Heterobostrychus aequalis (Waterhouse, 1884) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae): Its interception at the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro and relevance as a quarentine pest (A1)

Heterobostrychus aequalis (Waterhouse, 1884) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is considered a severe pest for wood and wood products in regions where it is established. In Brazil, so far, there are no records of its establishment. Therefore, this work reports the interception of this Bostrichidae in the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, on pallet wood from India. It also defends the maintenance of this insect as an absent quarantine pest (A1), by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. It also conducts a discussion that addresses the efficiency of wood treatments, usually used to prevent the spread of quarantine pests in environments where there is international transit of wood, demonstrating that they may not be efficient in this regard, especially for insect species that have the capacity to lay eggs on dry wood. In this context, it also suggests population monitoring, combined with inspections, as an aid measure for the early detection of this pest in an environment where there is international transit of wood.

Un brote de dermatitis producido por picaduras de Sclerodermus sp. (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) en Costa Rica, América Central / An outbreak of dermatitis produced by the stings of Sclerodermus sp. (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) in Costa Rica. Central America

Resumen:Se describe un brote de dermatitis producido por la picadura de una pequeña avispa áptera Sclerodermus sp. (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae), en un grupo de estudiantes de un colegio de San José, capital de Costa Rica. Se encontró también al escarabajo xilófago Calymmaderus pupatus (Coleoptera, Ptinidae), que sirve de huésped a la avispita, la cual necesita depositar sus huevos, como parasitoide, en las larvas del coleóptero para su reproducción. Casos autóctonos de esta dermatitis se conocen en los cinco continentes y esto contrasta con la ausencia de reportes procedentes de América Central.Los lugares en donde se observaron las lesiones, a veces numerosas en la misma persona, fueron: brazos, cuello, piernas, espalda, abdomen, pecho, cara y codos. El tipo de lesión se caracteriza por dolor y ardor en el momento de la picadura, seguido de una pápula eritematosa de tamaño variable, hasta un centímetro de diámetro e intenso prurito, con una duración de una a dos semanas. Se observaron cuadros urticariformes y angioedematosos e inclusive infecciones secundarias como consecuencia del rascado.El problema se atacó con una fumigación dirigida al coleóptero, con un insecticida capaz de penetrar la madera llena de galerías del escarabajo y sus larvas. Pocos días después de la fumigación, se encontraron numerosos ptínidos adultos muertos, así como gran cantidad de betílidos, en los muebles dañados por el escarabajo.

Abstract:This article describes an outbreak of dermatitis caused by stings from a small apterous wasp, Sclerodermus sp. (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), among a group of students attending a school in San José, of Costa Rica. Also present was the xylophagous beetle, Calymmaderus pupatus (Coleoptera: Ptinidae), which serves as a host for this parasitic wasp and on which the wasp depends for its reproduction. The female wasps lay their eggs on the beetle larvae in the wood and the wasp larvae develop as parasitoids. Autochthonous cases of dermatitis caused by bethylid wasps are known from all other five continents but, as far as we are aware, this is the first report from Latin America, and the first report of Sclerodermus from Central America.The sites in which the lesions were located, sometimes numerous in the same person, were: arms, neck, legs, back, abdomen, breast, face and elbows. The type of lesionwas characterized by being painful, with a burning sensation, at the moment of the sting, followed by an erythematous papule lesion of variable size, up to one centimeter in diameter and with intense pruritus, lasting from one to two weeks. Urticariform lesions and angioedema were observed, as well as secondary infections consequence of the scratching of the lesions.The problem was solved by a fumigation directed against the coleoptera beetle, with an insecticide capable of penetrating the wood that was filled with tunnels made by the adult beetles and larvae. A few days after the fumigation numerous dead beetles and bethylid wasps were found in the furniture damaged by the beetles.

Avaliação da infestação e diversidade de Teredinidae (Mollusca - Bivalvia) ao longo da costa do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil / Evaluation of the infestation and diversity of Teredinidae (Mollusca - Bivalvia) along the coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

In order to evaluate the diversity and infestation level of Teredinidae wood-boring molluscs, ten satations were chosen along the coast of Rio de Janeiro State. Using five pine-wood panels in each station, it was possible to distinguish five areas according to species dominance. Ilha Grande Bay is characterized by the dominance of Lyrodus floridanus (Bartsch, 1922); Sepetiba Bay, by Bankia fimbriatula Moll & Roch, 1931, Tijuca Lagoon by Teredo navalis Linnaeus, 1758; Guanabara Bay by Notoredo knoxi (Bartsch, 1917) and Araruama Lagoon by Teredo furcifera Martens, 1894. Specific composition and dominance of these species were due mainly to abiotic factors such as salinity whereas infestation level was associated not only to salinity but also to other factors such as the quantity and quality of fouling, the presence of larval dispersion focus and the wood supply in each area.