Activity schedule and foraging in Protopolybia sedula (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Protopolybia sedula is a social swarming wasp, widely spread throughout many countries in the Americas, including most of Brazil. Despite its distribution, studies of its behavioral ecology are scarce. This study aimed to describe its foraging activity and relation to climatic variables in the city of Juiz de Fora in southeastern Brazil. Three colonies were under observation between 07:00 and 18:00 during April 2012, January 2013, and March 2013. Every 30 minutes, the number of foragers leaving and returning to the colony was registered along with air temperature and relative humidity. Activity began around 07:30¸ increased between 10:30 and 14:30, and ended around 18:30. A mean of 52.7 exits and 54 returns were measured every 30 minutes. The daily mean values were 1,107 ± 510.6 exits and 1,135 ± 854.8 returns. Only one colony showed a significant correlation between forager exits and temperature (rs = 0.8055; P \u3c 0.0001) and between exits and relative humidity (rs = -0.7441; P = 0.0001). This paper shows that climatic variables are likely to have little control on the foraging rhythm of P. sedula when compared to other species, suggesting the interaction of other external and internal factors as stimuli of species foraging behavio

Variation in nesting behavior of the arboreal ant Camponotus sericeiventris (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

This is the first record of nesting in the soil by the ant Camponotus sericeiventris (Guérin-Méneville, 1838), which has arboreal habit. The study was conducted in southeastern Brazil, in an ant colony located in a subterranean site. This study describes, for the first time, the ability of this arboreal species to vary its nesting site by the occupation of an unusual place in an urban environment; and this study demonstrates that this species is an interesting model for studies in urban environments

Behavioral investment in the neotropical fire ant Solenopsis saevissima (Smith, 1855) during the critical phase of colony establishment / Orçamento comportamental na formiga neotropical Solenopsis saevissima (Smith, 1855) durante a fase crítica de estabelecimento da colônia

Behavioral investment of fire ant queens during the foundation of a new colony may be related to alone foundation (haplometrosis) or a group foundation (pleometrosis). Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate, through behavioral records, how Solenopsis saevissima queens behave during preemergence until the 3rd post-emergence week, in haplometrosis and pleometrosis, in the initial periods of the colony. For this, an ethogram of queens and workers were elaborated, to later evaluate the behavioral budget in both types of foundations. From a total behavioral budget of 8014 minutes of observation, it can be seen that the queen's behavioral acts change according to the colony cycle period (Pre-Egg Period, Egg Period, Larvae Period, Pupal Period and Post-Emergence Period), and that at first are directed to behaviors of exploration and interaction with the environment, such as walking and atennating the container and the tube. From the appearance of the first eggs, larvae or pupae, the interaction with the offspring becomes more intense. The post-emergency was first hit by haplometrosis queens and the workers started to actively protect the immature as well as do other activities. Thus, the period of the colony's development cycle is a determining factor in the manifestation of queens' behavior, which shows whether the foundation is alone or in groups.

The social wasp community (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) and new distribution record of Polybia ruficeps in an area of Caatinga Biome, northeastern Brazil

Social wasps are broadly distributed in Brazil, and their distribution is closely related to local plant composition. However, only a few studies on the diversity of these insects have been carried out in northeastern Brazil, and in Caatinga Biome the diversity is probably underestimated due to the lack of inventories for the region. Aiming at advancing the knowledge about the wasp fauna, we carried out this study from October 2005 to September 2006 in Ibipeba, northeastern Brazil. We collected 172 wasps of five genera and eight species, and recorded Polybia ruficeps Schrottky, 1902 for the first time in the state of Bahia. The most abundant species was Polybia ignobilis (Haliday, 1836) (n = 69), and the least abundant were Brachygastra lecheguana (Latreille, 1824) (n = 2) and Polistes canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) (n = 2). The present study inventory focused exclusively on the diversity of social wasps in an area of Caatinga, which contributes to advance the local fauna knowledge

Uso do pulverizador fumacê no controle de formigas de fogo em área urbana / Use of the smoke sprayer in the control of fire ant in urban area

Formigas do SolenopsisOs gêneros são considerados uma das principais pragas do meio urbano, onde causam acidentes com humanos e animais devido às suas picadas. Por serem invasivas na maioria dos ambientes, essas formigas são difíceis de controlar. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo descrever uma metodologia de controle utilizando spray de fumaça e avaliar sua eficácia em campo nas colônias de formigas de fogo. O estudo foi realizado em um condomínio no município de Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil, no período de julho de 2016 a outubro de 2018. O equipamento utilizado para o controle de formigas foi adaptado do “Pulverizador tipo Fumaça”, que, por meio de mangueira injetou o produto nas colônias. Após o controle, foi realizado monitoramento em toda a área, a fim de registrar a situação das colônias tratadas (ativas ou inativas). O pulverizador eliminou 45% das colônias de formigas de fogo tratadas. O comprimento e a largura dos ninhos ativos foram significativamente maiores na estação seca (t = 2,41, p = 0,01; t = 3,75, p = 0,002, respectivamente) do que na estação chuvosa. Nossos resultados têm se mostrado promissores no controle das formigas lava-pés em área urbana e, portanto, sugerimos que para aumentar a eficácia dessa metodologia, o controle deve ser feito de forma contínua na área e em intervalos de tempo menores.

Biscoitos tipo cookie elaborados com substituição parcial da farinha de trigo por farinha de tamarillo (Solanum betaceum): caracterização química e sensorial

O tamarillo (Solanum betaceum), fruto da família Solanaceae, apresenta rica composição em fenólicos, além de características sensoriais típicas e atrativas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi desenvolver biscoito tipo cookie com substituição parcial da farinha de trigo por farinha de tamarillo em 5, 7 e 10% e avaliar sua composição centesimal, atividade antioxidante, teor e perfil de compostos fenólicos, aceitabilidade e intenção de compra por meio da análise sensorial. Foi observado aumento da atividade antioxidante e dos teores de compostos fenólicos, bem como modificação do perfil de compostos fenólicos em função da incorporação da farinha de tamarillo aos cookies. O ácido ferúlico foi identificado no biscoito padrão e os ácidos rosmarínico, 5 cafeoilquínico e 4 cafeoilquínico nos biscoitos adicionados de farinha de tamarillo. Na análise sensorial foi observada maior aceitabilidade para o biscoito com 7% de substituição parcial da farinha de trigo e maior intenção de compra para os biscoitos padrão, 7% e 10%, sem diferença significativa entre eles. A adição de farinha de tamarillo modificou positivamente a composição química dos biscoitos tipo cookie, assim como alterou seu perfil de compostos fenólicos. Os cookies apresentaram boa aceitação sensorial sendo, portanto, uma boa opção para agregar compostos bioativos a dieta habitual

Extratos glicólicos de “ora-pro-nobis” (Pereskia aculeata Miller): Avaliação do teor de compostos fenólicos e do potencial antioxidante / Glycolic extracts of “ora-pro-nobis” (Pereskia aculeata Miller): Evaluation of its phenolic content and antioxidant potential

Pereskia aculeata Miller é uma trepadeira arbustiva popularmente conhecida como “ora-pro-nobis”. Na medicina tradicional, as folhas são utilizadas como anti-inflamatórias, cicatrizantes e emolientes. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a constituição química e o potencial antioxidante de extratos glicólicos de P. aculeata. Durante dez dias, as folhas foram maceradas à temperatura ambiente com glicerina e álcool de cereais, sendo obtidos os extratos PA01 e PA02. Ao final do processo, o extrato PA01 foi aquecido a 50 °C por 30 minutos. Esta foi a primeira vez em que extratos de P. aculeata foram obtidos com os referidos solventes extratores. O teor de compostos fenólicos foi avaliado utilizando-se o reagente de Folin-Ciocalteau e o potencial antioxidante foi determinado pelo método de sequestro do radical DPPH. PA01 e PA02 apresentaram um teor de fenóis totais de 13,84 ± 4,29 e 18,35 ± 2,12 mg em equivalentes de ácido tânico/g de extrato, respectivamente. No método do DPPH, os valores de CI50 encontrados foram de 11,93 ± 1,84 e 9,91 ± 2,45 µg/mL, respectivamente, demonstrando uma boa atividade antioxidante. Além disso, o aumento da temperatura não foi um fator decisivo na extração, visto que o conteúdo fenólico e o potencial antioxidante foram estatisticamente semelhantes para ambos os extratos. O potencial antioxidante pode ser atribuído, pelo menos em parte, ao conteúdo fenólico, visto que PA01 e PA02 foram capazes de extrair esses compostos de forma semelhante. Portanto, os extratos glicólicos de P. aculeata apresentam potencial para contribuir com a prevenção de diversos distúrbios associados com a produção de radicais livres

Altrenogest during early pregnancy modulates uterine glandular epithelium and endometrial growth factor expression at the time implantation in pigs

This study evaluated the effects of supplying altrenogest from day 6-12 of pregnancy on the endometrial glandular epithelium, corpora lutea (CL) morphology, and endometrial and CL gene expression. A total of 12 crossbred females (Landrace × Large White) were used. The females were assigned to 4 treatments according to a random design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with two categories (sow or gilt) and two treatments (non-treated and treated with altrenogest). On day 6 of pregnancy, animals were allocated to one of the following groups: non-treated (NT, n = 6; 3 sows and 3 gilts), and (T, n = 6; 3 sows and 3 gilts) treated daily with 20 mg of altrenogest, from day 6-12 of pregnancy. All animals were euthanized on day 13 of pregnancy. All CLs were individually weighed, and their volume were determined. The endometrial glandular density (GD), mean glandular area (MGA), and vascular density (VD) were determined by histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses. Endometrium samples were collected and analyzed by qRT-PCR to evaluate the abundance of transcripts for VEGF and IGF-I. Females in the T group had higher MGA (P < 0.05) compared to the NT group. There was no effect of treatment on GD or VD for both experimental groups. Sows in the T group had augmented expression of IGF-I (P < 0.05). Progestagen had no detrimental effect on CL morphology. In conclusion, altrenogest improves the uterine environment during the peri-implantation period in pigs without compromising corpora lutea development

Foundation Pattern, Productivity and Colony Success of the Paper Wasp, Polistes versicolor

Polistes versicolor (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) colonies are easily found in anthropic environments; however there is little information available on biological, ecological and behavioral interactions of this species under these environmental conditions. The objective of this work was to characterize the foundation pattern, the productivity, and the success of colonies of P. versicolor in anthropic environments. From August 2003 to December 2004, several colonies were studied in the municipal district of Juiz de Fora, Southeastern Brazil. It was possible to determine that before the beginning of nest construction the foundress accomplishes recognition flights in the selected area, and later begins the construction of the peduncle and the first cell. As soon as new cells are built, the hexagonal outlines appear and the peduncle is reinforced. Foundation of nests on gypsum plaster was significantly larger (p < 0.0001; χ2 test) in relation to the other types of substrate, revealing the synantropism of the species. On average, the P. versicolor nest presents 244.2 ± 89.5 (100–493) cells and a medium production of 171.67 ± 109.94 (37–660) adults. Cells that produced six individuals were verified. Usually, new colonies were founded by an association of females, responsible for the success of 51.5%. Although these results enlarge knowledge on the foundation pattern of P. versicolor in anthropic environments, other aspects of the foundation process require further investigation