Search

Females of some Thomisidae species are known to use visual and olfactory stimuli to select high quality hunting sites. However, because studies about foraging behavior in this family are concentrated on a few species, the comprehension of the process related to hunting behavior evolution in crab spiders may be biased. In this study we investigated the hunting site selection of a previously unstudied crab spider, Epicadus heterogaster. We performed three experiments to evaluate the hypothesis that subadult females are able to use visual and olfactory stimuli to select hunting sites. In the first experiment, females did not preferentially select flower paper models that matched their body coloration. However, after choosing a model that had the same body color as the spider, they remained on it for longer periods than on models with different colors. In the second experiment, females did not discriminate between flower paper models, natural flower models and crumpled paper models. Females did also not discriminate among different olfactory stimuli in the third experiment. It is possible that subadult females of E. heterogaster need to establish and experience a given hunting site before evaluating its quality. However, it remains to be investigated if they use UV cues to select a foraging area before experiencing it. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Studies on Neotropical Fauna & Environment is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Restinga is a term used to describe a mosaic of vegetation that occurs in predominantly coastal sandy plains, with physiognomies that range from creeping herbs to forests. In this paper we investigate how the beetle assemblage in a restinga habitat responded to anthropogenic disturbance and vegetation complexity. During four seasons in 2008 and 2009, we sampled beetles using pitfall traps at 10 stations along Pântano do Sul Beach, Santa Catarina Island, Brazil. We compared these beetle assemblages to parameters of anthropogenic disturbance and vegetation complexity at each sampling site. The species composition among the beetle assemblages was considerably different and showed high beta diversity. Disturbed vegetation sites had higher diversity and species richness than most of the undisturbed sites. Although correlations were generally weak, the species of Elateridae were positively correlated with disturbance. These results indicate that restinga vegetation heterogeneity and Coleoptera diversity are related and thus strengthen the importance of chance in beetle distribution across the beach. Despite the low level of endemism in restingas, species found in this habitat should be of greater concern for environmental policies involving Atlantic Forest preservation due to their high diversity. Restinga é um termo usado para descrever uma vegetação em forma de mosaico que ocorre em planícies predominantemente arenosas, com fisionomias que variam de ervas rasteiras a florestas. Neste artigo nós investigamos se a comunidade de besouros apresenta resposta à antropização e à complexidade da vegetação em ambientes de restinga. Os besouros foram amostrados durante quatro estações usando armadilhas do tipo pitfall em dez pontos amostrais na Praia do Pântano do Sul, Ilha de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Também foram medidos parâmetros da antropização e da complexidade da vegetação, usando três transectos para a antropização e um transecto com dez quadrados para a vegetação, em cada ponto amostral. Foram calculadas medidas ecológicas para a comunidade de besouros e as comunidades encontradas em cada ponto amostral e estação do ano foram comparadas. Também correlacionamos os dados ecológicos dos besouros com as medidas ambientais. A similaridade encontrada para as comunidades de besouros foi baixa, e os pontos antropizados apresentaram maior diversidade e riqueza de espécies que a maioria dos pontos não-antropizados. As correlações foram, em geral, fracas, mas Elateridae apresentou correlação positiva com a antropização. A heterogeneidade das restingas e a diversidade de Coleoptera podem ter fortalecido a importância do acaso na distribuição dos besouros ao longo da praia. Apesar do baixo grau de endemismo da restinga, espécies encontradas nestes habitats deveriam receber maior atenção em políticas públicas para a conservação da Mata Atlântica, devido à sua alta diversidade e plasticidade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we describe band-recovery data from 90 ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), banded in North America and recovered in Brazil between 1937 and 2006. Data were obtained from the Bird Banding Laboratory (US Geological Survey, USA) and from the Centro Nacional de Pesquisa para Conservacao das Aves Silvestres (IBAMA, Brazil). The majority of ospreys were banded near the coast in Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia. The birds were mainly recovered in Brazilian Amazonian states of Amazonas and Para, near large rivers. The bulk of recoveries were of birds shot less than one year after banding. Distances from banding and recovery sites were between 4191 and 7722 km. Elapsed time between banding and recapture were between 50 and 9752 days. We described in this study one of the oldest band returns, and we report the first osprey band recoveries for four Brazilian States (Paraiba, Ceara, Rondonia, and Tocantins). The importance of Brazil for ospreys, mainly Amazonian sites, needs to be emphasized in educational programs and considered in international conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tropical forests, treefall gaps differ in several environmental parameters from the adjacent mature forest. These differences affect vegetation structure and composition that, in turn, influence the distribution of animal species. This paper compares assemblages of two groups of spiders (web builders and ground hunters) found in mature forests and treefall gaps in an Atlantic Forest remnant near Recife, Brazil. Spiders were sampled monthly by using pitfall traps and hand‐searching (looking up and looking down) methods from June to November 2000. A total of 529 adult individuals distributed among 57 species were captured in pitfall traps whereas a total of 1467 individuals distributed among 117 species were captured by using the hand‐searching method. The number of individuals and species did not differ between mature forest and treefall gaps in both sampling methods. More exclusive species were found in mature forest than in treefall gaps in hand‐searching samples whereas an opposite result was found in pitfall samples. Habitat preferences were evaluated for those species represented by more than six specimens. Habitat preferences were significantly more marked among species sampled by hand‐searching than by pitfall traps. The mosaic formed by mature forest and treefall gaps seems to influence the distribution of spider species within areas covered by tropical forests, but this conclusion should be evaluated more carefully in other tropical forest sites and by using a more diversified set of sampling procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phaenocarpa Foerster is a large cosmopolitan genus within the Alysiini with 14 species recognized for the Neotropical region. In Brazil, four species have been reported ( P. hyalina , P. cratomorpha , P. pericarpa and P. atlantica ). This paper provides the description of three new species ( P. brasiliensis spec. nov., P. perimorpha spec. nov. and P. transversa spec. nov.), the description of the female of P . atlantica Arouca & Penteado-Dias, 2004 and the distribution of genus in Brazil, mainly in Atlantic Forest. Phaenocarpa Foerster é um gênero cosmopolita pertencente à tribo Alysiini com quatorze espécies neotropicais descritas, das quais quatro são citadas para o Brasil ( P. hyalina , P. cratomorpha , P. pericarpa and P. atlantica ). Este artigo traz a descrição de três novas espécies ( P. brasiliensis spec. nov., P. perimorpha spec. nov. and P. transversa spec. nov.), a descrição da fêmea de P . atlantica Arouca & Penteado-Dias, 2004 e a distribuição do gênero no Brasil, principalmente na Mata Atlântica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Richards (1978) misinterpreted geographic information presented by Ducke (1905) on the collecting localities of type specimens of Megacanthopus undulatus Ducke, 1905. In so doing, Richards treated as a type of this species a male of a very different form, and further included in his “undulatus” concept other specimens of a distinct third species. In the present article this latter taxon is described as Mischocyttarus xavante n. sp. Richards (1978) confundiu informacoes originais sobre as localidades de coleta dos tipos de Megacanthopus undulatus Ducke (1905). Por causa disso, ele tratou como tipo dessa especie um macho de outra completamente diferente, e ainda incluiu no conceito exemplares de uma terceira especie. No presente artigo, este ultimo taxon e descrito como Mischocyttarus xavante sp. n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study shows that threeFrankliniella(Thysanoptera) species have species-specific associations with their hosts:F. varipes–Faramea cyanea(Rubiaceae);F. musaeperda–Hancornia speciosa(Apocynaceae) andF. fulvipes–Solanum lycocarpum(Solanaceae). All thrips species had a marked preference for flowers in anthesis, as in this stage flowers provide food and protection from environment.Frankliniella musaeperdaandF. varipespopulations were female-biased whileF. fulvipeswas male-biased. Since many species ofFrankliniellahave economic importance, studies on the ecology of these species are essential, given the possibility of invasion of agricultural systems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we examined the role of a gall-inducing nematode on the diversity of arthropods associated with Miconia albicans (Melastomataceae), acting as an ecosystem engineer. Nematode galls (i.e. leaves and infructescences) supported higher arthropod diversity than healthy plant structures, and some species were found only in the gall. Galled leaves and infructescences harbored species of different trophic levels, suggesting that galls provide distinct resources, such as food tissue and refuge. We conclude that the presence of gall has a strong effect on the diversity and composition of arthropod fauna and a gall inducer can be important microhabitat engineers where they are abundant, having considerable influence on the diversity of small organisms inhabiting plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Trichadenotecnum, T. shawi n. sp., belonging in the roesleri species group, is here described and illustrated. The species exhibits several morphological features that are valuable to revise the ancestral condition of the genus and the definition of the species group. Based on morphological observations, the phylogenetic position of the species within the roesleri group is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diet of Chiroxiphia caudata and Schiffornis virescens were studied over three years in four forest sites in the southeastern Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Theory suggests that coexistence of similar species is possible by resource-use differences. To test this, patterns of niche overlap and niche breadth in diet were measured in different seasons and forest sites, based on fruit morphological traits and plant life forms. The results suggest seasonal and spatial variation in resource partitioning. During periods of high fruit availability, there was no evidence of fruit trait selection. In contrast, during periods of fruit scarcity in primary forests, there was evidence of niche partitioning, where C. caudata foraged for larger fruits in canopy and S. virescens searched for understory plants. The niche overlap was higher in secondary forest during periods of scarcity, when both species used small understory fruits. Foi estudada a dieta de Chiroxiphia caudata e Schiffornis virescens durante tres anos, em quatro tipos de fisionomias florestais no sudeste da Mata Atlantica, Brasil. A teoria sugere que a coexistencia de especies semelhantes e possivel pelas diferencas no uso dos recursos. Assim, nos mensuramos a amplitude e sobreposicao de nicho considerando a morfologia dos frutos consumidos e a forma de vida das especies de plantas utilizadas em quatro tipos florestais e em diferentes estacoes. Os resultados sugerem mudancas sazonais e espaciais na partilha de recursos. Durante periodos de alta disponibilidade de frutos, nao ha evidencias de partilha de recursos. Ja em periodos de escassez de frutos nas florestas primarias, C. caudata consumiu frutos grandes presentes no dossel enquanto S. virescens utilizou os frutos pequenos do sub-bosque. Na floresta secundaria, o periodo de escassez foi marcado por sobreposicao intensa de nicho onde ambas as especies consumiram frutos pequenos de sub-bosque. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the assemblage of seed species and other food items defecated by juvenile and adult male and female individuals of Artibeus jamaicensis (Phyllostomidae) in three habitats in the Pantanal wetlands. The most frequent item in A. jamaicensis fecal samples were seeds (65%), followed by fruit pulp (30%), insects (20%), leaves (8%), and pollen (7%). Seeds of Ficus pertusa, F. gomelleira, Ficus sp., and Cecropia pachystachya were recorded in fecal samples from all three habitats while seeds of Banara arguta were exclusive to riparian forests. The relative occurrence of seed species in the fecal samples did not differ among sex or different-aged individuals. Ficus pertusa was the most common seed species and presented fast germination after passing through bats. Seeds of C. pachystachya which passed through A. jamaicensis had a lower germination rate than those uneaten. Overall results support that A. jamaicensis feeds on a relatively poor assemblage of fruits in the Pantanal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new spider species, Ochyrocera ibitipoca sp. n., is described from caves in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A close relationship to Ochyrocera viridissima Brignoli, 1974 is indicated by male genital characteristics. A discussion on the delimitation and composition of Ochyrocera Simon, 1891 is included, with hints on the heterogeneous nature of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Agallia Curtis is described and illustrated from Southeastern Brazil (Minas Gerais State). Agallia catiae sp. n. can be distinguished by its male pygofer, which presents on posterior margin a dorsally directed triangular lobe and on ventral margin a conspicuous elongate process with apex expanded and directed inwards. The taxonomic problems currently affecting the genus Agallia are briefly presented. The ovipositor valvulae of the new species are described and compared with those of other Agalliinae taxa, including the type species Agallia consobrina Curtis. In order to facilitate the identification of female specimens from this subfamily, it is proposed that, whenever possible, taxonomists should treat the female genitalia in detail in descriptions of new taxa or redescriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twelve new species of Allobracon Gahan, 1915 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are described and illustrated: A. amarantei, A. quasiperpolitus, A. joanesi, A. itanhy, A. peruibe, A. flavus, A. quebrangulo, A. carinatus, A. achterbergi, A. linhares, A. mourei and A. salesopolis. All species described were collected in Brazilian Atlantic Forest. A key to species is included. Doze novas espécies do gênero Allobracon Gahan, 1915 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) são descritas e ilustradas: A. amarantei, A. quasiperpolitus, A. joanesi, A. itanhy, A. peruibe, A. flavus, A. quebrangulo, A. carinatus, A. achterbergi, A. linhares, A. mourei e A. salesopolis. Todas as espécies descritas nesse trabalho foram coletadas na Mata Atlântica stricto sensu do Brasil. Uma chave para espécies é incluída. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of two species of geophilomorph centipedes collected above high waters in termite mounds in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, one (Schendylops inquilinus) is described here as new; the other (Aphilodon angustatus Silvestri, 1909) is redescribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beetles in the genus Oncideres (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) are girdlers and borers that can cause plant mortality and alterations in the recruitment and age structure of their host‐plant populations. Host‐plant association, oviposition behavior, development and insect associates of Oncideres humeralis were studied in southeastern Brazil. Oncideres humeralis Thorms used four species of Melastomataceae as host plants. Females oviposited in forks of branches and their larvae fed on the parenchyma tissue of the forks. Histological analyses showed that these sites were the softest parts of the branches and provided an entrance for newly hatched larvae. Females prepared their oviposition sites with their mandibles, and inserted their ovipositors into the slits to deposit one to three eggs under the bark. We found about six oviposition slits per branch and a mean of eight eggs per branch. The larvae bored into and grew inside the girdled branches. Larval development took 10–12 months. Another cerambycid, Temnopsis megacephala Germ, developed in the thinner sections of branches that had been girdled by O. humeralis and was thus considered a secondary colonizer.ResumoBesouros do gênero Oncideres (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) são serradores a brocadores e podem provocar mortalidade de plantas, alterações no recrutamento e na estrutura estária de populações de plantas hospedeiras. Associação com plantas hospedeiras, comportamento de oviposição, desenvolvimento e insetos associados a Oncideres humeralis foram estudados na Sudeste do Brasil. Fêmeas colocaram ovos nas bifurcações dos ramos e suas larvas alimentaram‐se do parênquima da forquilha do ramo. Análises histológicas mostraram que este local é a região mais mole da forquilha do ramo e proporciona uma porta de entrada para larvas de primeiro estágio. Fêmeas prepararam estes locais de oviposição com suas mandíbulas e inseriram seus ovipositores dentro da fenda para depositar de um a três ovos sob a casca. Encontramos cerca de seis sítios de oviposição e média de oito ovos por ramo. As larvas brocaram o interior e se desenvolveram dentro dos ramos serrados. O desenvolvimento larval requereu de 10 a 12 meses. O. humeralis Thorms. usaram quatro espécies de Melastomataceae como plantas hospedeiras. Outro cerambicídeo, Temnopsis megacephala Germ. desenvolveram em ramos mais finos não colonizados por O. humeralis, e foi considerado um colonizador secundário. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embolemus apertus sp. n ., Embolemus brandaoi sp. n . and Embolemus latus sp. n . from eastern Brazil are described and illustrated. Additional specimens of Embolemus boraceia Amarante, Brandão and Carpenter, 1999 and Embolemus subtilis Olmi, 1996 (1995) are analyzed. Keys of both females and males of Neotropical species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the home range and habitat use of Suiriri affinis (Campo Suiriri) and the recently described Suiriri islerorum (Chapada Flycatcher). The study was conducted in Cerrado areas (a tropical savannah) of Estação Ecológica de Águas Emendadas, central Brazil. We followed banded birds from January 2003 to January 2004 and calculated their home range by the minimum convex polygon method. The mean home range size was 14.0 ha for S. affinis ( n = 12) and 11.2 ha for Suiriri islerorum ( n = 11). S. affinis pairs presented high overlap in home ranges, while S. islerorum pairs presented only limited overlap. We observed no territorial interspecific aggression between both species in spite of a high overlap in their home ranges. The cerrado típico was preferred by S. affinis , and the cerrado ralo by Suiriri islerorum . More open vegetations were avoided by both species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The pupal morphology of the following species of tiger beetle (Col.: Cicindelidae) from the Brazilian Amazon is described: Tetracha sobrina punctata (Castelnau), Phaeoxantha klugii Chaudoir, P. lindemannae (Mandl) and P. aequinoctialis bifasciata (Brullé). The pupae of all Phaeoxantha species were obtained from ex ovo rearings and those of Tetracha sobrina punctata came from larvae collected in the field and reared in the laboratory. The results indicate that the most significant features for identification are the frontal median boss, the distal margin of the labrum and the spines of the abdominal tergites. An identification key of the studied species is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emended diagnoses of all stages of the genus Ichthyocladius Fittkau are given. The genus appears to be a basal member of the Corynoneura group showing affinities also to the Eukiefferiella group. A number of features apparently are the result of the phoretic life on catfishes. Ichthyocladius kronichticola sp. n. and I. lilianae sp. n. are described and figured in all stages. Additional pupae from the Amazonas in Brazil and from the Parque Nacional Iguazú in Argentina are also described and figured. Keys to pupae and larvae of the genus are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the bat species composition of three localities in the Brazilian Amazon: continuous forest and fragments at Alter do Chão, Santarém, an area not previously sampled, and continuous forest in two relatively well studied areas, Manaus and Belém. The number of species captured at each locality varied between 17 and 42. Most species occurred at high abundance in continuous forest in the three localities, but only a subset was common in the fragments at Santarém. The relative abundance of bat species in Santarém is different from other localities sampled in the Amazon Basin and the presence of forest fragments may be the most important factor contributing to this difference. Multidi-mensional scaling ordination of sites based on relative abundance indicated distinct assemblages of bat species in the forest fragments in Santarém, and little differentiation of continuous-forest sites from sites in other localities. Continuous forests at Santarém and near Belém were more similar to each other than to continuous forest near Manaus, indicating the possibility of an east-west gradient in bat communities in the Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new rotifer is described and figured based on females taken from Comprida lagoon, Rio de Janeiro State, in southeastern Brazil. This new animal belongs to the Genus Macrochaetus which includes several species recorded in South America. A key to species of the Genus Macrochaetus of the Neotropical Region is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misionella jaminawa sp. n. (Araneae: Filistatidae: Prithinae) is described from state of Acre, Brazil. New records of Misionella mendensis (Mello-Leitao) are provided, revealing a wider distribution than previously known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]