Fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on Santa Catarina Island, Brazil: patterns of occurrence

A taxonomic survey on fungus-growing ants (Attini) was made at 14 beaches on Santa Catarina Island (SC), Brazil. The samplings were manual, in soil or litterfall, in the following habitats: sandy beach, herbaceous vegetation and shrubby vegetation. From 12 species of Attini (ten of Acromyrmex Mayr and two of Cyphomyrmex Mayr), the most frequent were Cyphomyrmex morschi Emery and Acromyrmex crassispinus Forel, collected, respectively, on eight and ten of the monitored beaches. Altogether, Sorensen's similarity coefficients were high (range: 0.59-0.80), in spite of the lower numbers of ant species on sandy beaches.     

Demographic and genetic structures of two partially isolated communities of Santa Catarina Island,southern Brazil

The objectives of this study were to analyze the population structure and genetic variability of two communities, Costa da Lagoa (CLG) and S?o Jo?o do Rio Vermelho (SJRV), located on Santa Catarina Island in southern Brazil. The two populations descend from Azores Archipelago immigrants (Portuguese), with a minor contribution of sub-Saharan Africans and Amerindians. To estimate the relative contribution of the different ethnic groups to the current gene pool of the two communities, values of admixture were obtained using the weighted least-squares method based on allelic frequencies of the loci ABO, RHD-RHCE, GPA-GPB (MNSs), HBB, HP, TF, CP, AK, and ACP1. The origins of the studied populations can be quantified as follows: for CLG, sub-Saharan Africans (A) = 17.3%, Iberian Europeans (P) = 75.0%, and Southern Amerindians (I) = 7.7%; for SJRV, A = 48.8%, P = 44.5%, and I = 6.7%. Because haplotype frequencies of the GPA-GPB loci in SJRV were unusual, possibly as a consequence of random genetic drift, the values of admixture were recalculated after exclusion of GPA-GPB, as follows: A = 28.0%; P = 53.3%, and I = 18.7%. The total diversity (HT) was estimated as 42.29%, of which 99.6% can be attributed to the intrapopulational variability (HS). The interpopulational genetic variation (or standard distance, DST) corresponds to 0.19%, while the gene differentiation coefficient is 0.28%, indicative of low genetic difference. These results led to the conclusion that random genetic drift may have had an important effect on the Costa da Lagoa community, while presently gene flow might be the predominant evolutionary factor potentially capable of changing allele frequencies in SJRV.     

Taxonomic survey of Drosophilidae (Diptera) from mangrove forests of Santa Catarina Island, Southern Brazil

Assemblages of drosophilids have been characterised in several environments of the Brazilian territory, like the Atlantic Rain Forest, urban areas, cerrados, the Amazon Forest, and others. The present survey is the first attempt to characterise the fauna of Drosophilidae in mangrove forests, an environment typical of tropical coasts worldwide. Twenty-eight samples were collected from the three main mangrove forests of Santa Catarina Island, southern Brazil, using banana-baited traps hung in trees. Samples were taken in January (summer), April (autumn), July (winter) and October (spring) between July 2002 and July 2005. In total, 82,942 specimens of drosophilids were caught, belonging to 69 species of six genera - Amiota Loew, Drosophila Fallén, Leucophenga Mik, Scaptodrosophila Duda, Zaprionus Coquillett and Zygothrica Wiedemann. The high abundance of D. simulans Sturtevant was remarkable, with some notable peaks of D. malerkotliana Parshad & Paika in autumn samples. Other common species were Zaprionus indianus Gupta, D. mediostriata Duda and D. willistoni Sturtevant. We also collected 45,826 flies of family Curtonotidae, the sister-group of Drosophilidae virtually absent in other environments. The assemblages of drosophilids were very similar in the three mangrove forests surveyed, despite the different surrounding environments. In general, the species sampled in the mangroves were the same as those observed in the surrounding environments, but in varying abundances. This suggests that drosophilids are differently affected by environmental pressures operating in mangroves.     

Pollen types from colonies of Melipona scutellaris Latreille, 1811 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) established in a coffee plantation

Melipona scutellaris is a eusocial bee with potential to be used as a crop pollinator. This study aimed to identify pollen types used by Melipona scutellaris through the analysis of pollen loads and honey samples in colonies established in a coffee plantation. We analysed 117 pollen loads and pollen content of 15 honey samples. In the pollen loads, we identified 40 pollen types. Poincianella pyramidalis, Coffea arabica, Commelina villosa, Mimosa tenuiflora, Myrcia, Senna macranthera, Solanum and Syagrus coronata stood out as predominant pollen. We found a negative correlation between the abundances of the pollen types Coffea arabica and Mimosa tenuiflora during coffee flowering. In the honey samples, we recorded 33 pollen types. Eucalyptus and Machaerium occurred in frequencies of between 16 and 45%. Although Melipona scutellaris gathers resources from several plant species, its diet is based on a relatively narrow subset of plants.     

Nesting ecology and floral resource of Xylocopa augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau (Hymenoptera,Apidae) in Argentina

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Taxonomic revision, phylogenetic analysis, and biogeography of the bee genus Tropidopedia (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Tapinotaspidini)

The species of the bee genus Tropidopedia stat. nov. are revised. Thirteen new species are proposed: T. carinata sp. nov. , T. caracicola sp. nov. , T. danunciae sp. nov. , T. duckeana sp. nov. , T. eliasi sp. nov. , T. flavolineata sp. nov. , T. friesei sp. nov. , T. japuraensis sp. nov. , T. nigrita sp. nov. , T. nigrocarinata sp. nov. , T. ornata sp. nov. , T. peruana sp. nov. and T. venezuelana sp. nov. Taxonomic notes are provided for another four species: Tropidopedia punctifrons (Smith, 1879) comb. nov. , T. pallidipennis (Friese, 1899) comb. nov. , T. seabrai (Michener & Moure, 1957) and T. arcuatilis (Vachal, 1909) comb. nov. , including designation of a lectotype for Tetrapedia arcuatilis Vachal. An identification key, illustrations for main diagnostic characters, and distributions maps for all species are provided. A phylogenetic analysis was carried out to evaluate the monophyly of Tropidopedia and its main species groups, as well as to position it among the related genera. Biogeographical patterns are discussed.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 151 , 511–554.     

木蜂的巢内行为和交配策略

木蜂Xylocopa作为蜜蜂科的一个重要类群, 用来研究昆虫社会进化早期阶段具有重要意义。本文综述了近年来木蜂的营巢习性、 社会性行为和交配策略的研究进展。木蜂巢的建筑与巢内巢室的分布、 巢室的大小、 贮备蜂粮的效率和被寄生的敏感性等均有一定的关系。在筑巢地点, 随着木蜂种群数量的增加, 同种雌蜂之间的资源存在着竞争, 木蜂对巢室的守卫加强, 更多地表现为对同种雌蜂的守卫以及防御其他的天敌入侵。其社会多态性由独栖性向社会性演化, 主要表现为独栖性、 亚社会性、 半社会性、 共生性和准社会性等方式, 甚至同一种群内会出现不同的社会性行为。在交配策略上, 木蜂的雄蜂在外部形态特征上具有适应交配和寻找雌蜂的进化特征, 并且具有复杂的领地行为。这些研究理论对于我们深刻理解木蜂的行为生物学具有重要意义, 同时也有助于进行更深层次的社会性蜂类演化进程的探索。     

长木蜂的筑巢和采粉贮粮行为

【目的】通过研究长木蜂Xylocopa tranquebarorum筑巢和贮粮行为, 为进一步查明独栖性蜂类行为特点、开发新的蜂类资源提供依据。【方法】采用目测和拍照等方法对长木蜂的整个筑巢过程进行了连续观察, 用游标卡尺对巢口大小进行测量, 采用室内解剖巢室对长木蜂贮蜂粮的大小和数量进行观测。【结果】长木蜂主要在竹子上筑巢, 偶尔也发现在芦苇上筑巢。最喜欢选择竹节直径1.2～2.5 cm的孝顺竹Bambusa multiplex和刚竹属 Phyllostachys的竹种上筑巢。其筑巢过程为：雌蜂寻找合适的筑巢地点, 咬巢口, 清理巢室, 采集花粉蜜制作蜂粮, 在蜂粮上产卵, 制作巢室隔板。筑巢地点主要位于离旧巢1 m以内的位置。雌蜂啃咬巢口平均用时（292±29）min, 制作一块蜂粮需采集粉蜜22～40次, 采集粉蜜平均用时（17.31±0.52）min/次, 携粉蜜回巢滞留时间平均为（16.45±1.08）min/次;巢中卸落粉蜜平均用时为（15.29±1.03）min/次, 一生贮蜂粮平均6块左右;蜂粮近长方形, 长12～18 mm, 宽6～10 mm, 平均重量（0.7140±0.0269）g。【结论】长木蜂雌蜂不同个体之间筑巢行为相似, 而采集粉蜜的次数和贮蜂粮所用时间均有显著差异。     

A new species of Dendrocerus (Hymenoptera,Megaspilidae) from southern Brazil

A new species of the megaspiline genus Dendrocerus Ratzeburg is described and figured. Dendrocerus riograndensissp. n., is known from a series of males from the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and were captured with Malaise traps from an agricultural tobacco field.     

Temporal Variation in Seed Predation by Insects in a Population of Syagrus romanzoffiana (Arecaceae) in Santa Catarina Island, SC, Brazil

Insect seed predation may vary depending on seed production. The present study considers the hypothesis that the rates of seed predation tend to be smaller in years of higher fruit production. Thus, we monitored the production of fruits and predation of seeds of the palm Syagrus romanzoffiana over 2?years in the Atlantic Forest (Parque Municipal da Lagoa do Peri, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil), between July 2006 and June 2008. Plots of 0.25?m² were fitted under 20 mother plants and fruits were monthly collected for assessment of abundance and seed predation. There was variation in fruit production between the 2?years and among reproductive plants. Predation rates were high and occurred in the predispersal phase by the Curculionidae Revena rubiginosa Boheman, Anchylorhynchus aegrotus Fahraeus, and Anchylorhynchus variabilis Gyllenhal. Seed predation by these species of Anchylorhynchus is first registered in the present study. In average, about 60% of the seeds monthly produced in the population tend to escape insect predation in year of high or low production, becoming available for recruitment. The predation rate was not related to the amount of fruits produced per reproductive plant. Also, different than expected, there was a positive relation between the rates of seed predation and the total of fruits produced monthly on the plots. Thus, no evidence for the satiation of insect seed predators was found in this study with S. romanzoffiana.     

A new Brazilian species of Petunia (Solanaceae) from interior Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil

Petunia interior, a new species from interior Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, is described, and its morphological distinction from related species and features of its habitat are discussed.     

Revision and phylogeny of the bee genus Paratetrapedia Moure,with description of a new genus from the Andean Cordillera (Hymenoptera,Apidae, Tapinotaspidini)

The bee genus Paratetrapedia represents a commonly collected group of bees and is especially diverse in forested areas of the Neotropics. Its taxonomy has remained poorly understood because of a lack of modern revisionary work and numerous species described as Tetrapedia whose type specimens have not been re‐examined in recent times. Here, a comprehensive study was carried out to review the taxonomy of the genus Paratetrapedia and to investigate cladistically the relationships amongst its species. Eighteen new species of Paratetrapedia are described, giving a total of 32 species in the genus. A phylogenetic analysis of the species of Paratetrapedia was carried out using 61 morphological characters for 41 terminal taxa. The phylogenetic results confirmed the monophyly of Paratetrapedia and allowed the recognition of five species groups: the lugubris, moesta, bicolor, lineata, and flavipennis groups. Nasutopedia gen. nov. , recognized as the sister group of Paratetrapedia and with its distribution restricted to the western forested portions of the Andean highlands, is proposed based on distinct morphology, its placement in the phylogenetic tree, and biogeographical patterns. Species of Paratetrapedia are especially diverse in the Amazon Forest; the eastern Brazilian Atlantic Forest contains four endemic species, and one species is endemic to the Cerrado of central Brazil. Paratetrapedia shows a biogeographical pattern similar to other Neotropical groups of bees and birds, with wide distribution and high diversity in lowland forests and whose sister taxon occurs on highlands of north‐western portions of the Andean cordillera. Identification keys for males and females of all species are provided, as well as distribution maps and illustrations of general external morphology and genitalia. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162 , 351–442.     

New species of Neoapenesia (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) from Japan,with special remarks on female morphology and bionomics

A bethylid wasp is described as Neoapenesia makiharai n. sp. based on adults obtained from dead wood collected from the Ryukyus, Japan. The male is distinguishable from N. leytensis Terayama, the monotypic species of the genus, on the basis of the following characteristics: presence of short 2Rs vein, rounded propodeum, absence of sculpture on propodeum, widened subgenital plate, and apically rounded aedeagus. The female of Neoapenesia is described for the first time. Its morphological characteristics closely resemble those of Apenesia, but sex association was confirmed by the following facts: partial mitochondrial COI gene sequences (582 bp) of males and females were identical, and mating behavior was often observed. The female is easily distinguishable from females of Apenesia on the basis of the following characteristics: distinctly short antenna (not reaching posterior margin of head) and a disproportionately large head (head width about twice the dorsal pronotal width). Although females were active at night, males were active in the daytime and copulation was observed during this period. Since the female is larger than the male, phoretic copulation may not occur. Dead wood was collected and kept in plastic bags, from which a total of 16 species of coleopteran wood‐borers and two predators were obtained together with N. makiharai n. sp. Many individuals of N. makiharai n. sp. were reared from dead wood severely affected by Cerecium longicorne and it was the most common species obtained from our wood samples. Therefore, the cerambycid species is considered a potential host species.     

Dispersion distance of queens from natal sites in the two haplometrotic paper waspsPolistes riparius andP. snelleni (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Dispersion capabilities of new queens were studied in the two haplometrotic paper wasps Polistes riparius and P. snelleni. New queens were marked on the nests in the late summer and located in the next spring. Dispersion distances greatly varied among queens: although a large part of recovered queens nested in close proximity to their natal sites, some did disperse over 100–300 m. This suggests that queens' emigration from and immigration into the censused areas occurred to a substantial extent. On the whole, these species exhibited a weaker “philopatric” tendency than those so far studied for dispersion distance, and seem to have the potential for a long-distance dispersion.     

Genetic variability in five populations of Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera, Apidae) from Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Partamona is a Neotropical genus of stingless bees that comprises 33 species distributed from Mexico to southern Brazil. These bees are well-adapted to anthropic environments and build their nests in several substrates. In this study, 66 colonies of Partamona helleri from five localities in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais (São Miguel do Anta, Teixeiras, Porto Firme, Viçosa and Rio Vermelho) were analyzed using nine microsatellite loci in order to assess their genetic variability. Low levels of observed (H_o = 0.099-0.137) and expected (H _e = 0.128-0.145) heterozygosity were encountered and revealed discrete genetic differentiation among the populations (F _ST = 0.025). AMOVA further showed that most of the total genetic variation (94.24%) in P. helleri was explained by the variability within local populations.     

Swarming, Delayed Sexual Maturation of Males, and Mating Behavior of Fopius arisanus (Sonan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Fopius arisanus is unusual among hymenopterous parasitoids in males having an obligatory premating period. We confirmed Hagen's (1953) view that sperm takes several days to migrate from the testes to the seminal vesicles. Males mated for the first time only 4 days after emergence, the time that sperm was first ever recorded in the seminal vesicles. In the field, we studied the sexual maturation of F. arisanus males in relation to their behavior. In general, sexually immature males were found in male-only swarms that persisted over several days in host tree canopies. Mature males were usually found in loose aggregations in the vegetation beneath host trees. Females entered these loose aggregations and were mated, whereas they were generally absent from swarms in the canopy. Swarming is therefore apparently not a primary component of the sexual communication system of the species. We describe, for the first time in F. arisanus, the behavioral sequence that accompanies the intersexual communication that leads to mating. Males probably release a volatile chemical that attracts females from a distance, but we have only circumstantial evidence for this. We also postulate that males may form aggregations to amplify the effects of this distance attractant. In the vicinity of males, females release a pheromone that attracts males, a process we demonstrated with female-baited sticky traps.     

Sociogenetic structure of Polistes (Aphanilopterus) versicolor Olivier, 1791 colonies (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistini)

The observation of two distinct, well-defined oviposition areas in nests of the primitively eusocial wasp Polistes versicolor suggests the presence of multiple egg-layers and territorial behaviors. Electrophoretic analysis of enzyme loci in pupae from 35 colonies revealed an average observed heterozygosity of 0.10 and the existence of private polymorphisms, thereby indicating a low dispersion in this species. No evidence of diploid males was found. Phenotypic segregation analysis revealed the presence of more than one egg-laying female in 15 out of 35 colonies, as well as spatially preferential oviposition in 2 out of 13 nests, with distinct oviposition areas. Genetic relatedness estimates for brood were lower than expected for haplodiploid species under monogynous conditions (r = 0.75 for female broods and r = 0.5 for male) in 4 of those 13 nests, thereby inferring complex sociogenetic structuring in Polistes versicolor colonies.