Life History Traits and Predatory Performance of Belostoma anurum (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae), a Biological Control Agent of Disease Vector Mosquitoes.

Understanding the life cycle and dietary requirements of laboratory-reared insects is critical for optimizing resources (including time) and can provide more reliable ecological basis for using such biological control agents in realistic programs. Here, we evaluated the complete development and the predatory abilities of Belostoma anurum (Herrich-Schäffer, 1848) (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae), an aquatic predator widely distributed in Neotropical region, when reared at different diets. We firstly investigated the predatory performance of B. anurum nymphs upon mosquito larvae (i.e., larvae of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1758) or Culex sp. (Diptera: Culicidae)) and, second, whether the immature diets (i.e., arthropod-based diet (mosquito larvae and adults of Notonectidae) or vertebrate (fish larvae)-based diet) affect the predatory behavior of B. anurum adults. The B. anurum egg-to-adult developmental time was 85.1 days in an arthropod-based diet. However, when a fish-based diet was offered after nymphs reached 3rd instar, we recorded up to 50% reductions on the B. anurum developmental time. Interestingly, B. anurum adults could live more than 1 year under laboratory conditions, independently of the immature diet regime. Furthermore, the fish diet-experienced B. anurum adults spent less time feeding on fish larvae when compared with adults that never experienced this type of diet. Predatory results revealed that 2nd instar B. anurum were more efficient to catch and consume larvae of A. aegypti than of Culex sp. Collectively, our findings show that B. anurum is long-lived aquatic predators, and demonstrate the impacts of dietary regime on the life history traits and predatory performance of these insects.

Aquatic insect communities in small stream in the south of Brazil.

Pollution of rivers and streams, by anthropic action, is characterized as an environmental, social, and sanitary problem. Factors such as the association between the marginal vegetation, the distribution of the substrates in the riverbed, and the availability of allochthonous organic matter influence the distribution and composition of the aquatic entomofauna. The objective of this study was to analyze the structure of aquatic insect communities in a pasture stream in northern Paraná, southern Brazil, with emphasis on the groups of indicators of good water quality, thus inferring the conditions of its preservation. Samples were collected from July to October in three parts of the stream (P1, P2, and P3), where the insect faune was collected with the aid of a sieve in the foliage substrate and washing of rocks and decomposing pieces of wood. A total of 1323 individuals were collected, being Chironomidae (Diptera) the most abundant taxon. The analysis of the biotic indices (EPT/Chironomidae, IBF, BMWP, and BMWP/ASPT) and diversity indicated better preservation conditions at points P1 and P3 where the riparian forest was well preserved, with less exposure to the stream bed. In P2, the entomofauna presented less diversity and the biotic indexes indicated loss of water quality, showing the impacts of changes in the marginal vegetation of this section. In a generally preserved aquatic environment, small changes in its vegetation are sufficient to cause an imbalance in the aquatic insect community, showing the efficiency of these organisms as bio-indicators and the sensitivity of biotic indexes.

Entomofauna acuática del Parque Nacional Natural Gorgona,Pacífico colombiano, con énfasis en Ephemeroptera y Plecoptera / Aquatic entomofauna from Gorgona National Natural Park, Colombian Pacific, with emphasis in Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera

Gorgona is a Colombian continental island that biogeographically belongs in the Choco region. This work constitutes a first approximation to the aquatic insects, with emphasis in Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera: distribution, ecology, and associations to the continental mainland. Between October 2010 and June 2011, immature and adult specimens were collected in five streams of the island´s Western sector using entomological nets, Malaise traps, and light traps. A total of nine orders, 28 families, 39 genera and 16 species of aquatic insects were found. New geographical records for Gorgona include: Dytiscidae (Coleoptera), Zelusia, Farrodes and Terpides (Ephemeroptera), Leucotrichia and Wormaldia (Trichoptera), Laccodytes, Neoelmis and Pheneps (Coleoptera), Maruina and Limonia (Diptera). As part of this study, four new species for each, Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera, were found. Leptohyphes jodiannae, L. maculatus and Hagenulopsis esmeralda are recorded for the first time for Colombia. Farrodes caribbianus, F. roundsi, Hagenulopsis zunigae, Zelusia principalis and Anacroneuria choco are reported for the first time for the National Park. The high abundance of families, genera, and species is similar to that of low order streams in the tropic mainland, particularly those associated to the Choco bio-geographical province. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (Suppl. 1): 221-241. Epub 2014 February 01.

Este trabajo constituye la primera aproximación al conocimiento de las especies que caracterizan la entomofauna acuática del PNN Gorgona, con énfasis en Ephemeroptera y Plecoptera, su distribución, ecología y relación con la parte continental. Entre Octubre de 2010 y Junio de 2011 se realizaron recolectas de estados inmaduros y adultos en cinco quebradas del sector oriental de la isla, con ayuda de redes entomológicas, trampas Malaise y de luz blanca y negra. Se registran nueve órdenes, 28 familias, 39 géneros y 16 especies. Por primera vez se reportan la familia Dytiscidae (Coleoptera) y los géneros: Zelusia, Farrodes y Terpides (Ephemeroptera), Leucotrichia y Wormaldia (Trichoptera), Laccodytes, Neoelmis y Pheneps (Coleoptera), Maruina y Limonia (Diptera). Se encontraron cuatro especies nuevas de Ephemeroptera y cuatro de Plecoptera, en proceso de descripción. Además, Leptohyphes jodiannae, L. maculatus y Hagenulopsis esmeralda son primeras citas para Colombia. Farrodes caribbianus, F. roundsi, Hagenulopsis zunigae, Zelusia principalis y Anacroneuria choco, reportadas para el país, amplían su rango de distribución para el PNN Gorgona. La riqueza de familias, géneros y especies es alta y se considera una extensión de la fauna de corrientes hídricas de bajo y mediano orden del trópico continental, particularmente en la provincia del Chocó biogeográfico.

Functional groups of entomofauna associated to aquatic macrophytes in Correntoso river, Rio Negro sub-region, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil / Grupos funcionais da entomofauna associada às macrofitas aquaticas no rio Correntoso, Pantanal do Negro, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

This work aimed to study the structure of functional groups of entomofauna associated to aquatic macrophytes in Correntoso river, Rio Negro sub-region, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Six samples were taken in different seasonal periods; ebb, dry and wet. The organisms were collected using D net (300 µm mesh), sweeping five times through the roots of macrophyte banks at each sample session. Three environments were compared (open, intermediary, close) using data from six collection sites, through which were analyzed absolute abundance, observed richness of families and the sampled specimens were also separated in functional groups. A total of 60 families from 12 orders of Insecta were registered, totaling 19,773 sampled insects. The largest number of families was categorized into predators functional group, with 34 families collected, followed by the collectors with 17, shredders-herbivores ten and scrapers eight.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a estrutura dos grupos funcionais da entomofauna associada às macrófitas aquáticas em um trecho do rio Correntoso, Pantanal do Negro, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Foram realizadas seis campanhas de coleta em diferentes períodos sazonais: vazante, seca e cheia. Os organismos foram coletados utilizando rede D com malha de 300 µm e esforço amostral de cinco lances de rede nas raízes dos bancos de macrófitas. Foram comparados três ambientes (aberto, intermediário e fechado), por junção dos dados obtidos de seis sítios de coleta. Foi analisada a abundância absoluta, a riqueza observada de famílias e realizada a separação dos insetos coletados por grupos funcionais. Foram registradas 60 famílias pertencentes a doze ordens da Classe Insecta (Hexapoda), totalizando 19.773 indivíduos coletados. O maior número de famílias foi categorizada ao grupo funcional dos predadores com 34 famílias coletadas, seguido dos coletores 17, fragmentadores-herbívoros dez e raspadores oito.

Índices bióticos para avaliação da qualidade ambiental em trechos do rio Correntoso, Pantanal do Negro, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil / Biotic indexes for the evaluation of environmental quality in stretches of the Correntoso river, Pantanal do Negro, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

Este trabalho teve como objetivo pesquisar a estrutura da comunidade de insetos aquáticos, utilizando esta comunidade como indicadora da qualidade ambiental de um trecho do rio Correntoso, Pantanal do Negro, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Foram realizadas seis campanhas de coleta em diferentes períodos sazonais: vazante, seca e cheia. Os organismos foram coletados utilizando rede D com malha de 300 m e esforço amostral de cinco lances de rede nas raízes dos bancos de macrófitas. Foram comparados três ambientes (aberto, intermediário e fechado), por junção dos dados obtidos de seis sítios de coleta. Foi analisada a riqueza, abundância absoluta e relativa das famílias de insetos amostrados e a avaliação da qualidade da água usando o índice BMWP, índice BMWP-ASPT, índice IBF e índice de diversidade de Shannon-Wienner, com log2. Foram registradas 60 famílias pertencentes a 12 ordens da Classe Insecta, totalizando 19.773 indivíduos coletados. Entre os índices aplicados, o índice BMWP foi o que melhor representou as condições do ambiente estudado.

This work aimed to research the aquatic insect community structure using this community as a bioindicator of the environmental quality in a stretch of the Correntoso river, in Pantanal do Negro, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Six collections were taken in different seasonal periods; ebb, dry and wet. The organisms were collected using a 300 m mesh D net sweeping five times through the roots of macrophyte banks at each sample. Three environments were compared (open, intermediary, closed) by adding the information from six collection sites. Family richness, absolute and relative abundance of insect samples and an evaluation of water quality were analyzed by using the BMWP index, BMWP-ASPT index, IBF index and Shannon diversity index, with log2. A total of 60 families from 12 orders of Insecta Class were recorded, totaling 19,773 individuals. Among the indexes applied, the BMWP index was the one that best represented the conditions of the studied environment.

Distribution of entomofauna associated with aquatic macrophytes in the reflux of the Correntoso river, Pantanal do Negro, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v31i2.1182 / Distribuição da entomofauna associada às macrófitas aquáticas na vazante do rio Correntoso, Pantanal do Negro, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v31i2.1182

This work aimed ato research the distribution of insects associated with aquatic macrophytes and the similarity among collection sites during the reflux period in a stretch of Correntoso river, Pantanal do Negro, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. The collection sites were determined by changes in the riparian formation structure, characterized as open when there is communication with flooded fields and intermediary and closed when there is not any communication with flooded fields. Three collections were taken at six sample sites, during reflux periods. The organisms were collected using a D net, 300 µm mesh, with samples from five nets thrown in roots of aquatic macrophytes. Family richness, absolute and relative abundance of the insects found, and similarity of collection sites were analyzed using Euclidian distance and complete connection, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, with log2. Sixty-four families from 10 orders of Hexapoda class were registered, totaling 2,525 individuals 2,405 of them aquatic and semi- aquatic, and 120 terrestrial. The collect sites did not present a fixed model of similarity, and the formation of groups occurred in distinct forms at each collection.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo pesquisar a distribuição de insetos associados a macrófitas aquáticas e a similaridade dos sítios de coleta, no período de vazante, em um trecho do rio Correntoso, Pantanal do Negro, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Os sítios de coleta foram determinados conforme a mudança na estrutura da formação ripária, caracterizados como abertos com comunicação com campos inundáveis; intermediários sem comunicação com campos inundáveis; fechados sem comunicação com campos inundáveis. Foram realizadas três coletas durante o período de vazante, em seis sítios de coletas. Os organismos foram coletados utilizando rede D com malha de 300 µm e esforço amostral de cinco lances de rede em raízes de macrófitas aquáticas. Foi analisada a riqueza de famílias, a abundância absoluta e relativa dos insetos encontrados, a similaridade dos sítios de coleta por análise de agrupamento, utilizando distância euclidiana e ligação completa, índice de diversidade de Shannon-Wienner, com log2. Foram registradas 64 famílias de dez ordens da Classe Hexapoda, totalizando 2.525 indivíduos, 2.405 aquáticos e semi-aquáticos e 120 terrestres. Os sítios de coleta não apresentaram padrão fixo de similaridade, e a formação dos grupos ocorreu de forma distinta a cada coleta.