Thrips species (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associated with flowers in a restinga fragment in northeastern Brazil.

With the growing volume of research involving Thysanoptera in Brazil, studies were carried out to improve our understanding of the diversity of thrips in areas where the fauna has historically been neglected. Accordingly, we recorded the diversity of thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associated with a restinga fragment located on the campus of the State University of Ceará (UECE), Fortaleza, Ceará state, and computed the estimated richness and diversity indices. Samples were collected from 2011 through 2013 from flowers of 86 plant species. The material was taken to the Laboratory of Insect-Plant Interaction, where thrips were screened under stereomicroscope. We collected 456 adults and 58 immatures, representing 14 species, in addition to one unidentified species of Treherniella. Microcephalothrips abdominalis was found on a large number of host plants, and Frankliniella insularis was the most common species. About two-thirds of the total richness of thrips species was associated with three plant families (Amaranthaceae, Caesalpiniaceae and Poaceae); six thrips species were each associated with only one plant species. The richness of the species collected was close to that estimated by Bootstrap and Jackknife 1 analysis. The Shannon-Wiener (H') and Simpson (D) diversity indexes were 1,7607 and 0.7769, respectively. Although the species are common, 46 new associations between plant species and thrips were established, 13 of which are true host associations, which demonstrates the importance of coastal vegetation in maintaining populations of thrips.

Species Identification in the Thrips Genus-Group in Brazil.

The Thrips genus-group is a monophyletic taxon composed of 17 genera, whose representatives exhibit three main synapomorphies: absence of ocellar setae I, presence of ctenidia on tergites V-VIII, and ctenidia on tergite VIII positioned posteromesad to the spiracles. The group is native to and more diverse in the Old World, especially in Southeast Asia, but several species are widely distributed, including some pests of cultivated plants. Here, we provide an identification key to the species of the Thrips genus-group currently recorded in Brazil, including three new records of Bolacothrips striatopennatus (Schmutz), Thrips florum Schmutz, and Thrips orientalis (Bagnall), and present notes on their morphology and biology. Stenchaetothrips biformis Bagnall is excluded from the list of thrips recorded in Brazil.

Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): a Newly Introduced Polyphagous Pest in Northeastern Brazil.

We report for the first time the detection of Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Brazil and describe the occurrence of the thrips on leaves of ungrafted dwarf-cashew Anacardium occidentale Linnaeus 1753 (Anacardiaceae), maintained into a greenhouse, in the northeastern state of Ceará. This exotic polyphagous species listed as absent quarantine pest in the country is originated in Asia, but since the beginning of this century, it has readily dispersed despite the strict quarantine regulations currently in several countries. Individuals of S. dorsalis identified in Brazil are similar to specimens found in South Africa rather than Asia by virtue of the absence of conspicuous reticulation on the posterior half of the metanotum and the presence of complete lines of microtrichia restricted to the posterior part of the abdominal sternites. Scirtothrips dorsalis is a particularly invasive pest and its introduction represents a potential threat to various crops in Brazil, especially mango.

Thrips species (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associated with flowers in a restinga fragment in northeastern Brazil / Espécies de tripes (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associadas a flores em um fragmento de restinga no nordeste brasileiro

Abstract With the growing volume of research involving Thysanoptera in Brazil, studies were carried out to improve our understanding of the diversity of thrips in areas where the fauna has historically been neglected. Accordingly, we recorded the diversity of thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associated with a restinga fragment located on the campus of the State University of Ceará (UECE), Fortaleza, Ceará state, and computed the estimated richness and diversity indices. Samples were collected from 2011 through 2013 from flowers of 86 plant species. The material was taken to the Laboratory of Insect-Plant Interaction, where thrips were screened under stereomicroscope. We collected 456 adults and 58 immatures, representing 14 species, in addition to one unidentified species of Treherniella. Microcephalothrips abdominalis was found on a large number of host plants, and Frankliniella insularis was the most common species. About two-thirds of the total richness of thrips species was associated with three plant families (Amaranthaceae, Caesalpiniaceae and Poaceae); six thrips species were each associated with only one plant species. The richness of the species collected was close to that estimated by Bootstrap and Jackknife 1 analysis. The Shannon-Wiener (H') and Simpson (D) diversity indexes were 1,7607 and 0.7769, respectively. Although the species are common, 46 new associations between plant species and thrips were established, 13 of which are true host associations, which demonstrates the importance of coastal vegetation in maintaining populations of thrips.

Resumo Com o crescente volume de pesquisas envolvendo Thysanoptera no Brasil, estudos foram promovidos para melhorar nosso entendimento da diversidade de tripes em área onde a fauna tem sido historicamente negligenciada. Dessa maneira, neste trabalho registramos a diversidade de tripes (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associada a um fragmento de restinga localizado no Campus da Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE), município de Fortaleza, estado do Ceará, e computamos a riqueza estimada de espécies e índices de diversidade. Foram realizadas coletas entre os anos de 2011 a 2013 em flores de 86 espécies vegetais. O material foi levado ao Laboratório de Interação Inseto-Planta (UECE) onde os tripes foram triados manualmente sob estereomicroscópio. Foram coletados 456 tripes adultos e 58 imaturos, representando 14 espécies, além de uma espécie não identificada de Treherniella. Microcephalothrips abdominalis foi encontrado em um maior número de plantas hospedeiras, e Frankliniella insularis foi a espécie mais frequente. Cerca de dois-terços da riqueza total de espécies de tripés está associada a três famílias botânicas (Amarnthaceae, Caesalpiniaceae e Poaceae); seis espécies de tripes foram encontradas em associação com somente uma espécie vegetal. A riqueza de espécies coletada foi próxima daquela estimada pelas análises Bootstrap e Jackknife 1. Os índices de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener (H') e Simpson (D) foram 1.7607 e 0,7769, respectivamente. Embora as espécies identificadas sejam comuns, 46 novas associações entre tripes e espécies vegetais foram constatadas, 13 das quais são associações hospedeiras verdadeiras, o que demonstra a importância da vegetação costeira na manutenção das populações de tripes.

First record of Elixothrips brevisetis (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Brazil.

Elixothrips brevisetis (Bagnall), a species exotic to Brazil, is first recorded in the country. Individuals were collected on banana fruits (Musa sp.) (Musaceae) in July 2010 in the municipality of Luís Alves, state of Santa Catarina, causing rusting on the fruit peel in several bunches of bananas.

Diversity of the Arthropod edaphic fauna in preserved and managed with pasture areas in Teresina-Piauí-Brazil.

The soil fauna plays an important function over the processes of organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, ground aeration and fertility. Thus, studies on the composition and structure of such communities are important, considering moreover the lack of information in different regions of Brazil and mainly related to the state of Piauí. This study aimed to evaluate the density and diversity of the soil arthropod fauna in a Cerrado area in preservation conditions and in a pasture area. Both are situated in the city of Teresina, capital of the state of Piauí. Pitfall traps were used for sampling. Five stations with four traps were placed in each area. The traps were constituted by a 500 mL plastic cup containing a preserving solution made with 70% alcohol and 40% formalin. The traps were weekly changed by occasion of the collections. Eight samples were performed in the period between March and April 2007. The results were evaluated using the following variables: number of orders, number of families, total of species and total number of individuals. Evaluation of the Diversity Index and Similarity Coefficient were also performed. As result, the variables and diversity indices were slightly higher in the preserved area. However, the similarity coefficient showed only 10% similarity between both areas.