Foraging and nest maintenance activity of the leafcutter ant Acromyrmex lobicornis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in an organic vineyard in the Monte desert of Mendoza, Argentina

Exclusive to the Neotropical region, leaf cutter ants are considered agricultural pests, although they can also have a positive effect on plants. In Mendoza vineyards, vegetal biodiversity is minimal, therefore they cut off this plant as a feeding resource. Acromyrmex lobicornis Emery it is mostly nocturnal and forages according to temperature. Foraging and maintenance activity was measured monthly in 14 colonies, throughout a full day at fourhour intervals, from October 2019 to March 2020. Acromyrmex lobicornis showed different seasonal patterns of foraging activity. Foraging intensity was highest throughout January and February, intermediate during December, and lowest in October and November. A bimodal feeding pattern was observed, foraging both day and night avoiding the hottest hours. The maximum collection of fragments was observed in the range of 10 and 19 °C, less between 20 - 39 °C, minimum between 40 - 49 °C and null between 0 - 9 °C. The nest - maintenance activity was maximum between 20 - 29 °C, less between 30 - 39 ° C, minimum between 40 - 49 °C and null between 0 - 20 °C.

First record of Tambocerus viraktamathi (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) in Pakistan

The leafhopper Tambocerus viraktamathi Rao is a newly recorded species in Pakistan. So far, only two species have been identified from the genus Tambocerus Zhang & Webb in Pakistan. Their distinguishing features, along with illustrations, are provided below.

Analysis of the management of grasshopper species (Orthoptera: Acrididae), agricultural pest in Laprida county, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Grasshoppers are among the dominant insects in most grassland systems. These insects’ communities tend to exhibit temporal variations in the distribution and abundance of their species, and during outbreak years cause important economic loss in both implanted pastures and crops. In the study area, Laprida county, as well as in other areas of Buenos Aires province, this pest problem has been recognized since last century. The aim of this study was to analyze the pest management of grasshoppers made by farmers and related institutions in Laprida using both qualitative (interviews and documentary observation) and quantitative methods (surveys). About 80% of surveyed farmers considered that grasshoppers are the main pest in the region, and 60% of them apply chemical insecticides against this pest, mainly on crops. Besides, only 12.8% of surveyed farmers are aware of nonchemical alternatives for pest control, such us biological control and natural enemies. Most of the interviewed farmers acknowledged the importance of preventive management through systematic grasshopper monitoring and spot treatments in risky areas. Additionally, farmers showed interest in the implementation of more environmentally-safer strategies such as biological control.

First record of Athetis rionegrensis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) attacking soybean and new geographical report in Argentina

The genus Athetis Hübner (Lepidoptera. Noctuidae. Amphipyrinae) comprises numerous species worldwide, two of them recently reported as pests of maize in China. This work presents the first record of an Athetis species feeding on soybean in the eastern region of the province of Córdoba, Argentina. The specimens were identified as Athetis rionegrensis status rev. based on external morphology and genitalia characters for both sexes. Furthermore, additional specimens were collected in the province of La Pampa, Argentina, on October, 2021.This species was only known to be in Alto Valle, province of Río Negro, Argentina, therefore these specimens represent the first record of the species outside that province. The correct assignment of this species to the Athetis genus is confirmed. Finally, the implications of this new record are discussed.

Synanthropic spiders’ diversity (Arachnida, Araneae) in the urban zone of Morelia citiy, Michoacan, Mexico. How much does the time of construction of the houses influence?

Spiders have been used to evaluate changes in systems by anthropization effect, some species showing sensitivity to gradual and drastic changes such as urbanization, and other species have been documented as tolerant to this effect. The goal of this work was to describe the change in the spider community in relation to the age of buildings. at the west of Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. Three categories of construction time and the neighboring vegetation as the pre-urbanization environment were used for comparison. Using direct capture, pit-fall traps and beating nets, 3,619 spiders were collected, and 3,219 (315 males, 630 females and 2,274 immatures) were used for the analysis after removal juveniles that was not possible to identify. A total of 28 families, 93 genera, 47 species and 55 morphospecies were identified. This represents the greatest richness and abundance recorded in urban environments of the country. It describes changes in alpha diversity from colonization in recent constructions to those built 17 years ago. I t was observed that abundance, richness, and diversity decrease with the age of a building, but with high equitability in every age of construction. The age of a building is an important factor for the process of succession in urban environments.

First record of Heteropsylla tenuata from Argentina (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), and additional notes on other psyllid species

The Psyllidae family is the most diverse within Psylloidea, with more than 1,300 species worldwide. Some psyllid species are important pests mainly of fruit trees, forest and ornamental plants. Despite being an economically relevant group, there are few studies on its biology, geographic distribution, natural enemies or host plant associations for many Argentinean psyllid species. This work records one species from Argentina for the first time, extends the distribution of another two psyllid species and provides information on host plants.

Geadephaga beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Cicindelidae and Trachypachydae) from Argentina, keys for identification and new records

A key of tribes and subtribes of Geadephaga present in Argentina is provided. When more than one genus of each tribe or subtribe are present in Argentina a key to identify them is provided. Illustrations are provided to facilitate the use of the keys. Based on the revision of materials of museums, institution and private colections are cited for the first time to Argentina two tribes: Licini and Dryptini; two subtribes: Progaleritina and Nemotarsina, 13 genera: Ancystroglossus Chaudoir, Crepidozaena Deuve, Dyscollus Dejean, Euphorticus Horn, Eutogenius Solier, Falsodromius Mateu, Nemotarsus LeConte, Neodrypta Basilewsky, Otoglossa Chaudoir, Oxygonia Mannerheim, Pleuracanthus Gray, Pseudobarys Chaudoir, one subgenus: Oxycrepis (Oxycrepis) Reiche and 70 species: Agra attenuata Klug, A. caligata Liebke, A. cuneolus Erwin, A. gemmata Klug, A. nigroaenea Chaudoir, A. prasina Liebke, Anchonoderus myops Reiche, A. subaeneus Reiche, A. unicolor Chaudoir, Ancystroglossus strangulatus Chaudoir, Athrostictus chlaenoides (Dejean), Blennidius (B.) fontanei (Tschitscherine), Calleida thalassina Dejean, C. levistriata Chaudoir, Calybe leucopa Bates, Cnemalobus germaini Putzeys, Colliuris (Apiodera) funcki (Putzeys), C. (Apiodera) marmorata (Chaudoir), Coptodera dromioides (Bates), C. fulminans (Bates), C. transversa (Reiche), C. undulata Chaudoir, C. versicolor Bates, Crepidozaena gracilis (Chaudoir), Cryptobatis janthoptera Reiche, Dailodontus cayennensis (Dejean), Dercylus (Eudercylus) tenebricosus La Ferté Sénectère, Euphorticus pubescens (Dejean), Eutogenius fuscus Solier, Falsodromius erythropus (Solier), Helluobruchus brevicollis (Dejean), H. luctuosus (Chaudoir), Helluomorphoides io Reichardt, H. oculeus (Bates), H. squiresi (Chaudoir), Incagonum chilense (Dejean), I. cordicolle (Solier), Lachnophorus (Aretaonus) tenuicollis Dejean, Lebia (Lebia) bioculata Boheman, L. (L.) quinquenotata Chaudoir, Mimodromius (Bolivasia) bolivianus Mateu, M. (Mimodromius) chilensis (Solier), M. (M.) chopardi Mateu, Morion boliviensis Allen, M. brasiliensis Dejean, Nemotarsus fallax (Dejean), Nemotarsus interruptus (Chaudoir), N. scutellaris (Chaudoir), Neodrypta costigera (Chaudoir), Odonthocheila cayenensis bipunctata (Fabricius), Otoglossa tuberculosa Chaudoir, Oxycrepis (Loxandrus) minasianus Straneo, O. (Oxycrepis) brasiliensis Tschitschérine, Oxygonia prodiga (Erichson), Pachyteles tuberculatus Perty, Parapionycha lizeri Liebke, Parhypates (Parhypates) bonelli (Waterhouse), P. (P.) rufipalpis (Curtis), Pentagonica picea Chaudoir, P. trivitatta (Dejean), Pericompsus circuliformis (Solier), Pseudaptinus cribatus Liebke, Pseudobarys robusta Chaudoir, Pelecium nicki Straneo, P. purpureum Straneo, Pleuracanthus inca Reichardt, P. tridens Reichardt, Trechisibus cekalovici Jeanne, T. magellanus Jeannel, Zuphioides lizeri (Libke). Ilustrations of some of the genera cited for the first time to Argentina are provided.

New association between the mite Erythraeus sp. (Acari: Prostigmata: Parasitengona) and the psyllid Russelliana adunca (Hemiptera: Psylloidea)

The association between the ectoparasitic mite, Erythraeus Latreille (Acari: Prostigmata: Parasitengona) and the psyllid Russelliana adunca Burckhardt (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) is reported for the first time. Larval erythraeid mites are not common on psyllids, therefore this first report adds a new host association and widens the distribution of the mite in South America.

Alfa and beta diversity of thrips (Thysanoptera) and biological control agents in chrysanthemum flowers (Chrysanthemum sp.) of two ecoregions in Jujuy province, Argentina

The objectives of this study are to identify thrips and their biological controllers, to analyze their abundance in three flower opening stages stages of chrysanthemum crops, and to determine alpha and beta diversity in two ecoregions of Jujuy province (Argentina). The study was carried out in the Chaco ecoregion (ECH) in October and November 2016, and in the Prepuna ecoregion (EP) in February and March 2018. On each date, six replicates of five flowers were excised in the stages: flower bud , semi-open flower and open flower. Diversity profiles and rank-abundance curves were built, and Jaccard's coefficient of similarity was applied. The diversity profiles showed significant differences in thrips communities. In the ECH, 15 thrips species were identified; the dominant and permanent species were Microcephalothrips abdominalis (Crawford) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Five species were recorded in the EP, although Frankliniella gemina Bagnall and Thrips tabaci Lindeman on their own represented 78% of the total abundance. In the ECH, 20 entomophagous species/morphospecies were recognized, and 19 in the EP; antocorids were dominant in both ecoregions. The thrips and the entomophagous communities of chrysanthemum flowers were different (34%) between the ecoregions studied.

Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae), the potential wild vector of yellow fever in the border zone of northern Misiones, Argentina

Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae) is considered the primary vector of yellow fever virus (Flaviviridae) in wild environments in South America. Previous research has defined Hg. leucocelaenus as a wild species with phytotelmata-type breeding sites. The objective of this study was to report the temporal and space occurrence of Hg. leucocelaenus at the microscale in the wild-periurban fringe through a systematic and spatially stratified sampling using 81 ovitraps between April 2019 and February 2 020 in the locality of Puerto Iguazú, Argentina. Of the total ovitraps, eight were positive for Hg. leucocelaenus, six in the wild environment and two in the periurban environment. Regarding the time distribution, 98.5% of the occurrence was concentrated in November and December 2019 towards the beginning of the rainy season. The results confirm the habitat plasticity of Hg. leucocelaenus and establish the aptitude of artificial containers as a methodology in monitoring studies, since they illustrate the potential of wild populations to deposit fertile eggs in them at least up to 300 m from the wild-periurban fringe. This work is a contribution to determine the temporal and space risk of yellow fever virus transmission in the region, based on the distribution patterns of this species as a function to the ecotone associated with forest borders and climatic variables.