Nesting Biology of Podium angustifrons Kohl (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in an Araucaria Forest Fragment.

Podium angustifrons Kohl 1902 is a species of solitary wasp which nests in pre-existing cavities, with neotropical distribution in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana and French Guyana. The aim of this study was to investigate the nesting biology of P. angustifrons, discussing aspects of their life history. To capture its nests, wooden trap-nests were installed in the Parque Municipal das Araucárias, Guarapuava (PR), Brazil, from January 2003 to April 2009. A total of 29 nests were collected, all during the warmer months. These showed no vestibular and intercalary cells, and their closures were made up of chewed plants and mud mixed with organic materials and resin-coated surfaces, sometimes showing a layer of lichens. The cells were provisioned with various wild species of cockroaches (Chorisoneura sp, Riata sp and Helgaia sp) in the nymph stage and/or adults. The sex ratio was 4.6 females per male, significantly higher that the expected 1:1. Most pre-pupae entered diapause in winter with development time ranging from 187 to 283 days for females and 180 to 283 days for males. Deaths occurred in 41.66% of cells provisioned, 33.33% were attributed to faulty development and 8.33% to Chrysididae.

Biologic aspects of different species of Pachodynerus (Hymenoptera; Vespidae; Eumeninae).

The aim of this study was to compare biological aspects of the Pachodynerus species occurring in the Parque Municipal das Araucárias, Guarapuava, Paraná, Southern Brazil. It was carried from December 2001 to December 2004. Forty one nests belonging to 5 species were collected, of which 17 Pachodynerus guadulpensis, 15 Pachodynerus sp., 1 Pachodynerus argentinus, 1 Pachodynerus ca guadulpensis and 7 Pachodynerus nasidens. The nesting activity of Pachodynerus sp., P. argentinus and P. guadulpensis occurred in similar periods, from December to March, with the exception of P.guadulpensis, that built one nest in October. Pachodynerus ca guadulpensis nested in March and P. nasidens from January to April. The nests of Pachodynerus species present a very similar architecture, comprising a linear series of cylindrical cells that fit perfectly into each other forming a continuous tube. With these results we were able to conclude that, even though Pachodynerus species present common characteristics, such as nest architecture, nesting activities and habitats in which they occur, the used resources, mortality rates, etc., vary among groups of species occurring in different regions.

Biologic aspects of different species of Pachodynerus (Hymenoptera; Vespidae; Eumeninae) / Aspectos biológicos de diferentes espécies de Pachodynerus (Hymenoptera; Vespidae; Eumeninae)

The aim of this study was to compare biological aspects of the Pachodynerus species occurring in the Parque Municipal das Araucárias, Guarapuava, Paraná, Southern Brazil. It was carried from December 2001 to December 2004. Forty one nests belonging to 5 species were collected, of which 17 Pachodynerus guadulpensis, 15 Pachodynerus sp., 1 Pachodynerus argentinus, 1 Pachodynerus ca guadulpensis and 7 Pachodynerus nasidens. The nesting activity of Pachodynerus sp., P. argentinus and P. guadulpensis occurred in similar periods, from December to March, with the exception of P.guadulpensis, that built one nest in October. Pachodynerus ca guadulpensis nested in March and P. nasidens from January to April. The nests of Pachodynerus species present a very similar architecture, comprising a linear series of cylindrical cells that fit perfectly into each other forming a continuous tube. With these results we were able to conclude that, even though Pachodynerus species present common characteristics, such as nest architecture, nesting activities and habitats in which they occur, the used resources, mortality rates, etc., vary among groups of species occurring in different regions.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar aspectos biológicos das espécies de Pachodynerus que ocorrem no Parque Municipal das Araucárias, Guarapuava, Paraná, Sul do Brasil. Ele foi realizado de dezembro de 2001 a dezembro de 2004. Quarenta e um ninhos de cinco espécies foram coletados sendo 17 de Pachodynerus guadulpensis, 15 de Pachodynerus sp., um de Pachodynerus argentinus, um de Pachodynerus ca guadulpensis e sete de Pachodynerus nasidens. As nidificações de Pachodynerus sp., P. argentinus e P. guadulpensis ocorreram de dezembro a março, com exceção de P. guadulpensis, que construiu um ninho em outubro. Pachodynerus ca guadulpensis nidificou em março e P. nasidens de janeiro a abril. Os ninhos de todas as espécies de Pachodynerus apresentaram arquitetura similar, com uma série linear de células cilíndricas que se encaixam perfeitamente umas nas outras, formando um tubo contínuo. Pelos resultados deste estudo nós concluímos que, mesmo apresentando características em comum, como a arquitetura dos ninhos, atividades de nidificação e habitats onde ocorrem, os recursos usados pelas espécies de Pachodynerus bem como as suas taxas de mortalidades, etc., variam entre grupos de espécies que ocorrem em diferentes regiões.

Bis(dimethylamido) complexes of alkyl- and phenylgallium. Useful precursors to the RGa(2+) synthon.

Alkyl- and phenylbis(dimethylamido)gallium, [RGa(NMe(2))(2)](2) [R = Me (1), Et (2), (n)Bu (3), (n)Hx (4), and Ph (5)], were synthesized by reactions of LiNMe(2) with (RGaCl(2))(2). The crystal structure of compound 1 was a disordered mixture of anti and syn isomers, with the ratio of anti/syn being 64:36, which was consistent with the ratio (57:43) found in the (1)H NMR spectrum. The Ga(2)N(2) cores of the anti and syn structures were nonplanar. (1)H NMR spectra indicated the presence of both anti and syn isomers for all of the other substituents. (1)H NMR and mass spectra indicated that a species with the general formula of R(3)Ga(2)(NMe(2))(3) was formed when these compounds were heated at high temperatures.

Synthesis, isolation, and characterization of trisodium tricarbonyliridate (3-), Na3[Ir(CO)3]. Initial studies on its derivative chemistry and structural characterizations of trans-[Ir(CO)3(EPh3)2](-), E = Ge, Sn, and trans-[Co(CO)3(SnPh3)2](-1).

Reduction of Na[Ir(CO)4] by sodium metal in (Me2N)3PO, followed by treatment with liquid ammonia, provided high yields (ca. 90%) of unsolvated Na3[Ir(CO)3], a thermally stable, pyrophoric orange solid. This substance contains iridium in its lowest known formal oxidation state of -3 and has been characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, and derivative chemistry, i.e., by its conversion to the triphenylgermyl and triphenylstannyl complexes, trans-[Ir(CO)3(EPh3)2](-), E = Ge, Sn. Single-crystal X-ray structures of the tetraethylammonium salts of these species, as well as [Co(CO)3(SnPh3)2](-), confirm the trigonal bipyramidal nature of the anions, originally predicted on the basis of their IR spectra in the carbonyl stretching frequency region. These structural characterizations provide important additional evidence for the presence of metal tricarbonyl units in Na3[M(CO)3], M = Co, Ir.