A second species of Araucariocladus Silveira amp; Mermudes, with notes on the variation in antennomere numbers in this genus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae).

Here, we describe Araucariocladus amfractus sp. nov., and compare it to the previously monotypic type-species, A. hiems. The new species can be distinguished from A. hiems by the following combination: colour pattern overall dark-brown; pedicel three times shorter than antennomere III and slightly wider than long; distance between antennal sockets as wide as 3/5 clypeal width; labial palpomere III with sides divergent towards apex, apical margin longer than dorsal and shorter than ventral margin; pronotum 1.5x wider than long, anterior margin somewhat sinuose, with a shallow angle anteriad, posterior margin almost straight. A. amfractus sp. nov. is, prima facie, endemic to the Itatiaia Massif, part of the Mantiqueira Mountain Range, Southeastern Brazil. We provide illustrations of the diagnostic features, and an occurrence map for the Araucariocladus species. Finally, we report a previously unrecognized intra-specific variation in the antennomere numbers of A. hiems, a feature also present in Araucariocladus amfractus sp. nov., and adjust the generic diagnosis to include species with 17 or 18 antennomeres. [Zoobank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C335B064-FBD4-4256-983D-B17DF06BAA0D].

Lopesia davillae (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), a new species of gall midge from Brazil associated with Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae) / Lopesia davillae (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), uma nova espécie de cecidomiídeo do Brazil associada à Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae)

Lopesia davillae, a new species of gall midge associated with the reproductive structures of Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae), is described and illustrated (larva, pupa, male, female, and damage) based on material collected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This new species is compared with its congeneric species. This is the first record of Lopesia on Dilleniaceae.(AU)

Lopesia davillae, uma nova espécie de Cecidomyiidae associada a estruturas reprodutivas de Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae), é descrita e ilustrada (larva, pupa, macho, fêmea e dano) com base em material coletado no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A nova espécie é comparada com as outras espécies conhecidas do mesmo gênero. Este é o primeiro registro de Lopesia em Dilleniaceae.(AU)

Lopesia davillae (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), a new species of gall midge from Brazil associated with Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae) / Lopesia davillae (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), uma nova espécie de cecidomiídeo do Brazil associada à Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae)

Abstract Lopesia davillae, a new species of gall midge associated with the reproductive structures of Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae), is described and illustrated (larva, pupa, male, female, and damage) based on material collected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This new species is compared with its congeneric species. This is the first record of Lopesia on Dilleniaceae.

Resumo Lopesia davillae, uma nova espécie de Cecidomyiidae associada a estruturas reprodutivas de Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae), é descrita e ilustrada (larva, pupa, macho, fêmea e dano) com base em material coletado no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A nova espécie é comparada com as outras espécies conhecidas do mesmo gênero. Este é o primeiro registro de Lopesia em Dilleniaceae.

Lopesia davillae (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), a new species of gall midge from Brazil associated with Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae).

Lopesia davillae, a new species of gall midge associated with the reproductive structures of Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae), is described and illustrated (larva, pupa, male, female, and damage) based on material collected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This new species is compared with its congeneric species. This is the first record of Lopesia on Dilleniaceae.

A remarkable leaf mine induced by Tachygonus sp.n. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Rhamphini) on Erythroxylum subsessile (Erythroxylaceae) with a description of the new species.

In this study, we describe and present original data on the bionomics and ecology of Tachygonus erythroxyli Hespenheide, New Species, on Erythroxylum subsessile (Mart.). Thirty individuals of E. subsessile were analysed every two months, from October, 2006 to October, 2007 at the National Park of Restinga de Jurubatiba (PNRJ) Carapebus, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Females of T. erythroxyli lay their eggs singly on the upper surface of the host's leaves. The mine of T. erythroxyli is expanded with three bubbles, each one representing one larval instar. These mines occur throughout the year in at least half of the host plants and are markedly more abundant in summer. We obtained three parasitoid species, making a total of 53% of the rate of parasitism. Cirrospilus sp. (Eulophidae) was the most prevalent and represented 88% of the parasitoids. The great abundance of Tachygonus mines, their high frequency in their host plant, and local monophagy of this leaf miner weevil suggest a close association between T. erythroxyli and Erythroxylum subsessile.

Patterns of gall-forming in Ossaea confertiflora (Melastomataceae) by Lopesia brasiliensis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in an area of Atlantic Rainforest in southeastern Brazil.

Patterns of galling by the gall midge Lopesia brasiliensis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) were studied in Ossaea confertiflora (Melastomataceae) in an Atlantic forest site at Ilha Grande, RJ. Out of the 81 plants surveyed, 55 (67.9%) bore galls. The number of galls per galled individual ranged from 1 to 261 and 94.4% of the galls were in leaves. The number of galls per galled leaf varied from 1 to 25. Total gall number was positively correlated with plant height. Larger and more ramified plants tended to have a smaller percentage of their leaves with galls and a lower density of galls per leaf than smaller plants. Plants that were close to other individuals of the same species tended to have more galls per leaf than relatively isolated plants. The observed patterns may be linked to strategies of optimization in the use of resources (i.e. oviposition sites) and predation avoidance by the gall midges.

Yeast communities of the cactus Pilosocereus arrabidae and associated insects in the Sandy coastal plains of southeastern Brazil.

The yeast communities from necrotic tissues, decaying flowers and fruits, and from larval feeding sites of the moth Sigelgaita sp. in the cactus Pilosocereus arrabidae were surveyed in three restinga ecosystems in Southeastern Brazil. Insects associated with these substrates were sampled to verify the vectoring of yeasts. The cactus Pilosocereus arrabidae was shown to have four different yeast communities associated with it. Necrotic stems had a diverse yeast community with the prevalent species Pichia barkeri, Candida sonorensis, Pichia cactophila, Geotrichum sp., Myxozyma mucilagina and Sporopachydermia sp. A, representing about 80% of the total isolates. Pichia sp. A and a Candida domercqii-like species represented more than 90% of the yeast isolates from decaying flowers. Fruits had a heterogeneous yeast community with typical fruit yeasts of the genus Kloeckera, basidiomicetous anamorphs of the genus Cryptococcus, the black yeast Aureobasidium pullulans, Pichia sp. A, a Candida domercqii-like species, and some cactophilic yeasts, especially Clavispora opuntiae. The feeding site of Sigelgaita sp. larvae had Clavispora opuntiae as the prevalent species. Insect vectors are suggested as one the most important factors influencing the composition of these yeast communities.

Clavispora opuntiae and other yeasts associated with the moth Sigelgaita sp. in the cactus Pilosocereus arrabidae of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Clavispora opuntiae was the prevalent yeast associated with the feeding sites of Sigelgaita sp. larvae in the cactus Pilosocereus arrabidae. Also associated with this habitat were Candida sonorensis, Pichia cactophila, Pichia barkeri, Candida sp. A, Geotrichum sp., Geotrichum sericeum and the yeast like organisms Prototheca zopfii and Acremonium sp. Atypical yeast biotypes that may represent new species of Pichia, Sporopachydermia and Candida were isolated. Mating types of Clavispora opuntiae were at a ratio 70 h- to 3 h- and reduced levels of sporulation suggested low pressure for sexual reproduction in this habitat. Sigelgaita sp. probably was not an important vector for Clavispora opuntiae because it was not isolated from an adult or eggs of this moth.