Bamboo (Poales, Poaceae): An Important Maintainer of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Biodiversity Hotspot in the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Although tropical forests are home to most of the global diversity, they suffer from the most significant knowledge gaps concerning their fauna. Despite its high biodiversity, Brazil is facing an alarming destruction of habitats, with species becoming extinct before they can be discovered or described via science. Therefore, there is an urgent need to expand wildlife inventories, including entomofauna surveys. The present study aimed to analyze the bionomic aspects and the influence of abiotic factors on mosquito fauna whose immature phases develop in two bamboo species, Guadua tagoara and Bambusa vulgaris, in Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Immatures were collected in 10 artificially drilled bamboo plants, in five stalk internodes per plant, at two sampling points, from March 2022 to March 2023, during 23 collections. A total of 1845 immatures were obtained, 72.14% at sampling point 1 and 27.86% at sampling point 2. Of this, 1162 individuals reached adulthood, belonging to the following species: Culex iridescens, Culex neglectus, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Orthopodomyia albicosta, Sabethes identicus, Sabethes melanonymphe, Sabethes purpureus, Toxorhynchites bambusicola, Toxorhynchites sp., Trichoprosopon compressum, Trichoprosopon pallidiventer, Wyeomyia arthrostigma, Wyeomyia codiocampa, Wyeomyia lutzi, Wyeomyia oblita, Wyeomyia personata, Wyeomyia serrata, and Wyeomyia sp. The Tijuca National Park is a tourist spot and receives a large number of visitors. Thus, humans can become an accessible food source for mosquitoes in this area, making the species survey critical since important arbovirus vectors have been recorded in Rio de Janeiro.

Anterolateral augmentation procedures during anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions in skeletally immature patients: Scoping review of surgical techniques and outcomes.

Purpose: Graft failure rates after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in children and adolescents are higher compared to adults. Anterolateral augmentation procedures have recently generated increased focus regarding their ability to reduce graft failure rates. Concerns in skeletally immatures are potential growth disturbances and overconstraint after anterolateral augmentation. The aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of all current anterolateral augmentation procedures in skeletally immature patients and to discuss surgical techniques, clinical and biomechanical outcomes. Methods: This scoping review was performed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) statement extension for scoping reviews. On 22 December 2022, an information specialist performed a systematic literature search in Cochrane, PubMed (Medline) and EMBASE databases. Inclusion criteria were anterolateral augmentation procedures, including lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) and anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR), in combination with ACLR in skeletally immatures. Results: Twenty studies were included after screening 1.485 abstracts. Seventeen studies describe LET techniques, four studies ALLR techniques and one study both techniques. Biomechanical data is scarce and shows conflicting results. Two studies compared ACLR with LET to ACLR in skeletally immatures with promising results in favour of the combined procedure. There were no differences in outcomes between LET and ALLR. Conclusions: Several LET and ALLR techniques have been described for skeletally immature patients and the first clinical data on LET and ALLR is available, which showed promising results. Further research is necessary to evaluate the risk of growth disturbances and overconstraint in skeletally immatures. Level of Evidence: Level IV.

Description of larva, pupa, and genitalia of Hybosa acutangula Spaeth, 1913 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) from the Brazilian Cerrado

ABSTRACT Great advances were made in recent years regarding the description of immatures of Cassidinae and their taxonomy as a whole, but many taxa remain undescribed. This study focuses on updating morphological data for Hybosa acutangula Spaeth, 1913 (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Ischyrosonychini), a tortoise beetle native of South America, which was collected in Fridericia florida (DC.) L. G. Lohmann in the Brazilian Cerrado. We provide descriptions and illustrations of the morphology of the larva, pupa, and genitalia of adults, all of which are novel for this genus. The main discerning features for this species among other Ischyrosonychini are the lack of dark patterns in the dorsum of either the larvae, being limited to the dark scoli and the cranium, or the pupae, and a much reduced anal fork. We also present the first record of parasitism by Chalcididae wasps, Brachymeria sp. Westwood, 1832 and Conura sp. Spinola, 1837. Morphological comparisons remain limited demanding further studies with other species of Ischyrosonychini, as to better understand the placement of this species within the taxonomy of tortoise beetles.

Effect of substrate salinity and pH on life history traits of the bluetongue virus vector Culicoides peregrinus.

Habitat selection of Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is influenced by the physicochemical factors such as temperature, pH, salinity, moisture, conductivity, organic and inorganic compounds of substrates. These factors determine the life history traits of the vectors. We studied the influence of substrate salinity (0-40 parts per thousand, ppt) and pH (pH 1-13) on oviposition, egg hatching, larval survivability, and adult emergence of Culicoides peregrinus Kieffer under laboratory conditions. Most eggs (80.74%) were laid in 0 ppt and 95% in pH 7 but lowered with increased salinity and pH levels. It was observed that the females did not lay eggs in 30 ppt to 40 ppt salinity; pH 1 and pH 13 but interestingly up to 95% of the eggs were retained within the abdomen. Little effect of salinity and pH on egg hatching was observed up to 5 ppt and 10 ppt except at the extreme values of 40 ppt and pH 1, pH 13. Pupation did not occur in rearing plates with high salinities, 30 ppt and 40 ppt, although the few eggs hatched when exposed to such salinity. In low salinity (0 to 2 ppt), occurrence of adult emergence was more and then decreased with increasing salinity. Maximum emergence was seen when the rearing media was alkaline. This study deals with the suitability of breeding substrate of C. peregrinus when exposed to salinity and pH ranges. Our study suggests the ambient salinity and pH ranges to be maintained during laboratory rearing of this vector species.

Differential Cold Tolerance on Immature Stages of Geographically Divergent Ceratitis capitata Populations.

Cold tolerance of adult medflies has been extensively studied but the effect of subfreezing temperatures on the immature stages remains poorly investigated, especially as far as different populations are regarded. In this study, we estimated the acute cold stress response of three geographically divergent Mediterranean fruit fly populations originating from Greece (Crete, Volos) and Croatia (Dubrovnik) by exposing immature stages (eggs, larvae, pupae) to subfreezing temperatures. We first determined the LT50 for each immature stage following one hour of exposure to different temperatures. Then eggs, larvae and pupae of the different populations were exposed to their respective LT50 for one hour (LT50 = -11 °C, LT50 = -4.4 °C, LT50 = -5 °C for eggs, larvae and pupae, respectively). Our results demonstrate that populations responded differently depending on their developmental stage. The population of Dubrovnik was the most cold-susceptible at the egg stage, whereas in that of Crete it was at the larval and pupal stage. The population of Volos was the most cold-tolerant at all developmental stages. The egg stage was the most cold-tolerant, followed by pupae and finally the 3rd instar wandering larvae. This study contributes towards understanding the cold stress response of this serious pest and provides data for important parameters that determine its successful establishment to unfavorable environments with an emphasis on range expansion to the northern, more temperate regions of Europe.

A comparative study of the immature stages of closely related species Cassida pfefferi Sekerka, 2006, Cassida nobilis Linnaeus, 1758 and Cassida vittata Villers, 1789 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Cassidini).

Immature stages of Cassida pfefferi Sekerka, 2006 from Cyprus are described and illustrated for the first time and compared with immatures of closely related species Cassida nobilis Linnaeus, 1758 and Cassida vittata Villers, 1789. Detailed descriptions of mature larvae and pupae of C. nobilis and C. vittata are also given. Analysis of the morphological body structure of the preimaginal stages of the studied species reveals subtle characters distinguishing C. pfefferi from other species of C. nobilis groups and confirms its species status.

Youth in the study of comparative physiology: insights from demography in the wild.

Of all the properties of individual animals of interest to comparative physiologists, age and stage of development are among the most consequential. In a natural population of any species, the survivorship curve is an important determinant of the relative abundances of ages and stages of development. Demography, thus, has significant implications for the study of comparative physiology. When Edward Deevey published his influential summary of survivorship in animal populations in the wild seven decades ago, he emphasized "serious deficiencies" because survivorship curves for natural populations at the time did not include data on the earliest life stages. Such data have accumulated over intervening years. We survey, for the first time, empirical knowledge of early-age survivorship in populations of most major animal groups in a state of nature. Despite wide variation, it is almost universally true that > 50% of newly born or hatched individuals die before the onset of sexual maturity, even in species commonly assumed to exhibit high early-age survivorship. These demographic facts are important considerations for studies in comparative and environmental physiology whether physiologists (i) aim to elucidate function throughout the life cycle, including both early stages and adults, or (ii) focus on adults (in which case early-age survivorship can potentially affect adult characteristics through selection or epigenesis). We establish that Deevey's Type I curve (which applies to species with relatively limited early mortality) has few or no actual analogs in the real, natural world.

Demographic modeling to fine-tune conservation targets: importance of pre-adults for the decline of an endangered raptor.

Large, long-lived species with slow life histories and protracted pre-breeding stages are particularly susceptible to declines and extinction, often for unknown causes. Here, we show how demographic modeling of a medium-sized raptor, the Red Kite Milvus milvus, can aid to refocus conservation research and attention on the most likely mechanisms driving its decline. Red Kites' survival and reproduction increased through three sequential stages for 1-2, 3-6, and 7-30 yr of age, mainly corresponding to individuals that are dispersing, attempting to gain a territory, and breeding. As typical of long-lived species, elasticities were highest for adult (≥7 yr old) survival, but this was high, with little scope for improvement. Instead, the declines were driven by an extremely low survival of pre-adults in their first years of life, which weakened the whole demographic system by nullifying the offspring contribution of adults and curtailing their replacement by recruits. For example, 27 pairs were necessary to generate a single prime age adult. Simulation of management scenarios suggested that the decline could be halted most parsimoniously by increasing pre-adult survival to the mean levels recorded for other areas, while only the synergistic, simultaneous improvement of breeding success, adult and pre-adult survival could generate a recovery. We propose three actions to attain such goals through selective supplementary feeding of both breeding and non-breeding individuals, and through mortality improvement by GPS remote-sensing devices employed as surveillance monitoring tools. Our results show how improving demographic models by using real, local vital rates rather than "best guess" vital rates can dramatically improve model realism by refocusing attention on the actual stages and mortality causes in need of manipulation, thus building precious time and resources for conservation management. These results also highlight the frequent key role of pre-adult survival for the management of long-lived species, coherent with the idea of demographic systems as integrated chains only as strong as their weakest link.

Description of the last instar larva of Peristicta aeneoviridis Calvert, 1909 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).

The larva of Peristicta aeneoviridis Calvert, 1909 is described for the first time, based on material from Misiones Province, Argentina. It differs from the rest of the larvae described for the genus in the shape and coloration of caudal lamellae, femur setae, lacinia teeth and coloration patterns. Additions to the description of the larva of P. forceps Hagen in Selys, 1860 are included.

Side effects of Bacillus thuringiensis on the parasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

The endoparasitoid wasp Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is used to control defoliating lepidopteran pests. Chemical insecticides are not compatible with natural enemies, but bioinsecticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt), have great potential for use in integrated pest management. However, interactions between Bt and P. elaeisis still need to be investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Bt on parental and first-generation P. elaeisis parasitizing Bt-susceptible and -resistant Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). An additional aim was to determine the toxicity of Bt to susceptible third-instar S. frugiperda larvae. Larvae were exposed to lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) of Bt and then allowed to be parasitized by P. elaeisis. Parasitoid longevity, immature production, reproductive performance, and behavioral responses were evaluated. Bt repelled P. elaeisis and reduced immature production. Parental and first filial generation parasitoids of both sexes emerged from Bt-treated larvae showed lower survivorship than controls. Parasitoids had poorer reproductive performance in Bt-susceptible and -resistant pupae than in untreated pupae. Palmistichus elaeisis emerged from Bt-susceptible and -resistant S. frugiperda showed altered host-searching behavior and reproductive parameters, which indicates low compatibility between the bioinsecticide agent and the parasitoid wasp.

Description of a new Pergalumna (Acari: Oribatida: Galumnidae) species from Mexico and its postembryonic development.

A new species of Pergalumna from soil and litter was reared in laboratory and a description of adult and juveniles is provided. Adults are characterized by having bands of striae in the posterior part of notogaster, the interlamellar seta are longer than all other prodorsal setae and the lenticular area covers most of the prodorsum. It differs from Pergalumna boliviana by having long interlamellar seta, bigger ellipsoidal porose area Aa and the presence of A2; it differs from Pergalumna paraboliviana by the shape of porose areas; i.e. Aa being ellipsoidal and big, A1 is the smallest, Ap is absent and there are longitudinal striate bands on the prodorsum and ventral plate.

Anacroneuria iporanga (Plecoptera: Perlidae): description of the nymph and biological notes.

The Neotropical stonefly genus Anacroneuria (Perlidae) is represented by approximately 80 species in Brazil, but the nymphs of only 11 of these species have been associated and described. In this paper, we describe the previously unknown nymph of A. iporanga from Intervales State Park, São Paulo State, Brazil and present biological observations for this species.

Bionomy of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) on Decomposing Swine Carcass in an Urban Area of Central Amazon.

Biological data on development of Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) is useful to calculate the postmortem interval (PMI), thus being important for solving crimes. We aimed at gathering bionomic information on H. illucens, during the decomposition of a Sus scrofa, in the urban zone of Manaus, Amazonas State. Mature females and eggs were collected on the swine carcass. After hatching under natural conditions, larvae were observed daily. Different instars were fixed in ethylic alcohol to determine instar duration by the evaluation of the frequency distribution of cephalic capsule measurements and the principal components analysis (PCA). Females laid 620-700 eggs per posture in concealed locations preferentially, such as cranial cavities and slots on the metal cage. The larvae were found under the swine skin and on bones. After feeding, the larvae of H. illucens began to move slowly to pupate, did not seek for drier sites to do it, and buried themselves into the carcass instead. Pupae were observed as of the 60th day after death. H. illucens completed its life cycle in 53-82 d, which encompassed six larval instars and the pupa. About 93% of the eggs hatched, 11% reached the adult stage and the sex ratio was 0.49. Our results are complementary to the biological information of this species in Central Amazon, since most of the data were not known yet. This should render PMI calculation more accurate, even for corpses in advanced decomposition stages, as H. illucens spends relatively more time on the carcasses than most dipterans.

Tegoribatidae of North America, with proposal of Protectoribates gen. nov., and new species (Acari, Oribatida, Tegoribatidae).

The oribatid mite family Tegoribatidae has been represented in continental North America by the genera Tegoribates and Tectoribates. Herein, I describe a new genus of Tegoribatidae from North America, Protectoribates, and two new species: Protectoribates occidentalis sp. nov., from forest habitats in western North American, and Tegoribates walteri sp. nov., from forest habitats in California, based on adults and immatures. The descriptions of adults of the type species of Tegoribates, T. subniger Ewing, and other North American species, T. americanus Hammer and T. bryophilus Woolley, are expanded and immatures of T. americanus are described for the first time. Immatures of Protectoribates are apheredermous whereas those of Tegoribates are eupheredermous, though retaining centrodorsal setae. Scutozetes Hammer 1952 is transferred from Tegoribatidae to Ceratozetidae after re-examination of type material. I provide a revised diagnosis for Tegoribates and a key to tegoribatid genera and species for North America. Finally, I provide a revised diagnosis for Tegoribatidae based on world genera.

First description of the last instar larva and pupa of the aquatic crane fly Limnorimarga limonioides (Alexander, 1945) (Diptera: Limoniidae).

Descriptions, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown larvae and pupae of the East Palaearctic monotypic aquatic crane fly genus Limnorimarga Alexander, 1945 collected from Korea in hygropetric habitats. Diagnostic features and phylogenetic relationships are discussed.

The first description of the larva and pupa of crane fly genus Phyllolabis Osten Sacken, 1877 (Diptera, Limoniidae, Limnophilinae), with information for understanding the phylogenetic relationships and systematical position of the genus.

Description, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown last instar larvae and pupae of the genus Phyllolabis Osten Sacken, 1877 of the eastern palaearctic species Phyllolabis mongolica Podenas and Gelhaus, 2012 (Diptera: Limoniidae, Limnophilinae). Diagnostic features and phylogenetic relationships are discussed. Characters of the immatures stages of Phyllolabis shows similarities with the genus Austrolimnophila, Epiphragma and Dactylolabis and based on this investigation Phyllolabis is moved back into subfamily Limnophilinae s.l., albeit as one of its basal lineages.

Description of fourth instar larva and pupa of Atrichopogon delpontei Cavalieri and Chiossone (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Brazilian Amazonia

ABSTRACT The fourth instar larva and pupa of Atrichopogon delpontei Cavalieri and Chiossone are described for the first time. The immatures were collected from stream margins in the northern Brazilian states Rondônia and Piauí, and subsequently reared to adults. Larvae and pupae are illustrated and photomicrographed. Details on the rearing process and feeding behavior in laboratory, bionomics and notes on habitats are also provided.

Key to Plecoptera nymphs from the Brazilian Amazon (Insecta).

Nymphs of 22 species of Plecoptera from the Brazilian Amazon are keyed and illustrated to enhance their usefulness as water quality indicator taxa. Four described species of Anacroneuria, two species of Macrogynoplax, and two species of Enderleina have been associated with adults: Anacroneuria marlieri, A. manauensis, A. minuta, A. singularis, M. delicata, M. pulchra, E. froehlichi, and E. flinti. Nymphs of 14 additional morphospecies not yet associated with adults are included. Characters of the head, pronotum, mesonotum, and metanotum are used to distinguish late instar nymphs.

Comments on the association of immatures of Hemerodromia (Diptera, Empididae) and Simulium (Diptera, Simuliidae), and first record of this association in the Atlantic Forest (Brazil).

Larvae of Empididae (Diptera) prey on black fly immatures and its pupae can be collected from pupal cases of Simuliidae (Diptera). The aim of our work was to report the second record of association between immatures of Empididae and Simuliidae in the Neotropical Region and the first for the Atlantic Forest (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). We collected 4982 pupae and exuviae of Simulium Latreille, (Diptera, Simuliidae) and found three with a pupa of Hemerodromia Meigen (Diptera, Empididae) inside. This shows that the use of black flies cocoons by dance flies occurs at extremely low frequencies, which might explain why this association is so rarely recorded. Our results are relevant for a better comprehension of the predator-prey relationship between these families.

Dictyophara europaea (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Dictyopharidae): description of immatures, biology and host plant associations.

The European lantern fly Dictyophara europaea (Linnaeus, 1767), is a polyphagous dictyopharid planthopper of Auchenorrhyncha commonly found throughout the Palaearctic. Despite abundant data on its distribution range and reports on its role in the epidemiology of plant-pathogenic phytoplasmas (Flavescence dorée, FD-C), literature regarding the biology and host plants of this species is scarce. Therefore, the aims of our study were to investigate the seasonal occurrence, host plant associations, oviposition behaviour and immature stages of this widespread planthopper of economic importance. We performed a 3-year field study to observe the spatio-temporal distribution and feeding sources of D. europaea. The insects's reproductive strategy, nymphal molting and behaviour were observed under semi-field cage conditions. Measurement of the nymphal vertex length was used to determine the number of instars, and the combination of these data with body length, number of pronotal rows of sensory pits and body colour pattern enabled the discrimination of each instar. We provide data showing that D. europaea has five instars with one generation per year and that it overwinters in the egg stage. Furthermore, our study confirmed highly polyphagous feeding nature of D. europaea, for all instars and adults, as well as adult horizontal movement during the vegetation growing season to the temporarily preferred feeding plants where they aggregate during dry season. We found D. europaea adult aggregation in late summer on Clematis vitalba L. (Ranunculaceae), a reservoir plant of FD-C phytoplasma strain; however, this appears to be a consequence of forced migration due to drying of herbaceous vegetation rather than to a high preference of C. vitalba as a feeding plant. Detailed oviposition behaviour and a summary of the key discriminatory characteristics of the five instars are provided. Emphasis is placed on the economic importance of D. europaea because of its involvement in epidemiological cycles of phytoplasma-induced plant diseases.