Morphology of immature stages, biological parameters and life table of Microtechnites bractatus (Hemiptera: Miridae) on different host plants

ABSTRACT The garden fleahopper, Microtechnites bractatus (Say) (Hemiptera: Miridae), is associated with several cultivated plant species and, despite its economic importance, little is known about its development and performance in such hosts. We described here, the morphology of immature stages, and evaluated the biology of M. bractatus in beans, potatoes, white clover, alfalfa, and wheat. The bioassays were carried out in the laboratory under controlled temperature (25±2ºC), humidity (UR70±15%), and photoperiod (12L:12D). The eggs of M. bractatus are elongated and slightly curved, without respiratory projections and light yellow in color, becoming dark at the end of the incubation period. Nymphs present an oval-shaped body, a reddish color that intensifies along with the development and dimorphic wing pads in the fifth instar. In the bioassays, the host plants influenced the biological aspects of M. bractatus, both in the immature and adult stages. Nymph survival was higher in clover and alfalfa, while in wheat, it was lower. Clover-fed insects had the longest longevity. The fecundity parameters and egg viability were favored in insects that fed on clover and alfalfa. The fertility life table showed that feeding M. bractatus with clover provides a higher net reproduction rate (R0) and a higher finite ratio of population increase (ʎ). This study contributes to bioecological and behavioral studies on M. bractatus and provides data for the recognition and characterization of individuals in the immature stage.

New occurrences of Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil / Novas ocorrências de Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera: Tephritidae) no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Occurrences of Anastrepha barbiellinii Lima, Anastrepha connexa Lima, Anastrepha consobrina (Loew), Anastrepha kuhlmanni Lima, Anastrepha leptozona Hendel, and Anastrepha xanthochaeta Hendel are recorded for the first time in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The species were captured in McPhail traps baited with hydrolyzed protein (5%) in orchards of cultivated species and in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in the municipality of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, or obtained from the collection of species deposited in the Regional Museum of Entomology (UFVB) of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus Viçosa, in the state of Minas Gerais.(AU)

Ocorrências de Anastrepha barbiellinii Lima, Anastrepha connexa Lima, Anastrepha consobrina (Loew), Anastrepha kuhlmanni Lima, Anastrepha leptozona Hendel e Anastrepha xanthochaeta Hendel são registradas pela primeira vez no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. As espécies foram capturadas em armadilhas do tipo McPhail com um atrativo alimentar de proteína hidrolisada (5%) em três pomares de espécies cultivadas e um remanescente de Mata Atlântica no município de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, ou obtidas por meio de levantamento de espécies de Tephritidae depositadas no Museu Regional de Entomologia (UFVB) da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus Viçosa, estado de Minas Gerais.(AU)

Two new species of genus Joruma McAtee (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) from Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Joruma abernardesi sp.nov. and Joruma phrolfsi sp.nov. (Typhlocybinae: Jorumini) are described based on specimens from Mata do Paraíso, an Atlantic Forest reserve located at Viçosa municipality. This is the first record of the genus Joruma McAtee in Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil.

Biogeography and areas of endemism of Prepops Reuter (Heteroptera: Miridae).

The Miridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) are one of the most species rich families of insects, with about 11 100 described species. Mirinae is the largest subfamily and its endemism becomes evident at the tribal level and below. Mirines of the tribe Restheniini are found throughout America, with most of the diversity confined to the Neotropics. Prepops Reuter is the largest genus in Restheniini with 198 described species and its geographi- cal range is similar to that of the tribe. The study of the distribution and areas of endemism in Miridae are scarce and non-existent for Prepops. We analyzed all the geographic records of Prepops (707 records for 181 species) in order to identify diversity patterns and areas of endemism, using network analysis. Locality data were assigned using museum specimens and geographic records in the literature. Additionally we used spatial data to propose habitat preferences and geoclimatic variables important for each group of co-occurring species. The results indicate high species richness in subtropical regions, while the tropical belt and high latitudes appear impover- ished. The Neotropical region contains 86% of the species, and the Nearctic about 11 % (but with larger species ranges); the Andean region is sparingly represented. Twenty-three areas of endemism (and two diads), formed by 2 or more endemic species, are distributed in the Nearctic (3), Mexican Transition Zone and Caribbean sub- region (5), South American Transition Zone and Amazonian, Chacoan and Paranaense subregions (15). Overlap between some of the areas indicates regions with high species richness and complex history. The lack of records from the Andean region (except for P. nigrus in Southern Patagonia) and dominance of strictly Neotropical spe- cies (86 %) supports the hypothesis of a Neotropical origin for the tribe Restheniini. The general arrangement of the units of co-occurrence of Prepops species shows a close correlation with known biogeographic regions and subregions. Broad physiographic characteristics most commonly associated with Prepops geographical records are, in order of importance: broad leaf forests (wet and dry), grasslands and xeric habitats.

Seasonal and interpopulational morphometry variation of Platyscytus decempunctatus (Carvalho 1945) (Heteroptera: Miridae) / Variação morfométrica sazonal e interpopulacional de Platyscytus decempunctatus (Carvalho 1945) (Heteroptera: Miridae)

A morphometry study was carried out with Platyscytus decempunctatus (Carvalho 1945) collected during the dry and wet seasons in Viçosa county, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil and in other 23 counties from the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. A total of 30 males and 30 females were collected in Viçosa at each season and additional insects (20 males and 20 females) were collected at each county surveyed. The analysis with 27 morphological traits was carried out to verify the seasonal influence, differences between sexes and among populations in specimens from Viçosa. The females of P. decempunctatus collected in Viçosa were larger than the males in most of the traits evaluated in both seasons (dry and wet). The males showed only two body traits larger than the females. Interpopulational morphometry differences of P. decempunctatus were significantly correlated with geographic distance among sampling sites.

Foi realizado um estudo morfométrico com Platyscytus decempunctatus (Carvalho 1945) coletados durante as estações seca e úmida no município de Viçosa, MG e em 23 municípios distribuídos pelos estados de Minas Gerais e Rio de Janeiro. Foram utilizados 30 machos e 30 fêmeas por estação no estudo de Viçosa e insetos adicionais (20 machos e 20 fêmeas) de cada um dos 23 municípios amostrados. Foram analisadas 27 características morfológicas a fim de verificar a influência sazonal e diferenças no dimorfismo sexual em indivíduos de Viçosa e diferenças entre as populações amostradas. As fêmeas de P. decempunctatus coletadas em Viçosa foram maiores que os machos na maioria das características avaliadas em ambas as estação (seca e úmida). Os machos apresentaram somente duas características corporais maiores que as fêmeas. Diferenças morfométricas interpopulacionais em P. decempunctatus se correlacionaram à distância geográfica entre os locais de coleta.

Seasonal abundance and sexual variation in morphometric traits of Oxelytrum discicolle (Brulle, 1840) (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest / Abundância sazonal e variação morfométrica nos caracteres sexuais de Oxelytrum discicolle (Brulle, 1840) (Coleoptera: Silphidae) em uma floresta Atlântica brasileira

A total of 293 specimens of Oxelytrum discicolle were sampled weekly over a period of two years using a black light trap. The study took place in an Atlantic Forest reserve located near Viçosa city, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The period of peak abundance of O. discicolle occurred during the wet season between the months of October and March. Statistical analysis showed that the abundance of individuals was significantly and positively correlated with temperature, but not with rainfall or relative humidity. Of 28 morphological measurements taken on each collected specimen, seven were found to be sexually dimorphic; however, neither morphology nor the degree of sexual dimorphism varied significantly among seasons.

Um total de 293 espécimes de Oxelytrum discicolle foram amostrados semanalmente num período de dois anos usando uma armadilha tipo "black light". O estudo foi feito em uma reserva de Mata Atlântica localizada próximo à cidade de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil. O período de pico de abundância de O. discicolle ocorreu durante a estação úmida, entre os meses de outubro e março. A análise estatística mostrou que a abundância dos indivíduos foi significantemente e positivamente correlacionada com a temperatura, mas não com a precipitação e umidade relativa. De 28 características morfológicas tomadas em cada espécime coletado, sete foram encontradas sexualmente dimórficas, entretanto, nem morfologia nem o grau de dimorfismo sexual variaram significantemente entre as estações.