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Por primera vez se realiza en el Parque Nacional Darién, Provincia de Darién el inventario, identificación y clasificación de moluscos terrestres asociados a distintos sustratos (troncos, tallos, hojas, suelo, musgos, hojarascas y ramas). En el cual se colectaron 10 especies en (41 especímenes), agrupados en tres órdenes. Se colectaron 9 especies en (35 especímenes) dentro del Parque y cinco especies (seis individuos) fuera del mismo, siendo Labyrinthus otis orthorhinus con mayor número de especímenes encontrados con 10 individuos, seguido de Drymaeus mesembrinus sulphureus con siete.

International audience; Ants are a major ecological group in tropical rainforests. Few studies in the Neotropics have documented the distribution of ants from the ground to the canopy, and none have included the understorey. A previous analysis of an intensive arthropod study in Panama, involving 11 sampling methods, showed that the factors influencing ant β diversity (i.e., changes in assemblage composition) were, in decreasing order of importance, the vertical (height), temporal (season), and horizontal (geographic distance) dimensions. In the present study, we went one step further and aimed (1) to identify the best sampling methods to study the entire ant assemblage across the three strata, (2) to test if all strata show a similar horizontal β diversity and (3) to analyze the functional structure of the entire ant assemblage. We identified 405 ant species from 11 subfamilies and 68 genera. Slightly more species were sampled in the canopy than on the ground; they belonged to distinct sub-assemblages. The understorey fauna was mainly a mixture of species found in the other two strata. The horizontal β diversity between sites was similar for the three strata. About half of the ant species foraged in two (29%) or three (25%) strata. A single method, aerial flight interception traps placed alongside tree trunks, acting as arboreal pitfall traps, collected half of the species and reflected the vertical stratification. Using the functional traits approach, we observed that generalist species with mid-sized colonies were by far the most numerous (31%), followed by ground- or litter-dwelling species, either specialists (20%), or generalists (16%), and arboreal species, either generalists (19%) or territorially dominant (8%), and finally army ants (5%). Our results reinforce the idea that a proper understanding of the functioning of ant assemblages requires the inclusion of arboreal ants in survey programs.

The monophyly and taxonomic validity of some currently accepted genera of gall wasps in the Cynipini (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) are being challenged by recent systematic studies. Here we used morphological and molecular data to redescribe and revise the taxonomic limits of the monotypic genus Kokkocynips Pujade-Villar & Melika, previously recorded only from Mexico. We describe a new species from Panama, Kokkocynips panamensis Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey, reared from galls on Quercus salicifolia Neé, and add new records from Mexico for the type species of the genus K. doctorrosae Pujade-Villar. Six Nearctic species, Dryocosmus rileyi (Ashmead, 1896), D. imbricariae (Ashmead, 1896), D. coxii (Basset, 1881), D. deciduus (Beutenmueller, 1913), Callirhytis difficilis (Ashmead, 1887) and C. attractans (Kinsey, 1922) are transferred to Kokkocynips. Species of Kokkocynips are associated only with red oaks (Quercus section Lobatae (Fagaceae)) and are distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, from Canada through Mexico and Panama. Taxonomic limits of Kokkocynips are discussed in light of the molecular phylogenetic relationships of the studied species. Diagnostic characters, gall description, distribution, and biological data of Kokkocynips species are given, including a key for the identification of the asexual generations of seven species., EM was funded by the Sistema Nacional de Investigación of the SENACYT in Panama, the University of Panama and research project SENACYT 52-2016-4-ITE15-05 and No. 266-20218. JLNA was supported by the research project MINECO/FEDER, UE CGL2015-66571-P. CTT was supported by USFS agreement 60-8042-8-002/8042-22000- 289-01-S.

Resumen Se estudiaron las especies de la familia Ormyridae emergidas de 15 de los 65 morfotipos de agallas inducidas por especies de la familia Cynipidae en árboles del género Quercus L. (Fagaceae) conocidas para Panamá. Las recolectas se realizaron entre enero de 2008 a diciembre de 2010 en los bosques nubosos de la Cordillera Central de Panamá. Se identificaron tres especies del género Ormyrus (Chalcidoidea: Ormyridae), O. hegeli, O. unifasciatipennis y O. venustus, parasitoides de las especies inductoras e inquilinas de las agallas hospedadoras. La especie más abundante fue O. venustus y, por primera vez, se reporta para el Neotrópico O. hegeli, que sólo había sido citada para Norteamérica. Los resultados amplían los registros de distribución de esta familia de avispas parasitoides y confirman la presunción de que la carencia de datos de algunos grupos de artrópodos en los bosques tropicales se debe más a la falta de muestreo y no a la ausencia de ellos en estas áreas. Abstract The species of Ormyridae that emerged of 15 from 65 gall morphotypes of Cynipidae in trees of the genus Quercus reported for Panama were studied. Specimens were collected from January 2008 to December 2010 in the cloud forests of the Cordillera Central of Panama. Three species of Ormyrus; O. hegeli, O. unifasciatipennis and O. venustus were identified parasitizing the gall inducers and inquiline species of the studied galls, with O. venustus being the most abundant species. This is the first report of O. hegeli from the Neotropics, a species which was previously recorded only from North America. The results extend the known distribution of this family of parasitoid wasps, and confirm the assumption that the lack of records of some groups of arthropods in Panamanian tropical forests is due to the lack of sampling rather than their absence.

A new species of Andricus Hartig 1840 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) is described from Panama: Andricus barriosi sp. nov. The new species induces galls on Quercus bumelioides Liebm. and Q. insignis M. Martens & Galeotti (Fagaceae, sect. Quercus) and is the first species of the genus Andricus ‘ sensu lato ’ recorded from Panama. Andricus barriosi is part of a species complex that includes A. nievesaldreyi Pujade-Villar, A. georgei Pujade-Villar and A. maesi Pujade-Villar , which differ from the other species of the genus Andricus by having a characteristic striate-reticulate sculpture on the second metasomal tergum that is typically smooth in the other Andricus species. The diagnostic characters, gall description, distribution and biological data of the new species are given, and a key for the differentiation of the new species from related species is also provided.

Forests are complex three-dimensional ecosystems, but little is known about the influence of vertical stratification of forest structure on biodiversity and species turnover. Saproxylic beetles make a substantial contribution to forest biodiversity and ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling. Management measures aimed at supporting saproxylic biodiversity are becoming an integral part of sustainable forest management practices. Yet, monitoring is carried out under the assumption that saproxylic activity at ground level will be a realistic reflection of saproxylic biodiversity in the forest as a whole. To investigate the validity of this assumption we compare vertical stratification and composition of saproxylic beetle assemblages between three forest types of varying altitude and latitude, including a tropical lowland forest in Panama, a temperate lowland forest and a temperate montane forest, both in the eastern Czech Republic. Beetles were sampled following a standardized sampling protocol using flight intercept traps arranged in vertical transects. Overall, the tropical forest was estimated to harbour two to three times more saproxylic beetle species than the temperate lowland and the montane forest, respectively. However, point richness estimates within vertical strata were remarkably similar between biomes. Species richness was similar in the understorey of all three forests. It peaked in the canopy of the tropical forest but in the understorey of temperate forests. So, while the beetle assemblages were clearly vertically stratified in all three forest types, stratification patterns varied markedly between tropical and temperate forests. This trend is driven primarily by the high richness of saproxylic beetles in the tropical forest canopy. However these richness differences belie the strong similarities in stratification of feeding guild composition observed all three forest types. This would tend to suggest that similar trophic structuring forces might operate across very different forest biomes of the world. Similarities in feeding guild composition suggest that management measures aiming at conserving biodiversity of saproxylic beetles are likely to be effective across different forest types. The differences in vertical stratification, however, suggest that understorey monitoring alone will be insufficient to understand management effects on saproxylic biodiversity. In the tropics, in particular, more emphasis will need to be placed on managing the diverse, three-dimensional structure of forest canopies as habitat for saproxylic beetles.

A new species of Callirhytis Forster 1869 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) is described from Panama: Callirhytis cameroni sp. nov. Callirhytis cameroni is the first species of genus Callirhytis ‘sensu lato’ recorded from the Neotropical region. The new species induces galls on Quercus salicifolia Nee (Fagaceae, sect. Lobatae). The diagnostic characteristics, gall description, distribution and biological data of the new species are given.

We describe Diastrophus colombianus Nieves-Aldrey sp. nov., a gall inducer on Rubus glaucus Bentham (Rosaceae) in Colombia. This is the first reliable record of a species of Diastrophus Hartig, 1840 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) and of an herb gall wasp (Cynipidae: “Aylacini”) native to the Neotropical region. The phylogenetic relationships among the members of Diastrophus—D. colombianus and the species considered by a previous study—were inferred from adult morphological and gall characteristics. Our results suggest that D. colombianus is more closely related to a clade composed of Diastrophus austrior Kinsey, Diastrophus rubi (Bouché), Diastrophus fragariae Beutenmüller, and Diastrophus tumefactus Kinsey.

1. Networks of feeding interactions among insect herbivores and natural enemies such as parasitoids, describe the structure of these assemblages and may be critically linked to their dynamics and stability. The present paper describes the first quantitative study of parasitoids associated with gall-inducing insect assemblages in the tropics, and the first investigation of vertical stratification in quantitative food web structure. 2. Galls and associated parasitoids were sampled in the understorey and canopy of Parque Natural Metropolitano in the Pacific forest, and in the understorey of San Lorenzo Protected Area in the Caribbean forest of Panama. Quantitative host-parasitoid food webs were constructed for each assemblage, including 34 gall maker species, 28 host plants, and 57 parasitoid species. 3. Species richness was higher in the understorey for parasitoids, but higher in the canopy for gall makers. There was an almost complete turnover in gall maker and parasitoid assemblage composition between strata, and the few parasitoid species shared between strata were associated with the same host species. 4. Most parasitoid species were host specific, and the few polyphagous parasitoid species were restricted to the understorey. 5. These results suggest that, in contrast to better-studied leaf miner-parasitoid assemblages, the influence of apparent competition mediated by shared parasitoids as a structuring factor is likely to be minimal in the understorey and practically absent in the canopy, increasing the potential for coexistence of parasitoid species. 6. High parasitoid beta diversity and high host specificity, particularly in the poorly studied canopy, indicate that tropical forests may be even more species rich in hymenopteran parasitoids than previously suspected. © 2009 The Royal Entomological Society.

Se cita por primera vez para Panama el genero Odontocynips Kieffer, 1910 (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Cynipini), incluyendo dos especies: Odontocynips championi (Cameron) y O. hansoni Pujade-Villar, que inducen agallas en Quercus bumelioides Liebm. y Q. lancifolia Schledl & Cham. (Fagaceae, sect. Quercus, robles blancos), respectivamente. Se redescribe Odontocynips championi (Cameron, 1833), descrita solo a partir de sus agallas como Cynips championi Cameron, se describen por primera vez los adultos, se designa un neotipo y se establece una nueva combinacion taxonomica al transferirla al genero Odontocynips. Por otra parte, se amplia la distribucion geografica y rango de hospedador de O. hansoni, previamente citada solo de Costa Rica.

A new species of Ametallon Ashmead, A. carinatum sp. n. and five new species of Chrysonotomyia Ashmead, C. dussiae sp. n., C. longicaudata sp. n., C. machaeriae sp. n., C. unimaculata sp. n. and C. claviger sp. n. (Eulophidae: Entedoninae) are described from Panama. New host associations are recorded for Ametallon gorgonaense Hansson, Chrysonotomyia auripunctata (Ashmead), Chrysonotomyia galbina Hansson, Chrysonotomyia laeviscuta Hansson, Chrysonotomyia phenacapsia Yoshimoto and Tropicharis cecivora Hansson. All these species belong to the Omphale genus group, and were reared from galls collected in the canopy and understorey of two tropical forests in Panama.

The ability of Hylaeogena thoracica Waterhouse, 1889 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) to induce galls on Amphilophium paniculatum (L.) H.B.K (Bignoniaceae) is reported here. Species of Hylaeogena Obenberger, 1923 are associated with vines of the family Bignoniaceae as leafminers, therefore this report represents the first record of the genus acting as a gall inducer. The effect of the inquiline Philides anthonomoides Champion, 1906 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Conoderinae) on gall morphology is also described. Most Neotropical conoderines are associated with tree falls and are assumed to be wood-borers. This represents the first report of the species acting as an inquiline in galls. Four parasitoid species belonging to three families of Hymenoptera that emerged from the galls are also reported.

Summary Using pitfall traps, we evaluated the spatial and seasonal variance in arthropod abundance, species richness, higher taxonomic and species composition, and guild structure within the ground litter of seven sites in a relatively undisturbed rainforest in Panama. We examined each of these five arthropod-dependent variables at two spatial scales (a few meters and a few hundred meters) and one temporal scale (a few months encompassing dry and wet periods), against environmental variables including local illumination and plant composition. Trap catches (9458 arthropods collected during 630 trap-days) were high compared to similar studies in temperate forests. We observed spatial and seasonal differences in abundance, species richness and composition of litter-dwelling arthropods. Often these differences appeared weakly related to geographical coordinates. They reflected forest structure (basal area) and local plant composition, and less so illumination patterns or seasonal changes in radiation. Seasonal variance was high and may relate to surrogate variables accounting for seasonal changes in litter moisture. The composition of higher taxa and species was often predicted by different independent variables at the three scales studied. Guild structure was difficult to predict. Our study lead us to expect that litter-dwelling arthropods may be more seasonal than soil microarthropods in tropical rainforests; and that tropical litter-dwelling arthropods may also be more spatially variable and seasonal than their temperate counterparts. We also recommend that conservation studies using pitfall traps in tropical rainforests should focus on: (1) taxonomic resolution to understand the functional complexity of soil organisms; (2) spatial replication to address subtle changes in plant composition throughout the study area; and (3) seasonal replicates to be commensurate with seasonal changes in litter moisture.

Quantifying the spatio-temporal distribution of arthropods in tropical rainforests represents a first step towards scrutinizing the global distribution of biodiversity on Earth. To date most studies have focused on narrow taxonomic groups or lack a design that allows partitioning of the components of diversity. Here, we consider an exceptionally large dataset (113,952 individuals representing 5,858 species), obtained from the San Lorenzo forest in Panama, where the phylogenetic breadth of arthropod taxa was surveyed using 14 protocols targeting the soil, litter, understory, lower and upper canopy habitats, replicated across seasons in 2003 and 2004. This dataset is used to explore the relative influence of horizontal, vertical and seasonal drivers of arthropod distribution in this forest. We considered arthropod abundance, observed and estimated species richness, additive decomposition of species richness, multiplicative partitioning of species diversity, variation in species composition, species turnover and guild structure as components of diversity. At the scale of our study (2km of distance, 40m in height and 400 days), the effects related to the vertical and seasonal dimensions were most important. Most adult arthropods were collected from the soil/litter or the upper canopy and species richness was highest in the canopy. We compared the distribution of arthropods and trees within our study system. Effects related to the seasonal dimension were stronger for arthropods than for trees. We conclude that: (1) models of beta diversity developed for tropical trees are unlikely to be applicable to tropical arthropods; (2) it is imperative that estimates of global biodiversity derived from mass collecting of arthropods in tropical rainforests embrace the strong vertical and seasonal partitioning observed here; and (3) given the high species turnover observed between seasons, global climate change may have severe consequences for rainforest arthropods., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

En este trabajo se determinó el efecto de Oebalus insularis Stål en el rendimiento de arroz en el campo y a nivel industrial. Se hicieron dos ensayos de campo utilizando el diseño de bloques completamente al azar con ocho tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones. En el primero, se confinaron diez panículas recién emergidas y se infestaron con cero, una, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, y siete chinches hasta la cosecha. El otro ensayo determinó la susceptibilidad de la planta a niveles de infestación de diez chinches en diez panículas de diferentes edades desde la floración. Un chinche por panícula no tiene influencia significativa en el rendimiento de campo. El cultivo es susceptible hasta diez días después de la emergencia de panículas, período en que niveles de infestación superiores a 0,7 chinches/panícula tienen influencia directa y negativa en el rendimiento industrial del arroz. Infestaciones tardías son irrelevantes en el rendimiento industrial.

Con el propósito de identificar los parasitoides que atacan moscas del género Anastrepha Schiner y establecer las asociaciones de estos y sus hospederos en condiciones naturales, se realizaron muestreos cada 14 días de noviembre de 2003 a julio de 2005 en Cerro Jefe y Altos de Pacora, Panamá. Se identificaron seis especies de parasitoides: Doryctobracon zeteki (Muesebeck), D. crawfordi (Viereck), D. areolatus (Szépligeti), D. capsicola (Muesebeck), D. auripennis (Muesebeck) y Opius bellus Gahan. Cinco especies de Anastrepha criadas de cinco familias de plantas fueron parasitadas. El parasitoide más abundante fue D. zeteki que representó el 49% de los individuos, D. crawfordi el 19,48% y D. areolatus fue el menos abundante con 2,59%. A. serpentina (Wiedemann) y A. anomala Stone fueron los hospederos con mayor número de parasitoides en frutos de Pouteria buenaventurensis (Aubrév.) Pilz y Lacmellea panamensis (Woodson) Markgr. D. capsicola fue criado de A. serpentina y A. anomala además, D. auripennis de A. serpentina; todos son nuevos registros de hospedero. Hay dependencia entre las especies de parasitoides y las especies de Anastrepha (2 = 80, p < 0.05, gl = 20). P. buenaventurensis es reportado como nueva planta hospedera para A. serpentina.

Con el proposito de estimar en que estrato del bosque tropical ocurre mayor diversidad de especies de insectos formadores de agallas y minadores de hojas, se realizaron muestreos desde marzo de 1997 a mayo de 1998 en dos bosques de la República de Panamá (Parque Natural Metropolitano y Fuerte Sherman). Nuestros resultados indican que en el dosel de ambos bosques existe mayor riqueza de insectos formadores de agallas y minadores de hojas que en el sotobosque, siendo la proporción de especies de estos dos grupos en el dosel y sotobosque de 2:1 respectivamente. El índice alfa de Fisher indica que los dos grupos de insectos son más diversos en el dosel de los dos bosques que en el sotobosque, siendo el dosel del Fuerte Sherman donde ocurre mayor abundancia de algunas morfoespecies.

During the past 20 years several studies have documented gall-inducing insect species richness in Panama. Additionally, host plant and parasitoid assemblages associated to galls have been studied. The effects of habitat, altitude, vegetation, and climate on the richness of insect gall assemblages have been addressed in these studies. Similarly, the effects of temporal, spatial, and vertical variation on the local richness of gall-inducing species have also been discussed. The use of a crane in the rainforests of Panama has enabled us to study gall communities in the forest canopy. The taxonomic knowledge on oak gall wasps and their patterns in species richness and distribution in Panama have been the focus of attention in recent years. Here, we review the literature documenting the taxonomic diversity of the Cynipidae and oak gall wasps (tribe Cynipini) in the Neotropics, supplementing it with recent field surveys assessing oak gall wasp diversity in montane forests of Panama. In particular, we studied gall wasp diversity associated with Quercus spp. (Fagaceae), the dominant tree genus in montane forests of Panama, and identified a rich gall wasp insect fauna (~65 spp).

Assessing Creepy Crawlies Arthropods are the most diverse group of terrestrial animal species, yet estimates of the total number of arthropod species have varied widely, especially for tropical forests. Basset et al. (p. 1481 , see the cover) now provide more reliable estimates of total arthropod species richness in a tropical rainforest in Panama. Intensive sampling of a half hectare of forest yielded just over 6000 arthropod species. Scaling up this result to the whole forest suggests that the total species diversity lies between 17,000 and 40,000 species.

"Se compara, entre 2 periodos de muestreos con 9 años de distancia entre sí, la riqueza y composición de especies que forman la comunidad de insectos inductores de agallas en el dosel del Parque Natural Metropolitano (PNM), un bosque seco tropical en la costa del Pacífico de Panamá. Los datos corresponden a muestreos realizados de enero de 1997 a marzo de 1998, y de agosto de 2005 a junio de 2006. Para tener acceso al dosel del bosque se utilizó una grúa instalada en el sitio por el Instituto Smithsonian de Investigaciones Tropicales. Los resultados indican que no existen diferencias significativas en el número de especies de insectos inductores de agallas (29 y 30 respectivamente), en los 2 periodos de muestreo; sin embargo, la comunidad de hace 9 años presenta un reemplazo del 16 % de las especies y se asemeja a la actual en 55%. Variaciones ambientales y actividades antropogénicas favorecieron la proliferación de lianas y de cecidógenos relacionados con esas plantas. En los 2 periodos de muestreo, tanto árboles como lianas, albergaron un número semejante de insectos inductores de agallas."

8 páginas, 3 figuras.., Agastoroxenia panamensis Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero, a new genus and species of inquiline oak gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini), is described from material reared from unidentified Andricus galls (Cynipini) on Quercus lancifolia Schltdl.&Cham. collected in Panama.The new genus is the first genus of inquiline oak gall wasps described from the Neotropics and the first species of this group recorded from Panama. The new genus is related to Saphonecrus and Synergus but differs from these genera mainly by the unique conformation of the male and female antenna., This study was financed with funds from the Universidad de Panama and Instituto para la Formación de Recursos Humanos-Secretaria Nacional de Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación (to E.M.) and by project CGL2005-01922/BOS of the Spanish Ministry (to J.L.N.-A.).

8 páginas, 3 figuras, 1 table.., Many studies over the past twenty years have documented the richness of arthropod galling species around the world, and some have proposed hypotheses to explain local and global patterns of galling species richness. However, few studies have been directed toward understanding how the gall-inducing species are locally distributed. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of gall-inducing arthropods species at Coiba National Park, a tropical habitat on the Pacific coast of Panama. Our results suggest that more gall-inducing species had an aggregated distribution, and gall-inducing arthropod diversity shows a strong beta diversity component. Geographic distance was not correlated with similarity in gall-inducing species composition between the studied sites. This fact has important implications when trying to estimate gall-inducing arthropod richness and general patterns, and could cause contradictory results for hypotheses that attempt to explain the local and global patterns of galling species richness., Enrique Medianero was supported by a scholarship granted by the Republic of Panama (IFARHU-SENACYT). This work was supported by the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation (AECI) and was also partially funded by a grant to JLNA from the research project DGES PB97-1241 of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture.

Interest in studying galls and their arthropods inducers has been growing rapidly in the last two decades. However, the Neotropical region is probably the least studied region for gall-inducing arthropods. A study of the richness and composition of gall-inducing arthropods was carried out at Coiba National Park in the Republic of Panama. Field data come from samples obtained between August 1997 and September 1999, with three (two-week long) more intensive samplings. Seventeen sites, representing the main land habitats of Coiba National Park were surveyed. 4942 galls of 50 insect and 9 mite species inducing galls on 50 vascular plants from 30 botanical families were colleted. 62.7% of the galls were induced by gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), 15.3% by mites, Eriophyidae, 8.5% by Homoptera, Psyllidae, 6.8% by Coccidae and 5.1% by Phlaeothripidae (Tysanoptera). The host plant families with the most galls were Myrtaceae with seven, Bignoniaceae with five and Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae and Melastomataceae with four. Leaf galls accounted for about 93% of collected galls. Most leaf galls were pit/blister galls followed by covering and pouch galls. Gall richness per collecting site was between 1 and 19 species. Coiba’s gall diversity is discussed in relation to data available from other tropical sites from continental Panama and the Neotropical region. Our results support the idea that it may be premature to conclude that species richness of gall inducers declines near the equator. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (3): 1269-1286. Epub 2008 September 30.El interés por el estudio de las agallas y los artrópodos que las inducen ha crecido en todo el mundo en los últimos veinte años. Sin embargo, los artrópodos que inducen agallas en la región Neotropical son probablemente los menos estudiados. Un estudio de la riqueza y composición de artrópodos que inducen agallas fue desarrollado en el Parque Nacional Coiba en la Republica de Panamá. Los datos provienen de muestreos intensivos de dos semanas, efectuados entre agosto de 1997 y septiembre de 1999, en 17 sitios del área insular del Parque Nacional Coiba. Un total de 4942 agallas, que corresponden a 50 especies de insectos y nueve de ácaros, fueron colectadas en 50 especies de plantas vasculares de 30 familias. El 62.7% de las agallas correspondieron a especies de la familia Cecidomyiidae (Diptera), el 15.3% a ácaros de la familia Eriophyidae, el 8.5% a Psyllidae (Homoptera), un 6.8% a Coccidae y el 5.1% a Phlaeothripidae (Tysanoptera). Las familias de plantas con más especies de inductores de agallas fueron Myrtaceae con siete, Bignoniaceae con cinco y Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae y Melastomataceae con cuatro. Las agallas formadas en hojas representaron el 93% del total. El número de inductores de agallas por sitio osciló entre uno y diecinueve. La riqueza de artrópodos inductores de agallas del Parque Nacional Coiba se discute con datos disponibles de la literatura para el área continental de Panamá y el Neotrópico. Nuestros resultados apoyan la idea de que es prematuro concluir que la riqueza de artrópodos que inducen agallas disminuye hacia el Ecuador.

18 páginas, 4 figuras, 4 tables.., [EN] Interest in studying galls and their arthropods inducers has been growing rapidly in the last two decades. However, the Neotropical region is probably the least studied region for gall-inducing arthropods. A study of the richness and composition of gall-inducing arthropods was carried out at Coiba National Park in the Republic of Panama. Field data come from samples obtained between August 1997 and September 1999, with three (two-week long) more intensive samplings. Seventeen sites, representing the main land habitats of Coiba National Park were surveyed. 4942 galls of 50 insect and 9 mite species inducing galls on 50 vascular plants from 30 botanical families were colleted. 62.7% of the galls were induced by gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), 15.3% by mites, Eriophyidae, 8.5% by Homoptera, Psyllidae, 6.8% by Coccidae and 5.1% by Phlaeothripidae (Tysanoptera). The host plant families with the most galls were Myrtaceae with seven, Bignoniaceae with five and Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae and Melastomataceae with four. Leaf galls accounted for about 93% of collected galls. Most leaf galls were pit/blister galls followed by covering and pouch galls. Gall richness per collecting site was between 1 and 19 species. Coiba’s gall diversity is discussed in relation to data available from other tropical sites from continental Panama and the Neotropical region. Our results support the idea that it may be premature to conclude that species richness of gall inducers declines near the equator., [ES] El interés por el estudio de las agallas y los artrópodos que las inducen ha crecido en todo el mundo en los últimos veinte años. Sin embargo, los artrópodos que inducen agallas en la región Neotropical son probablemente los menos estudiados. Un estudio de la riqueza y composición de artrópodos que inducen agallas fue desarrollado en el Parque Nacional Coiba en la Republica de Panamá. Los datos provienen de muestreos intensivos de dos semanas, efectuados entre agosto de 1997 y septiembre de 1999, en 17 sitios del área insular del Parque Nacional Coiba. Un total de 4942 agallas, que corresponden a 50 especies de insectos y nueve de ácaros, fueron colectadas en 50 especies de plantas vasculares de 30 familias. El 62.7% de las agallas correspondieron a especies de la familia Cecidomyiidae (Diptera), el 15.3% a ácaros de la familia Eriophyidae, el 8.5% a Psyllidae (Homoptera), un 6.8% a Coccidae y el 5.1% a Phlaeothripidae (Tysanoptera). Las familias de plantas con más especies de inductores de agallas fueron Myrtaceae con siete, Bignoniaceae con cinco y Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae y Melastomataceae con cuatro. Las agallas formadas en hojas representaron el 93% del total. El número de inductores de agallas por sitio osciló entre uno y diecinueve. La riqueza de artrópodos inductores de agallas del Parque Nacional Coiba se discute con datos disponibles de la literatura para el área continental de Panamá y el Neotrópico. Nuestros resultados apoyan la idea de que es prematuro concluir que la riqueza de artrópodos que inducen agallas disminuye hacia el Ecuador., This work was supported by the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation (AECI) and also partially funded by the research projectDGES PB97-1241, of the Spanish Ministry ofEducation and Culture to JLNA.

We present the results of a study on myiasis in Panama during the first years of a Cochliomyia hominivorax eradication program (1998-2005), with the aim of investigating the behavior of the flies that produce myiasis in animals and human beings. The hosts that registered positive for myiasis were cattle (46.4%), dogs (15.3%), humans (14.7%), birds (12%), pigs (6%), horses (4%), and sheep (1%). Six fly species caused myiasis: Dermatobia hominis (58%), Phaenicia spp. (20%), Cochliomyia macellaria (19%), Chrysomya rufifacies (0.4%), and maggots of unidentified species belonging to the Sarcophagidae (3%) and Muscidae (0.3%). With the Dubois index, was no evidence that the absence of C. hominivorax allowed an increase in the cases of facultative myiasis.

Two new species of Disholcaspis Dalla Torre & Kieffer 1910, Disholcaspis bettyannae and D. bisethiae (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) are described from Panama. The two new species induce galls on Quercus bumelioides Liebm. and Q. lancifolia Schledl & Cham. (Fagaceae, sect. Quercus, White Oaks). Diagnostic characters, gall descriptions, distribution, biological data, as well as inquiline and parasitoid associated community data of the new species are given. The new species represent the first records of the genus Disholcaspis from the Neotropical region.

This paper reports the first study of the inquiline oak gall wasp fauna of Panama. Samples were collected at 19 sites in Panama, and inquiline specimens were reared from 63 gall morphotypes, including six species of Quercus, mainly Q. salicifolia and Q. bumelioides. Two genera were found: Synergus, represented by 10 species, and the recently described genus Agastoroxenia Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero, with a single species, A. panamensis Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero. Synergus was recorded for the first time in Panama; Synergus mesoamericanus and Synergus nicaraguensis, which were formerly recorded from Guatemala and Nicaragua, have now been recorded in Panama, and eight new species of Synergus are described here: Synergus elegans, S. laticephalus, S. ramoni, S. rufinotaulis, S. luteus, S. gabrieli, S. baruensis and S. chiricanus. A key for the identification of the studied fauna is provided. An overall similarity cluster analysis of the inquilines of oak gall wasps of Panama, including one Neotropical and two Palaearctic species as outgroups, is included.

Se describe una nueva especie de Bassettia Ashmead, 1887, Bassettia caulicola (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Cynipini), de Panamá. La nueva especie induce agallas en los tallos de Quercus bumelioides Liebm. (Fagaceae secc. Quercus). Se aportan los caracteres diagnósticos de la nueva especie, su distribución y su biología. La nueva especie es incluida en la clave de identificación de la especies de Bassettia del Neártico. Se amplían los datos diagnósticos morfológicos del género Bassettia así como se comenta el primer registro de este género en la región neotropical.

Three new species of Amphibolips Reinhard 1865, Amphibolips castroviejoi, A. aliciae, and A. salicifoliae (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) are described from Panama. The three new species induce galls on Quercus salicifolia Nee (Fagaceae, sect. Lobatae, Red Oaks). Diagnostic characters, gall descriptions, distribution, and biological data are given. The generic limits of Amphibolips are re-established with adding new generic morphological characters. The presence of the genus Amphibolips in the Neotropical region is discussed. The new species represent the first record of this genus from Central America.

Two new species of Loxaulus Mayr, Loxaulus championi and Loxaulus panamensis (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) are described from Panama. Both new species induce galls on Quercus bumelioides Liebm. (Fagaceae, sect. Quercus, White Oaks). The diagnostic characters, gall descriptions, distribution, biological data and a key for the identification of the new species are given. The new species represent the first records of the genus Loxaulus outside North America.