Developing a rapid, efficient and low cost method for rapid DNA extraction from arthropods Desenvolvimento de um método rápido, eficiente e de baixo custo para extração de DNA de artrópodos

Here, it is presented a rapid and efficient method to obtain good quality DNA from small samples of arthropod tissues generating low quantities of hazardous wastes. This new method was compared with another homemade protocol using phenol and other two commercial kits. The quality of DNA obtained was checked by spectrophotometer and evaluated by an AFLP assay. Low shearing DNA was obtained from all samples and the best readings were observed to DNA recollected with the new method. The AFLP assay indicated that DNA obtained with all methods were suitable for use in molecular biology techniques sensitive to contaminants. However, homemade protocols were more efficient in recollect DNA than commercial kits, without lose any quality of samples. Also, they were less time and fund consuming, with costs ten times cheaper than commercial kits. The quicker, less pollutant and cheaper protocol was the one described here (USD 0.52 per sample).Aqui, é apresentado um método rápido e eficiente para obtenção de DNA de boa qualidade a partir de pequenas amostras de tecidos de artrópodos, gerando pequenas quantidades de resíduos perigosos. Comparamos a eficiência do método com outro protocolo caseiro utilizando fenol e com dois kits comerciais. A qualidade do DNA obtido foi verificada em espectrofotômetro e avaliada por um ensaio de AFLP. Foi obtido DNA pouco fragmentado a partir de todas as amostras, mas as melhores leituras foram obtidas para o DNA extraído com o novo método. O ensaio de AFLP indicou que os DNAs obtidos estavam adequados para uso em técnicas de biologia molecular sensíveis a contaminantes. Porém, os protocolos caseiros foram mais eficientes em extrair DNA do que kits comerciais, sem perder nenhuma qualidade na pureza das amostras. Além disso, eles foram mais rápidos e baratos, chegando a custar dez vezes menos que os kits comerciais. O protocolo mais rápido, menos poluente e mais barato foi o descrito aqui (USD 0,52 por amostra)

Distribution, Life History and Conservation Assessment of the Critically Endangered Butterfly Pseudolucia parana (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Pseudolucia parana Bálint, 1993 was described from Castro, Paraná, Brazil, where it was first collected over 120 years ago. It was observed/collected quite sporadically in the second half of the 20th century in a few isolated habitats in the State of Paraná. Excluding a single record since the early 2000s, the species was not observed in all its known sites in Paraná due to urbanization of its habitats or change of land use. Consequently the species in Paraná state is highly endangered, possibly extinct. Efforts to find the species in the state Santa Catarina failed. A new hope to the survival of the species appeared in the southernmost state Rio Grande do Sul, where some relict populations are documented. The results of rescue expeditions to several granitic hills in the region are presented and the current distribution P. parana is assessed. First descriptions of its early stages, ecology, ethology and recommendations for conservation are given. The data provided indicate that the global status of P. parana should be Critically Endangered. Some molecular traits of P. parana are analysed resulting in a preliminary assessment for the age of the populations. With 24 figures

A global phylogeny of butterflies reveals their evolutionary history, ancestral hosts and biogeographic origins

International audienceButterflies are a diverse and charismatic insect group that are thought to have evolved with plants and dispersed throughout the world in response to key geological events. However, these hypotheses have not been extensively tested because a comprehensive phylogenetic framework and datasets for butterfly larval hosts and global distributions are lacking. We sequenced 391 genes from nearly 2,300 butterfly species, sampled from 90 countries and 28 specimen collections, to reconstruct a new phylogenomic tree of butterflies representing 92% of all genera. Our phylogeny has strong support for nearly all nodes and demonstrates that at least 36 butterfly tribes require reclassification. Divergence time analyses imply an origin ~100 million years ago for butterflies and indicate that all but one family were present before the K/Pg extinction event. We aggregated larval host datasets and global distribution records and found that butterflies are likely to have first fed on Fabaceae and originated in what is now the Americas. Soon after the Cretaceous Thermal Maximum, butterflies crossed Beringia and diversified in the Palaeotropics. Our results also reveal that most butterfly species are specialists that feed on only one larval host plant family. However, generalist butterflies that consume two or more plant families usually feed on closely related plants