Nesting Biology of the Potter Wasp Ancistrocerus flavomarginatus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) Revealed by Trap-Nest Experiments in Southern Brazil.

This paper provides the first description of the nesting biology of Ancistrocerus flavomarginatus (Brèthes) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae), the only species of the genus found in Brazil. Our trap-nest experiments were conducted in two Mixed Ombrophilous Forest fragments and two adjacent matrices in Guarapuava (Paraná state, Brazil) from August 2017 to July 2018. In each area, we set 192 trap nests divided into six groups of 32 units, totalling 768 trap nests. We obtained a total of 47 nests of A. flavomarginatus, the vast majority of them (43, 91.5%) founded in the forest fragments. Most nests were built in wooden traps with a bore diameter of either 5 or 7 mm (19 nests in each type, 80.8%). Nests comprised 1-12 subcylindrical brood cells arranged linearly and separated from one another by transverse partitions of soil mastic. Larvae consumed 6-10 lepidopteran caterpillars before spinning the cocoon. Ancistrocerus flavomarginatus produced up to 6 annual generations (multivoltinism) and its immature forms were parasitized by chrysidid and ichneumonid wasps. The calculated sex ratio (1.78:1) was statistically biased towards males, but since they (21.3 ± 2.0 mg) were significantly lighter than females (50.9 ± 4.0 mg), the resulting investment ratio (1.34:1) was female biased. Males emerged from more external cells and developed significantly faster (27.2 ± 0.46 days) than females (30.1 ± 0.66 days), hence a case of protandry. We demonstrated that A. flavomarginatus is largely dependent on the Atlantic Rainforest and thus that deforestation poses a critical threat to this important species.

Nesting Biology of the Solitary Wasp Pisoxylon amenkei (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae, Trypoxylini) in a Neotropical Hotspot of Southern Brazil.

Pisoxylon amenkei is a specie of solitary wasp that builds its nests in pre-existing cavities; it has only been recorded nesting in the Araucaria forest, one of the Atlantic forest phytophysiognomies and a biodiversity hotspot. So far, the only information on the biology of the genus Pisoxylon is based on one species. In addition, the genus has many similarities to Trypoxylon, showing an increased need for studies on the biology of these species of wasps. In the present study, we introduce unpublished information about Pisoxylon amenkei nesting biology and described many aspects of its natural history. Research was carried out between August 2017 and August 2019, in a rural area of Guarapuava municipality, Paraná, Brazil. Pisoxylon amenkei nested only in fragmented parts of Araucaria forest, during summer and autumn. It is a multivoltine species, and thus remains in diapause, in the pre-pupa phase during winter and spring. Their nests had an interior design similar to that of Pisoxylon xanthosoma and some Trypoxylon species, such as Trypoxylon lactitarse and Trypoxylon agamenon. Moreover, the sex ratio of P. amenkei was 1: 1, which can be linked to an equal cost in the production of females and males. Like other species of Pisoxylon, P. amenkei nests primarily in forest areas. In southern Brazil, it nests in fragments of Araucaria forest, which are threatened. Therefore, more efforts are needed to preserve these remaining fragments; a failure to do so could have devastating results, considering the number of threatened species that these forests house. We conclude that further studies should focus on the phylogeny of the group and use molecular analyses to clarify the hypothesis of Antropov (1998), that Pisoxylon should be classified as a subgenus of Trypoxylon.

Zethus (Zethus) pilosus Zavattari, 1912 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Southern Brazil: description of the female, the male genitalia, its nest and notes on biology.

Zethus is the largest vespid genus and, despite being very diverse in the Neotropical region, little is known about its biology and many species are known from only one sex. Zethini are centered in one of the controversies involving Vespidae phylogeny; increased knowledge of terminals will allow for more precise analyses, because some phylogenetically informative characters are observed in only one sex and others can be extracted from nests. With this in mind, complementary knowledge on Zethus pilosus is presented: the description of the female, of the male genitalia, of the nest and notes in its biology. Additional key features in the pronotum for identification of this species are provided. Nests were founded between December and April, presenting construction of partitions out of a combination of mud, sand, vegetable matter and insect parts. Development from egg to adult lasted an average of 39 days.

Climatic conditions drive the abundance and diversity of spiders community in an Atlantic Forest fragment

Spiders are very sensitive to variations in abiotic conditions. Here, we evaluated to what extent the variation in monthly rainfall and mean temperature can affect spiders community attributes. To this aim, we conducted an inventory of spiders species in a mixed ombrophilous forest fragment, using three different methods (beating tray, nocturnal manual collection and pitfall traps) over July 2010 and June 2011. The influence of monthly rainfall and mean temperature in spiders richness and abundance were evaluated using linear mixed models. We sampled 5,416 spiders belonging to 142 morphospecies and 28 families. These values were higher than those found in other studies conducted in temperate regions, and similar to those values found in tropical regions. Monthly mean temperature positively affected abundance and richness of adults, and negatively affected the abudance of immature spiders. Monthly rainfaill was negatively related to abundance of immature individuals. Species composition also differed between the hottest and coldest months. Our study helps us to understand the role of climatic conditions on spiders communities, and highlights that even small variations in these conditions can directly affect richness, abundance and species composition of spiders.

Climatic conditions drive the abundance and diversity of spiders community in an Atlantic Forest fragment

Spiders are very sensitive to variations in abiotic conditions. Here, we evaluated to what extent the variation in monthly rainfall and mean temperature can affect spiders community attributes. To this aim, we conducted an inventory of spiders species in a mixed ombrophilous forest fragment, using three different methods (beating tray, nocturnal manual collection and pitfall traps) over July 2010 and June 2011. The influence of monthly rainfall and mean temperature in spiders richness and abundance were evaluated using linear mixed models. We sampled 5,416 spiders belonging to 142 morphospecies and 28 families. These values were higher than those found in other studies conducted in temperate regions, and similar to those values found in tropical regions. Monthly mean temperature positively affected abundance and richness of adults, and negatively affected the abudance of immature spiders. Monthly rainfaill was negatively related to abundance of immature individuals. Species composition also differed between the hottest and coldest months. Our study helps us to understand the role of climatic conditions on spiders communities, and highlights that even small variations in these conditions can directly affect richness, abundance and species composition of spiders.

Ephuta icema Casal, 1969 and its host Auplopus subaurarius Dreisbach, 1963 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae, Pompilidae) from Brazil.

The male and female of Ephuta icema Casal, 1969 are reared from the host Auplopus subaurarius Dreisbach, 1963 (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) that allow to unit both sexes for this mutillid and describe hitherto unknown male. A review of all the previous host records for the genus Ephuta Say, 1836 is given.

Spiders Used as Prey by the Hunting Wasp Trypoxylon (Trypargilum)agamemnon Richards (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae)

Spiders used as prey by the hunting wasp Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) agamemnon Richards(Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Zoological Studies 49(2): 169-175. The purpose of this study was to monitor thespider fauna in Trypoxylon agamemnon nests. The study was carried out from Dec. 2001 to Dec. 2006 in theParque Municipal das Araucárias, in the municipality of Guarapuava, state of Paraná, southern Brazil. Nests ofT. agamemnon were obtained using trap-nests made of wooden blocks. To investigate the similarity betweenspider species in T. agamemnon’s diet, spiders species were grouped according to their abundances, using theBray-Curtis coefficient as a metric method and the unweighted pair group method average (UPGMA) as theclustering method. Spider species dominance was calculated, and Chi-square tests were used to test the nullhypothesis that there was no significant difference among the proportions of collected juvenile, male, and femalespiders. In contrast to what was recorded for other species of spider-hunting wasps, T. agamemnon exclusively captures spiders (of the Anyphaenidae) that forage on the vegetation. This probably maintains niche partitioning between Trypoxylon species that occur in the Parque Municipal das Araucárias, reducing competition for prey.

Spatial distribution of enteroparasites among school children from Guarapuava, State of Paraná, Brazil

The most common infections in human beings are caused by intestinal parasites. They can lead to a number of harmful effects, which could include, among others, intestinal obstruction, malnutrition, iron deficiency anemia, diarrhea, and poor absorption. In Brazil, enteroparasites are one of the main public health issues. The present study aims at analyzing the distribution and frequency of enteroparasite occurrence in 635 children from seven community schools in the city of Guarapuava, Paraná (PR). In addition, we used similarity and diversity indices to analyze the parasite community. We found 475 samples with at least one parasite showing that 75.27 percent of children had enteroparasites. A smaller fraction (26.73 percent) of children harbored several parasites (multiparasitism), especially Giardia duodenalis (56 percent), and Ascaris lumbricoides (18 percent). Statistical analysis showed that three (out of seven) children communities had higher similarity in frequency and amount of parasites. Our results suggest that the children studied were highly infected by enteroparasites. These levels of infestation could be related to several factors, such as climate, social and economic conditions and characteristics of the parasites.

As infecções mais freqüentemente encontradas em seres humanos são ocasionadas por parasitos intestinais, os quais podem causar danos aos hospedeiros, que incluem, entre outros agravos, a obstrução intestinal, desnutrição, anemia por deficiência de ferro, quadros de diarréia e de má absorção. No Brasil, as enteroparasitoses estão entre os principais problemas de saúde pública. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a distribuição e freqüência de enteroparasitos em 635 crianças pertencentes a sete comunidades escolares do município de Guarapuava - PR. Além disso, verificar índices de similaridade e diversidade de parasitas nas comunidades. Nos resultados, foram encontradas 475 amostras positivas para pelo menos um parasito, cuja prevalência de enteroparasitoses nesta população foi de 75,27 por cento e a ocorrência de casos de poliparasitismo de 26,73 por cento, dos quais foram registrados maiores índices de infecções por Giardia duodenalis (56 por cento) e Ascaris lumbricoides (18 por cento). A análise estatística mostrou que três das sete comunidades avaliadas apresentaram maior índice de similaridade quanto à freqüência e carga parasitária. Nossos resultados sugerem que as crianças avaliadas apresentavam altos índices de infecção por enteroparasitas e que fatores como clima, condições sociais e econômicas da população estudada e características próprias do parasito podem estar facilitando o acometimento destes indivíduos.