ABSTRACT
Abstract: The seasonal population density is informed for two epidemiologically important species of bloodsucking Tabanidae, Tabanus occidentalis Linnaeus and T. pungens Wiedemann, recorded at the Fernando de Noronha archipelago that was never connected to the continent. The two species are widespread in the Neotropical Region, have not been recorded from any other oceanic island, and have most likely been introduced accidentally in the archipelago. Tabanus occidentalis dominated the samples, encompassing 99.6% of the specimens collected in the two local seasons, rainy and dry. Tabanus pungens was rarer, encompassing 0.4% of the specimens collected mainly in the dry season. The tabanids of Fernando de Noronha are able to transmit blood pathogens, bringing risks to the health of the livestock. They also pester the tourists, which brings losses to the local tourist industry. Larvae of both species were already collected in the water lettuce Pistia stratiotes Linnaeus and it is highly recommend that this introduced aquatic plant be removed from the ponds of Fernando de Noronha to control tabanid populations.
Resumo: A densidade populacional e a sazonalidade é informada para duas espécies epidemiologicamente importantes de Tabanidae, Tabanus occidentalis Linnaeus e T. pungens Wiedemann, registradas no arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, o qual nunca foi conectado ao continente. As duas espécies estão amplamente distribuídas na Região Neotropical, não foram registradas em nenhuma outra ilha oceânica e provavelmente foram introduzidas acidentalmente no arquipélago. Tabanus occidentalis dominou as amostras, englobando 99,6% dos exemplares coletados nas duas estações locais, chuvosa e seca. Tabanus pungens foi mais rara, abrangendo 0,4% dos espécimes coletados principalmente na estação seca. Os tabanídeos de Fernando de Noronha são capazes de transmitir patógenos do sangue, trazendo riscos à saúde do gado. Eles também incomodam os turistas, o que traz prejuízos para a indústria turística local. Larvas de ambas as espécies já foram coletadas na alface d'água Pistia stratiotes Linnaeus e é altamente recomendável que esta planta aquática, introduzida no arquipélago, seja removida das lagoas de Fernando de Noronha para o controle de populações de tabanídeos.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT We recorded for the first time the presence of the two fruit flies pests, Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and the parasitoid Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in the oceanic archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil. The specimens were collected in traps installed during June/2019 to February/2020. The fruit flies and the parasitoid species are widespread in the Brazilian mainland and have most likely been introduced accidentally in the archipelago.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Hexapods, commonly known as insects, are a neglected taxonomic group in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, with unanswered questions about their species richness and the ecological processes in which they are involved (e.g., colonization, introduction, establishment, and extinction). Herein, we provide an updated Hexapod checklist with current nomenclatural combinations. The entomofauna of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago is currently composed of 453 species in 21 orders. The orders, and their respective number of species, are: Blattaria (9), Coleoptera (118), Collembola (29), Dermaptera (3), Diplura (1), Diptera (134), Embioptera (1), Hemiptera (29), Hymenoptera (59), Isoptera (2), Lepidoptera (25), Mantodea (1), Neuroptera (3), Odonata (5), Orthoptera (11), Phasmatodea (1), Phthiraptera (6), Psocoptera (3), Siphonaptera (1), Thysanoptera (10), and Zygentoma (2). The archipelago has 263 new taxon records (family + genera + species). Thirty-eight species (3.39%) were described from local specimens and most of them are likely endemic species. This study more than doubles our knowledge (from the previous 190 records) of the entomofauna in this large Brazilian archipelago. This study also provides a baseline for studies on its conservation status and for implementing future environmental management programs.
ABSTRACT
Abstract The first gynandromorph of the insect order Zoraptera is reported. A gynandromorph of Zorotypus brasiliensis Silvestri is described from a likely parthenogenetic population in the Atlantic Forest around the border of the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. As has been previously surmised for this species, the sample consisted of only females, tending to support the hypothesis of thelytokous parthenogenesis for this population. The gynandromorph is largely female in outward appearance, but exhibits male secondary sexual traits on the left side of the apical abdominal segments. The left (male) antenna consists of antennomeres of different proportions to those of the right (female) antenna. The internal genitalia and associated sclerites, however, are female although some are augmented in their form relative to normal-type females. Comments are made on possible factors resulting in the development of the gynandromorph. This is the 16th insect order with gynandromorphism reported.