Erotylina Curran (Coleoptera, Erotylidae, Erotylini): redescription of type species, potential species groups and diversity of color patterns.

The colorful genus Erotylina Curran was proposed to include a group of species originally described in Erotylus Fabricius but differing by the lack of three longitudinal carinae on the tibiae. The taxonomy of Erotylina is mostly based on coloration while information on mouthparts, thorax, male and female abdominal terminalia remain unknown. In addition, little is known about the factors underlying coloration in Erotylina and Erotylidae in general. Here we redescribe the type species of Erotylina, Erotylus leopardus Lacordaire providing the first descriptions of several morphological structures, and new data on its geographical distribution. Erotylus nicaraguae Crotch is proposed as new junior synonymy of E. leoparda. Lectotypes are designated for the following species: Erotylus leopardus Lacordaire, Erotylus nicaraguae Crotch and Erotylus confluens Crotch. Based on the geographical records, specimen labels, literature and online environmental databases, we show that E. leoparda includes two discrete morphs distributed across a latitudinal gradient, with intermediate and continuous variations distributed across altitudinal and temperature gradients. The present study sheds light on the taxonomy of Erotylina and provides the first clearest evidence of a relation between coloration, latitude, altitude, temperature variations and the distributional patterns of a taxon in Erotylidae.

The temporal pattern of mating behavior of the fruit fly, Anastrepha zenildae in the laboratory.

The state of Rio Grande do Norte is an important fruit-producing and exporting area in northeastern Brazil. The success of this industry depends on fruit fly population control, especially in fly-free exporting zones. However, many fruits are not exported because of quarantine restrictions imposed by importing countries. A survey in the state has detected a considerable increase of the fruit fly, Anastrepha zenildae Zucchi (Diptera: Tephritidae), probably a result of the introduction of irrigated guava orchards that make fruit available all year. Knowledge of the sexual behavior of Tephritidae has great importance to pest control programs, particularly those that employ the Sterile Insect Technique. In order to characterize the reproductive behavior of A. zenildae, 32 individuals (16 males; 16 females) in each of six generations were submitted to an artificial 12:12 L:D cycle (750: < 1 lux, lights on 07:00-19:00) and observed over their lifetimes. The courtship and copulation occurred in leks and the episodes varied with the time of day, courtship being most frequent between Zeitgeber time (ZT) 3 and ZT 7, peaking at ZT 5-6. Copulations occurred between ZT 2 and ZT 8, with a higher frequency between ZT 5-7 and a peak at ZT 6. Mean duration was 0.28 ± 0.03 min/male (range: 5-163 min). Males in the leks attempted to copulate mainly between ZT 3 and ZT 7 with a peak at ZT 6, and males outside leks peaked at ZT 7. The different timing of sexual behaviors among related sympatric species, including A. zenildae, may contribute to species isolation.

Exigências Térmicas, Período de Desenvolvimento e Sobrevivência de Imaturos de Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) / Thermal Requirements, Development and Survival of the Immature Stages of the Alphitobius diaperinus (Panz. ) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The development and survival of the immature stages of the lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) were studied at four constant temperatures (22°C, 25°C, 28°C, and 31°C). The development was completed at all temperatures. At 22°C, longer development period and lower survival were observed. The optimal temperature was 31°C which promoted shorter development and higher survival. The basal temperature and thermal constant for egg, larva and pupa development were: 17.8°C, 19.2°C, and 16.5°C and 40.09, 239.48 and 59.56 degree-days, respectively.

Estudou-se, em laboratório, o efeito de quatro temperaturas constantes (22°C, 25°C, 28°C e 31°C) sobre as fases imaturas de Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer). Houve desenvolvimento de imaturos nas quatro temperaturas estudadas, sendo que a 22°C observou-se maior duração do desenvolvimento e menor sobrevivência. A temperatura de 31°C foi a mais favorável para o desenvolvimento dos imaturos, com alta sobrevivência. Os estágios de ovo, larva e pupa apresentaram temperatura base (Tb) de 17,8°C, 19,2°C e 16,5°C, respectivamente. As constantes térmicas (K) foram de 40,09 graus-dia (GD) para ovo, 239,48 GD para larva e 59,56 GD para pupa.