Cetoniinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) diversity of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda and surrounding areas

During the period of October 1996 to September 1999 cetoniine beetles were collected directly from the vegetation and using fruits traps and flight intercept traps in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) and surrounding farmland. Additional records were obtained from collections. A total of 52 species were recorded. Information on collecting locality, distribution, ecology, seasonality, and collecting methods is presented for each species. Two species, Eudicella allardi (Marais & Holm) and Pachnoda alluaudi Bourgoin, are recorded for Uganda for the first time.

Geographic distribution of Gnamptogenys hartmani (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), an agro-predator that attacks fungus-growing ants

Gnamptogenys hartmani is a specialist predator that attacks colonies of fungus-growing ants. To examine the biogeography of G. hartmani, I compiled specimen records of G. hartmani from 36 sites, and records of Gnamptogenys bruchi (a possible junior synonym) from seven sites. Records of Gnamptogenys hartmani ranged from Lucky, Louisiana (32.2°N) in the north to Villa Nougués, Argentina (26.9°S) in the south. If G. bruchi proves to be a synonym of G. hartmani, this would extend the known range as far south as Alta Gracia, Argentina (31.7°S). In the US, G. hartmani populations are known only from Texas and Louisiana, yet there is much apparently suitable habitat along the Gulf coast of Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Given the remarkable scarcity of G. hartmani records throughout its known range, it remains possible that G. hartmani populations occur all along the Gulf coast of the US, but have been overlooked.

Conservation status of United States tiger beetles

This study evaluates the conservation status of all of the United States species and subspecies of tiger beetles on the basis of the published literature, unpublished reports, museum and private collections, our personal field work and contact with collectors. We provide a brief summary of the status of the four species already listed and the two candidates for listing by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We indicate three taxa believed to be extinct and evaluate 62 others that we deem sufficiently rare to be considered for listing as endangered or threatened. We used a 1, 2, 3 grading system that is generally comparable to the terminology of critically imperiled, imperiled, and vulnerable designations, respectively, used in NatureServe Explorer. Fifty-two of these taxa are from the western states and Texas and most of them are named subspecies with extremely limited distributions and habitats. We assigned seven taxa a 1+ grade, our highest level of rarity and/or threats; of these there is presently sufficient information available to consider two of them-- Cicindelidia floridana Cartwright and Cicindela tranquebarica joaquinensis Knisley and Haines-- as the U. S. forms most in danger of extinction. Future prospects for conservation and listing of tiger beetles seem bleak because of the limited budget and personnel available for Endangered Species in the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the current economic and political climate in the United States.

Geographic distribution of Strumigenys louisianae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Strumigenys spp. are tiny predatory ants that feed on soil arthropods. Strumigenys louisianae has the broadest geographic distribution of any New World Strumigenys. Here, I compiled >700 site records of S. louisianae to document its biogeography. The known range of Strumigenys louisianae is largely continuous from Argentina to North Carolina (and possibly Virginia and Illinois) and on most major West Indian islands. The occurrence of S. louisianae throughout this region in a wide diversity of habitats makes it difficult to distinguish where it is native and where it has been introduced. The possibility remains that S. louisianae has a very broad native range, but no introduced populations. Alternatively, some isolated S. louisianae populations may be exotic, such as those on the Galapagos Islands, Cocos Island, many West Indian islands, and in Arizona. Genetic analyses are needed to determine where S. louisianae is native and where it is exotic.

A global review of arthropod-mediated ecosystem-services in Vaccinium berry agroecosystems

Native beneficial arthropods, including bees, predators, and parasitoids, provide valuable ecosystem services, which help to maintain agricultural productivity and reduce the need for pesticide inputs.Vacciniumberry species are somewhat unique compared to many of the world’s fruit crops in that, up until recently, most of the harvesting and culture of species for food occurred in the geographic regions of their origin. This suggests that insects involved in many of the ecosystem services for these berries are native species that have a shared co-evolutionary history. Due to the shared phylogenetic origins of theVacciniumspp. agroecosystems, the shared need for efficient pollination, and a number of shared agricultural pests, the potential exists for research from these related systems to closely apply to agroecosystems within the same genus. This review brings together research regarding arthropod-mediated ecosystem services from a number of prominentVacciniumagroecosystems worldwide. In total, thirty-nine ecosystem service studies are discussed. These studies quantified arthropod-mediated ecosystem services being provisioned toVacciniumagroecosystems. Additionally, thirty-nine surveys of arthropods closely associated and/or providing ecosystem services toVacciniumsystems are also reviewed. Studies took place almost exclusively in temperate regions with a heavy emphasis on insect pest biological control and pollination services. It is our hope that by synthesizing this body of literature, researchers and growers might be able to utilize research methods, results, and conservation recommendations despite differences in production practices and local arthropod fauna.

Visceral leishmaniasis control in Brazil: time to re-evaluate DDT?

Controlling visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil has proven difficult for several reasons, including: 1) limitations in diagnosis and treatment, 2) the failure of the dog culling program, and 3) the short-term residual effect of pyrethroids against the main phlebotomine vectorLutzomyia longipalpis. The disease has become more widespread during the last three decades and it now occurs in 21 of the 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District, and even affects several state capitals and large cities. Although DDT has many environmental drawbacks and possible toxicity to animals, several countries still use this chemical in their public health programs due to its long-lasting effect. Therefore, this study aims to re-evaluate the use of DDT to control zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis.