smaller, while C showed the opposite pattern, and J did not significantly change. The similarity coefficients analysis demonstrated a clear difference among belts; the farther apart any two belts, the smaller the similarity coefficient, indicating less similarity in the butterfly communities. The similarity coefficient between the deciduous forest and the coniferous–deciduous mixed forest belt was the largest (0.651) while that between the deciduous forest and the alp tundra was the smallest (0.141). (4) Comparison of the butterfly species communities among different months in the coniferous–deciduous mixed forest found that H′ and E showed similar directional changes, while the opposite pattern was found with C; the changes in J did not necessarily reflect the actual change in diversity.     

Taxonomic study of spongy spumellarian Radiolaria with three and four coplanar spines or arms from the middle Carnian (Late Triassic) of the Köseyahya nappe (Elbistan, SE Turkey) and other Triassic localities

The present article is a taxonomic study of all spongy spumellarian radiolarian taxa with three and four coplanar spines or spongy arms occurring in the middle Carnian from the Köseyahya section, near the town of Elbistan, SE Turkey. This fauna is characteristic of the Tetraporobrachia haeckeli radiolarian Zone, and comes from an 8 m thick succession of clayey-cherty limestones occurring at the lower part of the section. In addition, a few species from the Middle and Upper Triassic from other areas have been also included in this study to improve some generic diagnoses, and to better comprehend the diversity and evolutionary trends of some genera, subfamilies and families. The taxonomy at the generic and suprageneric levels is based primarily on the types of microsphere. This new approach allowed new taxonomic arrangements of genera and suprageneric units, and suggested new phylogenetic relationships among these radiolarians and between them and younger radiolarians. The authors discuss and describe 69 species, of which 37 are new, and 14 genera, of which three are new (Paraparonaella, Pseudangulobracchia, and Ropanaella). The genus Triassoastrum and others are reinterpreted. All genera studied are assigned to five subfamilies, of which two are new (Tetrapaurinellinae and Triassocrucellinae), and two families (Tritrabidae and Veghicycliidae). Nine species in open nomenclature are also illustrated.     

安徽琅琊山大型真菌区系多样性

对安徽省琅琊山自然保护区大型真菌区系多样性进行了分析.结果表明该地区共有大型真菌107种,分属于25科56属,其中优势科为多孔菌科Polyporaceae(20种,占18.69％)、口蘑科Tricholomataceae(14种,占13.08％)、丝膜菌科Cortinariaceae(11种,占10.28％)、红菇科Russulaceae(10种,占9.35％),以上4科仅占琅琊山大型真菌总科数的16％,而种数占全部种数的51.4％;优势属有鹅膏属Amanita(8种,占7.48％)、栓菌属Trametes(7种,占6.54％)、乳菇属Lactarius(5种,占4.67％)、小皮伞属Marasmius(5种,占4.67％)、红菇属Russula(5种,占4.67％),共包括30种,占全部种数的28.04％.从属的区系地理成分上可分为:世界性分布成分(66.07％)、泛热带分布成分(19.64％)、北温带分布成分(10.71％)、东亚分布成分(1.79％).琅琊山大型真菌主要是以世界广布成分为主,其次是泛热带成分和北温带成分,这种分布状况可能与该地区的气候、地理和植被等自然条件的特征有着密切的关系.从种的组成上可划分为世界性分布种(70.09％)、温带分布种(14.95％)、热带-亚热带分布种(14.02％)及中国-日本共有种(0.93％)等4个分布类型,表现出一定的热带向温带过渡的区系特征.     

Effects of fires on butterfly assemblages in lowland dipterocarp forest in East Kalimantan

The post‐fire butterfly fauna in lowland dipterocarp forest of the Bukit Soeharto Education Forest (BSEF), East Kalimantan, Indonesia, was assessed during the period November 1998–April 2000 by means of consecutive Malaise trap samples, with supplementary field observations for March–April 1999. A total of 514 butterflies belonging to 61 species and representing six families were caught in the traps. Melanitis leda (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae), Charaxes bernardus (Nymphalidae: Charaxinae), and Danaus genutia (Nymphalidae: Danainae) were the species most frequently caught (60, 52 and 47 individuals, respectively), representing 31% of the total. These three species are generalists and “disturbance indicators” for tropical rainforest, being characteristic of disturbed or secondary forests, being distributed widely, and having larvae that feed on a wide range of host plants. In contrast, other species, such as Trogonoptera brookiana and Troides amphrysus, were recorded before the fires but were not recorded again afterwards. The pre‐ and post‐fire butterfly fauna of East Kalimantan were compared on the basis of butterfly specimens deposited in the Tropical Rain Forest Research Center that were collected in and around the Bukit Soeharto Education Forest before the fires (1988–1995). On the basis of the post‐fire survey, based on Malaise trap samples and field observations, only 43% of the butterfly species (not including Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae) were confirmed to have persisted. The data suggest that refugia that are not affected by fire are necessary for the conservation of specialist butterflies, as well as many other forms of wildlife.     

Diversity and altitudinal distribution of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) in Peregrina Canyon,Tamaulipas, Mexico

The Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) is a highly speciose family that has been poorly studied at the regional level in Mexico. In the present study, we estimated species richness and diversity in oak-pine forest, Tamaulipan thorny scrub and in tropical deciduous forests in Peregrina Canyon within the Altas Cumbres Protected Area of the northeastern state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Sampling of Chrysomelidae consisted of five sweep net samples (200 net sweeps) within each of three sites during four sample periods: early dry season, late dry season, early wet season, and late wet season. Species were identified and total numbers per species were recorded for each sample. A total of 2,226 specimens were collected belonging to six subfamilies, 81 genera and 157 species of Chrysomelidae from the study area. Galerucinae was the most abundant subfamily with 1,828 specimens, representing 82.1% of total abundance in the study area. Lower abundance was recorded in Cassidinae (8.5%), Eumolpinae (3.6%), Cryptocephalinae (2.2%), Chrysomelinae (2.2%), and finally Criocerinae (1.3%). The highest species richness was also presented in the subfamily Galerucinae with 49% of the total obtained species followed by Cassidinae (20%), Cryptocephalinae (9.7%), Eumolpinae (9.7%), Chrysomelinae (6.5%) and Criocerinae (5.2%). The most common species were Centralaphthona fulvipennis Jacoby (412 individuals), Centralaphthona diversa (Baly) (248), Margaridisa sp.1 (219), Acallepitrix sp.1 (134), Longitarsus sp.1 (104), Heterispa vinula (Erichson) (91), Epitrix sp.1 (84) and Chaetocnema sp.1 (72). Twenty-two species were doubletons (1.97% of total abundance) and 52 were singletons (2.33%). The estimated overall density value obtained was 0.0037 individuals/m2. The greatest abundance and density of individuals were recorded at the lowest elevation site. However, alpha diversity increased with increasing altitude. Similarity values were less than 50% among the three sites indicating that each site had distinct species assemblages of Chrysomelidae. The highest abundance was obtained during the late dry season, whereas diversity indices were highest during the early wet season. The present work represents the first report of the altitudinal variation in richness, abundance, and diversity of Chrysomelidae in Mexico. These results highlight the importance of conservation of this heterogeneous habitat and establish baseline data for Chrysomelidae richness and diversity for the region.     

Diversity and seasonal fluctuations in dung beetle (Coleoptera) community in Kurukshetra,India

Five pitfall traps baited with 150–200 g of fresh cattle dung were installed for 24 h at weekly intervals. A total of 991 dung beetles from 11 genera, 31 species and three subfamilies was obtained. The community was dominated by Oniticellus spinipes individuals by 32.3%. Ten species appeared only once during the collection period and species composition and dominance changed throughout the period. The overall pattern we detected in the organization of the dung beetle community is that the species richness, abundance and diversity rise in September and the 2^nd week of October. The dung beetle community was found to be affected by season.     

Genetic diversity of the entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps tenuipes in forests and butterfly gardens in Quindío,Colombia

Cordyceps tenuipes is an entomopathogenic fungus that infects mostly pupae of several lepidopteran families. In Colombia the species has been reported in non-disturbed tropical rain forests and more recently in butterfly gardens. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity in populations of C. tenuipes present in natural (forests) and artificial (e.g. butterfly gardens) environments in the department of Quindío, Colombia, using three molecular nuclear markers ITS, TEF-1α and RPB1. All the samples evaluated corresponded morphologically and phylogenetically to C. tenuipes. The butterfly garden of Quindio Botanical Garden (QBG) showed the highest genetic diversity among all sampling localities and was very similar to that of its adjacent forest. The Amaranta Butterfly Garden (ABG), located north of QBG, showed lower genetic diversity as well as little genetic differentiation with QBG, consistent with the hypothesis of a pathogen transfer from QBG to ABG. Higher F_ST values were observed for TEF-1α and ITS, revealing genetic differentiation between all demes and the southern forest population. Our research constitutes the first study of the intraspecific diversity of C. tenuipes in Colombia and can serve as the first step in identifying diversity reservoirs and management of epizootic episodes caused by this fungal species.