Modeling and updating the occurrence of Aedes aegypti in its southern limit of distribution in South America.

Aedes aegypti is the main vector of arboviruses in the world. This mosquito species is distributed from tropical to temperate regions. In Argentina, it has been reported in 20 out of 23 provinces and reaches its southernmost distribution in the world. Its distribution and persistence are affected by meteorological, demographic and environmental factors, such as temperature, precipitation, and population. The aim of this study was to update and model the occurrence of Aedes aegypti in its southern limit of distribution in Argentina. To this end, a total of 37 sites were inspected in La Pampa and Río Negro provinces. Generalized Linear Models were used to explain the occurrence of Aedes aegypti based on meteorological, environmental and demographic variables. Aedes aegypti was found in 11 cities of La Pampa province where it had not been previously reported, but was not found in any of the cities evaluated in Río Negro province. The averaged model explaining the occurrence of Aedes aegypti included the minimum temperature, precipitation and interactions between maximum temperature and precipitation as explanatory variables. Although precipitation was statistically significant, other factors such as minimum temperature are also important in modeling the occurrence of Aedes aegypti in its southernmost distribution limit.

Winter survival of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) eggs at its southern limit distribution.

Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) survives in the egg stage under unfavorable environmental conditions. In this study, we assessed the survival of Ae. aegypti eggs under natural winter conditions as an overwintering mechanism. To address this, field collected eggs (from Buenos Aires city) were exposed for three months during the winter season in three sites of Santa Rosa and General Acha (La Pampa province, Argentina). Eggs survival and hatching response were analyzed considering two factors (site of exposure and time of oviposition). Of the 1397 analyzed eggs, 936 (67%) were viable at the end of the study. Egg survival showed to be high in all sites (between 53% and 84%), except in one site of Santa Rosa. Also, eggs survival was higher in eggs laid in May (94%) (late-fall) as compared to those laid in March (61%) and April (56%) (early- and mid-fall respectively). Eggs hatching response was only affected by the time of oviposition, being lower for eggs laid in May (33%) as compared to March (38%) and April (50%). These results provide information regarding the winter resistance of Ae. aegypti at the limit of its distribution in temperate regions. Given the high percentages of survival found in this study, we consider that the low winter temperatures would not be a limitation for its establishment in southern areas.

Global Potential Distribution of the South American Cutworm Pest Agrotis robusta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Invasive pest species can represent significant losses to the agricultural economy of a country. Assessing the potential distribution of known pest species could be an important tool to evaluate possible invasive threats globally. Agrotis robusta (Blanchard) is an endemic species of temperate areas of South America considered an important pest of seedlings of sunflower, dry bean, and potatoes. The polyphagous habit of A. robusta, along with its regional importance and history of misidentifications, makes it a species of concern for other regions of the world. In this work, we assessed the potential distribution of A. robusta with Maxent based on occurrence data and variables related to climate and soil. The bioclimate profile of the species showed a marked seasonality and medium average monthly temperature, coinciding with the temperate climate of the Köppen-Geiger classification. Other important variables related to the species distribution included average solar radiation and soil pH. Suitable conditions were identified in North America, Central America, Europe, Southern Africa, Asia, and Australia. High suitable places overlapped with some of the most important countries of production of host crops of A. robusta. Our conclusions highlight the importance of taking this species into account when importing goods from countries with the presence of A. robusta, especially for countries that are important producers of host crops.

Revision of the species of Mythimna Ochsenheimer, 1816 (Pseudaletia) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae: Leucaniini) occurring in Brazil

ABSTRACT The genus Mythimna Ochsenheimer, 1816 groups aproximatelly 270 species worldwide. This genus is subdivided into many subgenera and species-groups, with those species occurring in the Neotropical region included in the subgenus Mythimna (Pseudaletia) Franclemont, 1951. Species of this subgenus frequently reach high population levels, causing economic damage to Poaceae cultivars. Hence, it is crucial a well-defined taxonomy allowing rapid and precise identifications. However, the species of this subgenus are cryptic, their recognition requires molecular analyses and in-depth morphological studies, which has often resulted in misidentifications. In Brazil, the occurrence of the following species had been mentioned: Mythimna (P.) adultera (Schaus, 1894), Mythimna (P.) roraimae Franclemont, 1951, Mythimna (P.) sequax Franclemont, 1951, and Mythimna (P.) unipuncta (Haworth, 1809). Yet, until now, we lack a broader knowledge about the geographic distribution and taxonomy of these species. Thus, this study aims to revise the taxonomy of those species based on morphological and molecular (COI) data to provide an updated comprehension of this group in the country. The analysis of 1,664 specimens allowed us to confirm the presence of three species in the country: Mythimna (P.) adultera, Mythimna (P.) sequax, and Mythimna (P.) unipuncta. A lectotype for Mythimna (P.) adultera is designated; a new synonym is proposed: Pseudaletia roraimae syn. nov. of Mythimna (P.) unipuncta; and a new species, Mythimna (P.) celiae sp. nov. is described from Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

The Granulate Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Biological Parameters Under Controlled Conditions, Host Plants, and Distribution in the Americas.

Feltia subterranea (Fabricius), commonly known as the granulate cutworm, is a common species of owlet moths (Noctuidae) of major agricultural importance, widely distributed in Nearctic and Neotropical regions. This study was conducted to determine the species biological parameters, gather information about its larval host plants, and assess the agricultural significance of this species in the Americas. The viability of the egg, larval, pupal stages, and prepupal period was 98, 98, and 100%, respectively, under laboratory conditions. The average duration of the egg, larval, pupal stages, and prepupal period was 3, 17, 4, and 13 d, respectively. All laboratory-reared larvae developed through five instars. The growth ratio was 1.93 for females and 1.85 for males. The duration of the larval stage was significantly longer in females than in males from the fourth instar. The duration of the pupal stage was significantly shorter in females than in males. When larval and pupal stage durations were combined, there were no significant differences in total development time as a function of sex. In total, 159 botanical taxa belonging to 41 families were recorded as host species for F. subterranea. The families with the greatest number of host species were Fabaceae (22), Poaceae (19), Asteraceae (16), Brassicaceae (13), Solanaceae (12), Amaranthaceae (7), Cucurbitaceae (7), and Malvaceae (5). It is noteworthy that the large number of native weeds used by F. subterranea as host plants could represent a significant source of infestation of crops in the agricultural landscape.

Phylogeography of the gall-inducing micromoth Eucecidoses minutanus Brèthes (Cecidosidae) reveals lineage diversification associated with the Neotropical Peripampasic Orogenic Arc.

We investigated the molecular phylogenetic divergence and historical biogeography of the gall-inducing micromoth Eucecidoses minutanus Brèthes (Cecidosidae) in the Neotropical region, which inhabits a wide range and has a particular life history associated with Schinus L. (Anacardiaceae). We characterize patterns of genetic variation based on 2.7 kb of mitochondrial DNA sequences in populations from the Parana Forest, Araucaria Forest, Pampean, Chacoan and Monte provinces. We found that the distribution pattern coincides with the Peripampasic orogenic arc, with most populations occurring in the mountainous areas located east of the Andes and on the Atlantic coast. The phylogeny revealed a marked geographically structured differentiation, which highlights a first split into two major clades: western (Monte and Chacoan) and eastern (Pampean and coastal forests). Together with AMOVA and network analysis, phylogeny revealed the existence of six well-defined lineages, which are isolated by distance. The TMRCA for Eucecidoses was estimated at ca. 65 Mya, and the divergence among major clades occurred by the Plio-Pleistocene ca. 20-25 Mya, with the extant six lineages emerging about 0.9 to 5.7 Mya (later than the rise of Schinus). These results are associated with a diversification pattern of either a late burst of speciation or early extinction. Population range expansion for some lineages concurring with major climatic changes that occurred during the wet-dry events of the Pleistocene in the region was recovered in both neutrality tests and past dynamics through time analysis. A possible biogeographic scenario reconstructed suggests that Eucecidoses likely emerged from a central meta-population in the south and later dispersed (ca. 38 Mya) using western and eastern as two major routes. Thus, a combination of dispersal and vicariance events that occurred in the ancestral populations might have shaped the current distribution of extant lineages. Speciation driven by host plant shift is potentially involved in the evolutionary history of Eucecidoses.

A revision of the South American genus Metecia Snellen (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae).

The genus Metecia Snellen (Noctuidae. Noctuinae) from Southern Argentina and Chile is redescribed and three species are recognized: M. cornifrons Snellen, M. lacustris (Köhler) n. comb., and M. hypothetica (Köhler) n. comb. In addition, Euxoa pampeana Köhler is synonymized with Metecia cornifrons. Adults and male and female genitalia are described and illustrated for the first time, and a key to the species is provided.

Revision of the Neotropical genus Eschatocerus Mayr (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Eschatocerini) with biological notes and the first description of the terminal larva.

The gall wasp genus Eschatocerus (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Eschatocerini), a cynipid genus of gall inducers on Prosopis and Acacia species (Fabaceae), endemic to southern South America, is revised. Complete descriptions of the external morphology of the genus and its three known species, illustrated with scanning electron photographs, are given for the first time, and an updated key for the identification of the species is provided. The biology of the species of Eschatocerus and their galls is described. Host plant associations are given, and the terminal larva of Eschatocerus niger is described for the first time. Preliminary notes on the inquiline and parasitoid community associated with the galls of Eschatocerus species are also given.

Agrotis Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): a systematic analysis of South American species.

The genus Agrotis Ochsenheimer, 1816 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) contains about 300 described species distributed worldwide, excepting the Poles. For South America 93 species have been described. Different diagnostic characters have been proposed for species from the northern Hemisphere, mostly from male genitalia. Recently, numerous South American species of the genus have been transferred to other genera. In this work, a systematic revision was undertaken of the South American species of Agrotis, restricting to 20 the number of species of this genus for the region and transferring the other species to different genera and/or synonymizing with other species.Based on a detailed study of the external morphology and genitalia of both sexes, several nomen clatural changes are proposed. New generic synonymy: Mesembreuxoa Hampson = Feltia Walker. New Agrotis synonymies include: Scotia forsteri Köhler = A. propriens (Dyar); Agrotis peruviana hampsoni Draudt, Rhizagrotis triclava Draudt, and Euxoa andina Köhler = A. peruviana (Hampson); Lycophotia achromatica Hampson, Feltia malefida patagiata Aurivillius, Prout and Meyrick, Agrotis psammophila Köhler, and Scotia (Feltia) canietensis Köhler = A. malefida Guenée; Chorizagrotis benefida Draudt = A. experta (Walker); Agrotis livens Köhler and Agrotis capayana Köhler = A. araucaria (Hampson). Species transferred to Feltia Walker tent. include: Scotia aspersula Köhler, n. comb.; Porosagrotis brachystria Hampson, n. comb.; Agrotis carrascoi Köhler, n. comb.; Mesembreuxoa chilensis Hampson, n. comb.; Euxoa clavisigna Dognin, n. comb.; Euxoa conifrons Draudt, n. comb.; Agrotis consternans Hayes, n. comb.; Euxoa coquimbensis Hampson, n. comb.; Mesembreuxoa fasicola Dyar, n. comb.; Chorizagrotis forasmicans Köhler, n. comb.; Agrotis giselae León, n. comb.; Agrotis gypaetina Guenée, n. comb.; Agrotis hispidula Guenée, n. comb.; Euxoa incarum Cockerell, n. comb.; Agrotis india Köhler, n. comb.; Scotia mansa Köhler, n. comb.; Scotia picata Köhler, n. comb.; Agrotis rondanelli León, n. comb.; Euxoa senta Draudt, n. comb.; and Agrotis submontana Köhler, n. comb. New Feltia tent. synonymies include: Agrotis daguerrei Köhler, Porosagrotis atricentrica Hampson, and Agrotis llanoi Köhler = F. brachystria; Lycophotia baeckstroemi Aurivillius = F. deprivata (Walker); Agrotis raveni Köhler = F. fasicola; Agrotis gentilii Köhler = F. forasmicans; Scotia nyei Köhler, Euxoa australis Köhler, and Scotia liniclinans Köhler = F. hispidula; Euxoa bosqui Köhler and Euxoa griseosparsa Köhler = F. lutescens (Blanchard); Euxoa praeocupata Köhler, Agrotis andinicola Köhler, and Scotia songoensis Köhler = F. subandina (Köhler); Agrotis maldonadoi Köhler = F. submontana. New combinations of Agrotis species: Anicla albiorbis (Dyar), n. comb.; Noctubourgognea chimaera (Köhler), n. comb.; Noctubourgognea dissociata (Staudinger), n. comb.; Pseudoleucania nigrocollaris (Köhler), n. comb.; and P. wittmeri (Köhler), n. comb. One lectotype and one paralectotype are designated for A. edmondsi Butler. The 20 species of South American Agrotis are redescribed using characters of color pattern, external morphology of head and thorax, and internal morphology of male (including vesica) and female genitalia. This is the first time complete eversions and description of male genitalia (aedeagus and vesica) and female genitalia are done for almost all the South American species. Images of all described characters and dichotomous keys to identify South American species of Agrotis are included. 

Redescription of Dicranoses capsulifex Kieffer and Jörgensen (Lepidoptera: Cecidosidae) with description of the immature stages and biology.

Dicranoses capsulifex Kieffer and Jörgensen (Lepidoptera: Cecidosidae) is a gall inducing moth associated with Schinus fasciculatus (Griseb.) (Anacardiaceae), with a known distribution restricted to Argentina. It undergoes a one year life cycle (univoltine), with leaf-like galls, and adult with only a half day life span. Male, female, pupa, and gall are redescribed, and the genitalia of both sexes, larva, and life cycle are described herein for the first time using light and scanning electron microscopy. The life cycle is documented from samples consisting of 15 larvae and/or pupae taken every 15 days during the year (from July, 2011, to July, 2012).