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Dissomphalus is a cosmopolitan genus of Bethylidae and has 269 Neotropical species divided into 32 species-groups, mostly defined by the genital and the tergal process structures. Dissomphalus rectilineus and D. concavatus are sympatric species in the ulceratus species-group. Members of the species-group share many similarities in the morphology of the head, hypopygium, tergal process and genitalia, but may be distinguished by the structure of the hypopygium. Previous studies have found intermediate structures of the hypopygium in the sympatric areas and raised questions about the distinctiveness of these two species. We sequenced 340 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I of 29 specimens from Brazil and Paraguay, calculated the genetic divergence among specimens, and recovered the phylogenetic relationships between taxa. In addition, we compared the morphology of the hypopygium to evaluate its use as a species-specific diagnostic character using the genetic divergence values. We recovered three well-supported monophyletic groups (intraclade divergence from 1.3 to 13.4%) and three hypopygium morphologies associated with each clade, two of them associated with D. rectilineus and D. concavatus (as described in the literature); the third one is new, not associated with any known species. The divergence between the D. rectilineus and D. concavatus clades was 19%, while the third clade is divergent from each species by 19-20%. If fully described, the hypopygium shape associated with the COI sequence will represent an extremely promising approach to the diagnosis of Dissomphalus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptalyra is a small genus of megalyrid wasps with three described species confined to South America. Our main goal in this work is to record an increase in the known diversity, adding the three new species Cryptalyra helenae sp. n., C. ichiroi sp. n. and C. limeirai sp. n., from a single locality in Maranhão, Brazil that has been subjected to extraordinary collecting effort. We are providing a key for the species of the genus, as well as illustrations of the main structures for recognition of the new taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plumarius brasiliensis is only known from the type locality, the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. We expand its distribution 1,193 km south of the type locality, in the states of Bahia and Ceará, Brazil. This species is possibly restricted to the dry areas of Northeastern Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Amazon region is one of the most diverse areas in the world. Research on high tropical forest diversity brings up relevant contributions to understand the mechanisms that result and support such diversity. In the present study we describe the species composition and diversity of 15 one-ha plots in the Amazonian terra firme dense forest in Brazil, and compare the floristic similarity of these plots with other nine one-ha plots. The 15 plots studied were randomly selected from permanent plots at the Embrapa Experimental site, Amazonas State in 2005. The diversity was analyzed by using species richness and Shannon's index, and by applying the Sorensen's index for similarity and unweighted pair-group average (UPGMA) as clustering method. Mantel test was performed to study whether the differences in species composition between sites could be explained by the geographic distance between them. Overall, we identified 8 771 individuals, 264 species and 51 plant families. Most of the species were concentrated in few families and few had large number of individuals. Families presenting the highest species richness were Fabaceae (Faboideae: 22spp., Mimosoideae: 22spp.), Sapotaceae: 22spp., Lecythidaceae: 15 and Lauraceae: 13. Burseraceae had the largest number of individuals with 11.8% of the total. The ten most abundant species were: Protium hebetatum (1 037 individuals), Eschweilera coriacea (471), Licania oblongifolia (310), Pouteria minima (293), Ocotea cernua (258), Scleronema micranthum (197), Eschweilera collina (176), Licania apelata (172), Naucleopsis caloneura (170) and Psidium araca (152), which represented 36.5% of all individuals. Approximately 49% of species had up to ten individuals and 13% appeared only once in all sampled plots, showing a large occurrence of rare species. Our study area is on a forest presenting a high tree species diversity with Shannon's diversity index of 4.49. The dendrogram showed two groups of plots with low similarity between them (less than 0.25), and the closer the plots were one to another, more similar in species composition (Mantel R=0.3627, p<0.01). The 15 plots in our study area share more than 50% of their species composition and represent the group of plots that have the shortest distance between each other. Overall, our results highlight the high local and regional heterogeneity of environments in terra firme forests, and the high occurrence of rare species, which should be considered in management and conservation programs in the Amazon rainforest, in order to maintain its structure on the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bethylid genus Solepyris Azevedo (Scleroderminae) is studied and revised. Five species are recognized, including three previously described ones: †S. electromexicanus Brazidec and Perrichot, S. montuosus Azevedo, and S. unicus Azevedo. Additionally, two new species are described and illustrated: S. maleku sp. nov. from Costa Rica and S. pataxo sp. nov. from Brazil. An emended diagnosis and a detailed discussion regarding the morphological diagnostic characters of this genus are also presented. A taxonomic key for all species is provided., (© 2024. Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil.)

The main goal of this paper is to study the Dissomphalus material deposited at the Coleção Zoológica do Maranhão (Maranhão, Brazil). The material was collected in six parks: Parque Nacional Chapada das Mesas, Parque Estadual do Mirador and Reserva Ecológica do Inhamum in the state of Maranhão; Parque Nacional Serra das Confusões and Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades in the state of Piauí, and Parque Nacional de Ubajara in the state of Ceará. Forty species are recognized from these six parks. Twenty-two of them are previously described species, namely: D. bifurcatus Azevedo, D. cervoides Azevedo, D. conicus Azevedo, D. curvilongus Azevedo, D. geniculatus Azevedo, D. gilvipes Evans, D. infissus Evans, D. krombeini Azevedo, D. laminaris Redighieri Azevedo, D. latimerus Azevedo, D. linearis Azevedo, D. lobisserratus Azevedo, D. magnus Redighieri Azevedo, D. megomphalus Evans, D. microstictus Evans, D. napo Evans, D. plaumanni Evans, D. scamatus Azevedo, D. subpilosus Azevedo, D. tubulatus Redighieri Azevedo, D. ubracus Brito Azevedo and D. verrucosus Redighieri Azevedo. Eighteen species are newly described and illustrated: Dissomphalus acutipupu Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. boibumba Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. boitata Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. boiuna Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. boto Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. caipora Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. capelobo Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. cuca Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. curupira Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. iara Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. iracema Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. irupe Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. joaquinae Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. jurupari Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. mapinguari Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. matintaperera Colombo Azevedo sp. nov., D. saci Colombo Azevedo sp. nov. and D. torem Colombo Azevedo sp. nov.. A key for these species is provided. The genus is newly recorded from the state of Piauí, Brazil.

The Amazon region is one of the most diverse areas in the world. Research on high tropical forest diversity brings up relevant contributions to understand the mechanisms that result and support such diversity. In the present study we describe the species composition and diversity of 15 one-ha plots in the Amazonian terra firme dense forest in Brazil, and compare the floristic similarity of these plots with other nine one-ha plots. The 15 plots studied were randomly selected from permanent plots at the Embrapa Experimental site, Amazonas State in 2005. The diversity was analysed by using species richness and Shannon's index, and by applying the Sorensen's index for similarity and unweighted pair-group average (UPGMA) as clustering method. Mantel test was performed to study whether the differences in species composition between sites could be explained by the geographic distance between them. Overall, we identified 8 771 individuals, 264 species and 51 plant families. Most of the species were concentrated in few families and few had large number of individuals. Families presenting the highest species richness were Fabaceae (Faboideae: 22spp., Mimosoideae: 22spp.), Sapotaceae: 22spp., Lecythidaceae: 15 and Lauraceae: 13. Burseraceae had the largest number of individuals with 11.8% of the total. The ten most abundant species were: Protium hebetatum (1 037 individuals), Eschweilera coriacea (471), Licania oblongifolia (310), Pouteria minima (293), Ocotea cernua (258), Scleronema micranthum (197), Eschweilera collina (176), Licania apelata (172), Naucleopsis caloneura (170) and Psidium araca (152), which represented 36.5% of all individuals. Approximately 49% of species had up to ten individuals and 13% appeared only once in all sampled plots, showing a large occurrence of rare species. Our study area is on a forest presenting a high tree species diversity with Shannon's diversity index of 4.49. The dendrogram showed two groups of plots with low similarity between them (less than 0.25), and the closer the plots were one to another, more similar in species composition (Mantel R = 0.3627, p < 0.01). The 15 plots in our study area share more than 50% of their species composition and represent the group of plots that have the shortest distance between each other. Overall, our results highlight the high local and regional heterogeneity of environments in terra firme forests, and the high occurrence of rare species, which should be considered in management and conservation programs in the Amazon rainforest, in order to maintain its structure on the long run.

The generic richness and abundance of Bethylidae collected in four different hillside areas of Atlantic rain forest from Espírito Santo, Brazil were studied. The sites are Santa Maria de Jetibá (SMJ), Domingos Martins (DM), Pancas (P) and Atílio Vivacqua (AV). A total of 2,840 specimens of 12 genera were collected. Lepidosternopsis Ogloblin and Bakeriella Kieffer are first recorded from the State. Richness of taxa was calculated using first-order Jackknife richness with EstimateS program. Genera accumulation curves were ran to evaluate the samples. Abundance data were adjusted to the geometric distribution. Parameter k was used to compare areas. The generic profile was not equal for the sites we studied. The areas were considered disturbed. SMJ and DM presented genera richness bigger than in P and AV. The differences in the sites reflect the different preservation of each environment. Pseudisobrachium Kieffer and Dissomphalus Ashmead are most dominant genera in SMJ, DM and P, and Anisepyris Kieffer in AV. This study emphasizes the fact of Dissomphalus as the most abundant genus in rain forests. The generic profile found in AV is similar to that of some areas of Brazilian savannah.

Adults of Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem were detected (in November 2003) during the sampling of Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner berries damaged by Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Ouro Preto D'Oeste - Rondônia, Brazil (10 degrees 45'S and 62 degrees 15'W). From January to July 2004, the parasitoid was monthly sampled in 200 berries damaged by H. hampei. Probably, C. stephanoderis can already exert some parasitism pressure at the coffee berry borer population. The occurrence of this parasitoid in natural conditions points out to another alternative for the biological control of the H. hampei in Rondônia. This is the first record of C. stephanoderis in coffee plantations of the Brazilian Amazonia.