Macrophyes pacoti n. sp. (Araneae: Anyphaenidae) from Brazilian Atlantic Forest, with notes on an araneopathogenic fungus.

The spider genus Macrophyes O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893 includes five species from the Neotropical region (World Spider Catalog 2019). Two species were described from Central America, M. attenuata, the type species, by Pickard-Cambridge (1893), known until now only by the male, and M. elongata by Chickering (1937) know by both sexes. Three other species were described from South America, M. silvae Brescovit, 1992 and M. manati Brescovit, 1993 from Peru, and M. jundiai Brescovit, 1993 from Brazil (Brescovit 1992, 1993). Brescovit (1997) diagnosed this genus from other Anyphaeninae by the cylindrical abdomen, retrolateral margin of the chelicera with prominent distal tooth, close to the claw and by the tibia of the male palp almost twice longer than the cymbium. The females could be confused with Mesilla Simon by the long and cylindrical abdomen, but are distinguished by the epigynum with narrow, sinuous lateral borders and, internally, by the long copulatory ducts (see Brescovit, 1997: figs 146, 150-151).

Macrophyes pacoti n. sp. (Araneae: Anyphaenidae) from Brazilian Atlantic Forest, with notes on an araneopathogenic fungus

The spider genus Macrophyes O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893 includes five species from the Neotropical region (World Spider Catalog 2019). Two species were described from Central America, M. attenuata, the type species, by Pickard-Cambridge (1893), known until now only by the male, and M. elongata by Chickering (1937) know by both sexes. Three other species were described from South America, M. silvae Brescovit, 1992 and M. manati Brescovit, 1993 from Peru, and M. jundiai Brescovit, 1993 from Brazil (Brescovit 1992, 1993). Brescovit (1997) diagnosed this genus from other Anyphaeninae by the cylindrical abdomen, retrolateral margin of the chelicera with prominent distal tooth, close to the claw and by the tibia of the male palp almost twice longer than the cymbium. The females could be confused with Mesilla Simon by the long and cylindrical abdomen, but are distinguished by the epigynum with narrow, sinuous lateral borders and, internally, by the long copulatory ducts (see Brescovit, 1997: figs 146, 150-151).

The Brazilian Amazonian species of Hymenoepimecis Viereck, 1912 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae).

Six new species of Hymenoepimecis Viereck are described from Brazilian Amazonian tropical forest: H. amazonensis sp. n., H. duckensis sp. n., H. kleini sp. n., H. manauara sp. n., H. ribeiroi sp. n. and H. uberensis sp. n., and male genitalia is described for the first time for the genus. In addition, we provide an identification key, diagnosis and distributional records for Brazilian Amazonian species of Hymenoepimecis. By describing these new species we aim to draw further attention to the considerable species richness of the genus in Amazonia.

First record of necrophagy by Scybalocanthon nigriceps Harold (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) / Primeiro relato de necrofagia por Scybalocanthon nigriceps Harold (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae)

First record of necrophagy by Scybalocanthon nigriceps Harold (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae). The S. nigriceps specimen was observed making small cuts and removing portions of the carcass of a frog Haddadus binotatus (Spix) in February 24, 2011, in Serra do Japi, São Paulo State, Brazil. This note presents another record of necrophagy for Scybalocanthon.

Primeiro relato de necrofagia por Scybalocanthon nigriceps Harold (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae). O espécime de S. nigriceps foi observado fazendo pequenos cortes e removendo porções da carcaça da rã Haddadus binotatus (Spix) em 24 de fevereiro de 2011 na Serra do Japi, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Esta nota apresenta mais um registro de negrofagia para Scybalocanthon.

Parasitoid-induced mortality of Araneus omnicolor (Araneae, Araneidae) by Hymenoepimecis sp. (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) in southeastern Brazil.

All species included in the Polysphincta genus-group develop as ectophagous parasitoids of active spiders, killing their hosts prior to pupation. However, little information regarding natural history and ovipositing behavior of most species are available. In this study we inspected 85 webs of Araneus omnicolor to evaluate the frequency of parasitism and host size preferences of the wasp Hymenoepimecis sp. We also described the web characteristics of normal and parasitized spiders and the wasp ovipositing behavior. About 41% of the adult females of A. omnicolor inspected were parasitized. The highest incidence of parasitism was observed among relatively small females while no egg or larva was found in large individuals. Araneus omnicolor builds a strong web composed of an orb and barrier threads, where the spider rests within a curled leaf. The parasitoid larva builds its cocoon within this refuge, and modified cocoon webs were not observed. The ovipositing behavior of Hymenoepimecis sp. was very similar to that of Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga parasitizing Leucauge argyra, including the position of the sting, the killing of a previously attached larva, and the expelling of the egg from the base of the ovipositor.