Tiger-Moths in Savannas in Eastern Amazon: First Assessment of Diversity and Seasonal Aspects.

Biodiversity knowledge on insects is urgently needed due to the ever growing demand for food and the consequent deforestation process and loss of natural habitats in many understudied tropical regions. In this paper, we describe the outcome of a biodiversity research on tiger moths performed for the first time in a poorly studied Amazonian landscape-the savanna. We sampled tiger moths monthly with UV automatic light traps for 12 consecutive months in two sampling points in an area of savanna in eastern Amazon, and we compared our results to previously available data for eastern Amazon. We found a total of 91 species of which 80 were identified to species level. The most species-rich subtribes were Phaegopterina and Euchromiina with 32 species each. Species richness and abundance did not differ among sampling sites, but in general the species richness was higher during the dry season while abundance was higher during the wet season. This seasonal diversity pattern differs from the most common patterns recorded for savannas in other parts of the world. The species composition also changed in wet and dry seasons and correlated significantly with temperature and relative humidity. Our results suggest that the alpha diversity of the Amazonian savannas in our sampling area is lower than that in nearby rain forests and similar to that in agriculturally disturbed areas surrounded by rain forests. However, the species composition differed considerably from natural and disturbed areas. These results highlight the need of basic biodiversity surveys of insects in Amazonian savannas.

Fauna of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea) in a pasture area in Altamira, Eastern Amazon, Pará, Brazil.

This study evaluated the nocturnal fauna of Noctuidae in a pasture area in Altamira, Pará. Samples were collected monthly for two nights at the new moon period, from August 2007 to July 2008. We collected a total of 345 specimens (N) of 66 species (S). The most abundant species were Ptichodes basilans (Guenée) (n = 87), Leucania jaliscana (Schaus), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (n = 28) and Argidia palmipes Guenée (n = 21). For the entire period, the following indexes were found: Shannon diversity H'= 3.20 and Brillouin H = 2.94, evenness of Shannon E'= 0.76 and Brillouin E= 0.76, and Berger-Parker dominance BP= 0.252. The greatest diversity was found in the dry season. According to the estimates of species richness, it is possible that between 14 to 72 more species exist in the region.

Scena propylea (Druce) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) an endemic species of Mexico.

A revision of the bibliography, as well as an analysis on the data from the specimen labels of Scena propylea (Druce) (Erebidae: Arctiinae: Euchromiina) deposited in different scientific collections, was carried out and included information from 1894 to 2010. Its geographical distribution is restricted to the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt which determines this species as endemic. Data are provided on the biogeography, ecology and biology for this species. Its food plant is Thenardia floribunda (Apocynaceae) which is also endemic to Mexico. From this analysis, we propose the inclusion of both species in the document known as the Norma Oficial Mexicana 059 which encompasses the environmental protection of wild flora and fauna species native to Mexico and their risk categories, as well as the specifications for their inclusion, exclusion or change and a list of all species at risk.

Biology of Anicla infecta (Ochsenheimer, 1816) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae), under laboratory conditions

Larvae of Anicla infecta (Ochsenheimer, 1816) (Noctuidae) feed upon many grasses and may be harmful to cereals and fodder of economic importance. This study was developed aiming to contribute to knowledge of the biology of this species. The rearing was done in an environmental chamber with the following settings: temperature of 25 + or - 1ºC; relative humidity of 70 percent + or - 10 percent, and photoperiod of L14: D10. The larvae fed on ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum Lam. The results express the mean and standard error for the length of every stage in days. For each stage we observed the following time of development: egg 3.2 + or - 0.09; larvae 18.7 + or - 0.07; pre-pupae 3.3 + or - 0.04; pupae 12.6 + or - 0.14; and adult longevity was 12.1 + or - 1.03. Also the pre-egg-laying period was 4.4 + or - 0.59; the egg-laying period was 8.1 + or - 0.84; and the post-egg-laying period was 0.3 + or - 0.14. The mean number of egg-laying cycles per female was 6.7 + or - 0.73; that of eggs per cycle was 77.5 + or - 4.37; and total eggs per female was 521.4 + or - 47.36

Biology of Anicla infecta (Ochsenheimer, 1816) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae), under laboratory conditions.

Larvae of Anicla infecta (Ochsenheimer, 1816) (Noctuidae) feed upon many grasses and may be harmful to cereals and fodder of economic importance. This study was developed aiming to contribute to knowledge of the biology of this species. The rearing was done in an environmental chamber with the following settings: temperature of 25 +/- 1 degrees C; relative humidity of 70% +/- 10%, and photoperiod of L14:D10. The larvae fed on ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum Lam. The results express the mean and standard error for the length of every stage in days. For each stage we observed the following time of development: egg 3.2 +/- 0.09; larvae 18.7 +/- 0.07; pre-pupae 3.3 +/- 0.04; pupae 12.6 +/- 0.14; and adult longevity was 12.1 +/- 1.03. Also the pre-egg-laying period was 4.4 +/- 0.59; the egg-laying period was 8.1 +/- 0.84; and the post-egg-laying period was 0.3 +/- 0.14. The mean number of egg-laying cycles per female was 6.7 +/- 0.73; that of eggs per cycle was 77.5 +/- 4.37; and total eggs per female was 521.4 +/- 47.36.