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This study aimed to estimate the average number of seeds of Erythrina falcata eaten by larvae of Agathodes designalis (Guenée, 1854), Liopasia ochracealis (Walker 1865) and Terastia meticulosalis (Guenée, 1854) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), which prey on the seeds of this species. The lepidopteran larvae were collected in the field from fruits of E. falcata, isolated in Petri dishes, and fed with immature seeds. The average number of seeds preyed upon by the larvae ranged from two (A. designalis) to five (L. ochracealis). This work is also the first report of the parasitism of Macrocentrus sp. (Hymenoptera, Brachonidae) on larvae of T. meticulosalis. The results demonstrate that this parasitism is one of the factors that influence the rates of seed predation of E. falcata by lepidopteran larvae in the natural environment.

Este estudo teve como objetivo estimar a quantidade media de sementes de Erythrina falcata consumida por larvas de Agathodes designalis (Guenee, 1854), Liopasia ochracealis (Walker 1865) e Terastia meticulosalis (Guenee, 1854) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) que predam suas sementes. As larvas de lepidopteros foram coletadas de vagens de E. falcata em ambiente natural, individualizadas em placas de Petri e alimentadas com sementes imaturas. O numero medio de sementes predadas variou de duas, para A. designalis a cinco para L. ochracealis. O parasitismo de Macrocentrus sp. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) em larvas de T. meticulosalis, e relatado pela primeira vez. Os resultados demonstram que a acao do parasitoide e um dos fatores que influencia nas taxas de predacao de sementes de E. falcata por larvas de lepidopteros no ambiente natural.

Using adhesive colored cards, 1,016 flying insects were captured in a neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital. Homoptera were the most common (84.7%), and attraction based on card color was demonstrated. Insects are mechanical vectors of pathogens, and this work demonstrates the necessity and the relevance of insect control in hospital environments.