Análise de risco de praga (ARP) para Hylobius abietis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Orientadores: Lúcia Massutti de Almeida, Edson Tadeu IedeMonografia (Bacharelado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná. Setor de Ciências Biológicas. Curso de Graduação em Ciências BiológicasResumo : A Análise de Risco de Praga (ARP) é uma ferramenta fundamental no processo de defesa fitossanitária. Ela determina os riscos de uma praga exótica ser introduzida em uma determinada área, além dos riscos ambientais e associados a organismos geneticamente modificados (OGM). Sua elaboração é definida pelas Normas Internacionais de Medidas Fitossanitárias (NIMF’s) nº 02, 11 e 21. A ARP de Hylobius abietis para o Brasil se faz necessária devido ao alto risco que esta praga representa ao setor florestal nacional, principalmente, para as áreas de reflorestamento de pínus. O Brasil apresenta 516 milhões de hectares de florestas naturais e plantadas, destas, 7 milhões correspondem às florestas de pínus e eucalipto. A introdução da praga H. abietis, natural da Europa, poderia causar perdas econômicas graves, assim como ocorre em regiões da Europa aonde, alguns países, chegam a gastar 2 milhões de libras em medidas profiláticas. Essa praga é relacionada às práticas silviculturais inadequadas e por este motivo sua disseminação seria facilitada nas áreas de reflorestamento, aumentando os riscos oferecidos à economia do setor florestal e propiciando um aumento de desemprego, entre outras conseqüências, àqueles que dependem deste ramo da economia

Species list of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) in the nhecolândia, pantanal, mato grosso do sul, brazil

This study provides a list of the ground-dwelling ant species in Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Mato Grosso Sul, Brazil. The Pantanal is the largest tropical wetland in the world and is currently under strong anthropic pressure. Ground-dwelling ants were collected in three sites: (1) a forest regeneration area; (2) a pasture area; and (3) an area of secondary native vegetation. In each site, 120 samples were collected using pitfall traps in the dry and rainy seasons of 2016. Additional samplings were performed with Winkler extractors (30 leaf-litter samples) and manually, also in dry and rainy seasons of 2016. In total, we collected 172 species, which, summed with the additional records from literature, raise the number of ant species recorded in Nhecolândia to 184 in 42 genera and nine subfamilies. Eleven species were recorded for the first time in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Also, the survey adds two new species records to Brazil. Besides contributing to the inventory of the ant species present in the Pantanal biome, the present study provides an important resource for future conservation plans for this threatened ecoregion

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Assembleias de formigas subterrâneas (Hymenoptera: formicidae) de três regiões do sul do Brasil : diferentes sistemas de uso do solo e a avaliação da temátoca TSBF para amostragem

Orientador : Prof. Dr. Rodrigo M. FeitosaCoorientador : Dr. Marcílio J. Thomazzini (Embrapa Florestas)Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Entomologia). Defesa: Curitiba, 17/02/2017Inclui referênciasÁrea de concentração : EntomologiaResumo: A agricultura tem papel fundamental no desenvolvimento da sociedade humana. No entanto, um sistema de produção intensivo, com o uso acentuado de maquinário, inseticidas e herbicidas, tem elevado a preocupação com a degradação do solo. Sistemas mais sustentáveis de uso do solo têm sido implementados em substituição aos convencionais. Além disso, medidas de monitoramento foram adotadas, como os propostos pelo Programa Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF) para a avaliação de impactos do uso do solo sobre a macrofauna. Um dos métodos sugeridos pelo programa, e que leva o mesmo nome, é a extração de monólitos de 25 x 25 x 30 cm. Os monólitos são separados em camadas de 10 cm e então a macrofauna edáfica é retirada. Dentre os integrantes da macrofauna encontram-se as formigas. Diversos métodos já foram empregados na tentativa de amostrar formigas subterrâneas e a utilização de monólitos tem se mostrado promissora. A ampla utilização do TSBF acaba gerando um grande volume de material que, em geral, é subaproveitado com relação a estudos específicos com formigas. No presente trabalho fizemos a caracterização das assembleias de formigas subterrâneas de três regiões do sul do Brasil amostradas pelo método de extração de monólitos TSBF (Capítulo I) e avaliamos a influência dos sistemas de uso na diversidade (riqueza e composição) de formigas em diferentes sistemas de uso do solo (Capítulo II), já que as extrações foram realizadas em diferentes áreas de produção agrícola. As áreas amostradas pertencem a municípios de três regiões do Sul do Brasil: Ponta Grossa, nos Campos Gerais do PR; Santa Teresinha do Salto, Otacílio Costa e Campo Belo do Sul, no Planalto de SC; e Xanxerê, São Miguel do Oeste e Chapecó, no Oeste-SC. Foram avaliados sete sistemas de uso em Ponta Grossa (Campos Gerais, Floresta nativa, Integração Lavoura-pecuária-floresta, Integração Lavoura-pecuária, Campo nativo pastejado, Plantio de Eucalyptus e Plantio direto) e cinco em Santa Catarina (Floresta nativa, Integração Lavoura-pecuária, Campo nativo pastejado, Plantio de Eucalyptus e Plantio direto). Conseguimos identificar 67 espécies subterrâneas, nas três regiões, e o TSBF demonstrou que é eficiente na amostragem de formigas hipogeicas por capturar formigas pouco frequentes ou ausentes nas amostras de armadilhas epigeicas . O TSBF registrou um maior número de espécies na profundidade 0-10 cm, sendo eficiente na amostragem de formigas subterrâneas. Observamos alteração tanto na riqueza quanto na composição de espécies nas áreas avaliadas. E encontramos um gradiente de riqueza inverso ao gradiente de manejo das áreas, sendo as áreas de plantio direto e integração lavoura-pecuária as de menor riqueza. Desta forma concluimos que a utilização do TSBF na amostragem de formigas pode ser eficaz na coleta de espécies subterrâneas. Além disso, pode ser uma importante ferramenta na amostragem de formigas em estudos de avaliação da qualidade do solo. Palavras-chave: TSBF, formigas hipogeicas, sistemas de uso do solo.Abstract: Agriculture has a central role on the development of the human society. However, an intensive system of production, with the hardly use of machinery, insecticides and herbicides, was increased the preoccupation with the degradation of soil. Sustainable land-uses had been implemented in substitution of the conventional system. Furthermore, monitoring procedures for the evaluation of the impacts of land-use systems on the macrofauna are adopted, as the proposed by the Programme Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF). One of the suggested methods, which has the same name, is the extraction of a monolith with 25 x 25 x 30 cm. The monoliths were separated in layers with 10 cm and the edaphic macrofauna was sampled. Some methods were designed for sampling subterranean ants, but the majority uses attractive (baits), this fact can influence the determination of species occurrence when we evaluate the vertical stratification of the communities. However, the use of monoliths has shown favorable to get information about vertical stratification. In the present work, we characterized subterranean ant assemblages from three regions of southern Brazil sampled by TSBF (Chapter I) and evaluate the influence of land-use systems on diversity of ants (richness and composition) (Chapter II). The sampled areas belong to cities of three regions of South Brazil: Ponta Grossa, Campos Gerais do PR; Santa Teresinha do Salto, Otacílio Costa and Campo Belo do Sul, in the Plateau of SC and Xanxerê, São Miguel do Oeste and Chapecó, in West - SC. Distinct experimental designs were applied,with seven land-use evaluated in Ponta Grossa (Campos Gerais, Native Forest, Integrated-crop-livestock-forest system, Integrated-crop-livestock, Pasture with native fields, Eucalyptus plantation and No-tillage) and five in Santa Catarina (Native Forest, Integrated-crop-livestock, Pasture with native fields, Eucalyptus plantation and No-tillage. We identified 67 subterranean ants in all three regions and the TSBF demonstrated that it is efficient in hypogaeic ant sampling for catching infrequent or absent ants in epigaeic traps. The TSBF registered more species at 0-10 cm layer, been efficient for sampling subterranean ants. We observed changes in both richness and species composition, in the evaluated areas. We found an inverse richness gradient to the management of the areas, with no-tillage and crop-livestock integration being the lowest richness indexes. In this sense, we suggest the use of TSBF in ant sampling for its potential in the collection of subterranean species. Furthermore, can be an important sampling method for studies about quality soil. Key- words: TSBF, hipogaeic ants, land-use systems

Padrões morfológicos em formigas de solo (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) : um enfoque em formigas hipogeicas

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Rodrigo M. FeitosaTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Entomologia). Defesa : Curitiba, 21/05/2021Inclui referências: p. 52-62Resumo: Formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) são organismos amplamente disseminados no ambiente, ocorrendo do dossel ao subsolo. São importantes bioturbadoras e fundamentais para a manutenção da qualidade do solo. O solo é um importante agente direcionador de processos evolutivos, atuando em diversos grupos (de invertebrados a vertebrados) na seleção de caracteres que favorecem a ocorrência neste estrato. Dentre os caracteres sob maior pressão evolutiva, neste ambiente, estão os associados à locomoção. Em formigas, caracteres associados aos apêndices locomotores são pouco estudados. Com o advento de técnicas de amostragem hipogeicas e a confirmação de que assembleias de formigas de solo apresentam estratificação vertical, houve um aumento na captura de formigas subterrâneas, com incremento de sua representatividade em coleções científicas. Consequentemente, as possibilidades para pesquisa envolvendo questões ecológicas associadas às formigas subterrâneas foram consideravelmente ampliadas, assim como a demanda por ferramentas que propiciem identificações precisas das assembleias de solo. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar a existência de um padrão morfológico conspícuo que represente as formigas hipogeicas (espécies que vivem exclusivamente no estrato subterrâneo), a partir de um proxy baseado nos apêndices locomotores. Para tanto, utilizamos 61 caracteres, dentre os quais 30 foram tomados das pernas e dez foram originados a partir do cálculo da área dos apêndices. Mensuramos 1071 espécimes de 224 espécies de formigas previamente classificadas como epigeicas, intersticiais de solo e hipogeicas, via critério de exclusividade de ocorrência. Usamos Análise de Componentes Principais e posteriormente Análise de Discriminantes Lineares para avaliar a existência de um padrão. Como resultado, os caracteres associados aos apêndices locomotores se mostraram relevantes às análises, de modo que obtivemos um conjunto de atributos que permite a distinção de formigas subterrâneas (hipogeicas e intersticiais) e epigeicas. Finalmente, sugerimos uma padronização na utilização dos termos associados às assembleias de formigas de solo afim de melhorar a comunicação entre a comunidade científica. Sugerimos que o termo hipogeicas seja restrito às espécies identificadas via critério de exclusividade (obtido a partir da associação obrigatória de técnicas hipo e epigeicas de coleta). Também sugerimos a utilização do termo subterrâneas como generalização para as espécies que foram capturadas por técnicas hipogeicas (sem comparação com estrato epigeico) ou que tenham fêmures e escapos mais curtos, cabeça mais estreita, mesossoma mais comprido que alto e maiores áreas de trocanter e coxa posterior. A morfologia criptobiótica deve ser utilizada àquelas espécies que não forrageiam expostas, permanecendo ocultas em qualquer ambiente, e não como ferramenta ou critério de identificação de espécies subterrâneas. Palavras-chave: Morfologia de formigas. Apêndices locomotores. Fauna de solo. ABSTRACT Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are organisms widely disseminated in the environment, occurring from the canopy to the underground. They are important bioturbators and fundamental for the maintenance of soil quality. Soil is an important driving agent of evolutionary processes, acting in several groups (from invertebrates to vertebrates) in the selection of characters that favor the occurrence in this stratum. Among the traits under the greatest evolutionary pressure, in this environment, are those associated with locomotion. In ants, characters associated with locomotive appendages are poorly studied. Due the advent of hypogaeic sampling techniques and the confirmation that assemblies of soil ants present vertical stratification, there was an increase in the capture of subterranean ants, with an increase in their representativeness in scientific collections. Consequently, the possibilities for research involving ecological issues associated with subterranean ants have been considerably expanded, as has the demand for tools that provide accurate identifications of soil assemblies. This work aims to evaluate the existence of a conspicuous morphological pattern that represents hypogaeic ants (species that live exclusively in the subterraneous estrata), using as a proxy locomotion appendage. For that, we used 61 traits, among which 30 were taken from the legs and ten were originated from the calculation of the legs segments area. We measured 1071 specimens, from 224 ant species previously classified as epigaeic, interstitial and hypogaeic, using exclusivity criteria. We use Principal Component Analysis and later Linear Discriminant Analysis to assess the existence of a pattern. As a result, the characters associated with the locomotor appendages proved to be relevant to the analysis, so that we obtained a set of attributes that allows the distinction of underground (hypogaeic and soil interstitial) and epigaeic ants. Finally, we suggest a standardization in the use of terms associated with assemblies of soil ants in order to improve communication between the scientific community. We recommend that the term hypogaeic be restricted to species identified via exclusivity criteria (obtained from the mandatory association of hypo and epigaeic sampling methods). We also suggest the use of the term subterranean as a generalization for species that were captured by hypogaeic techniques (without comparison with epigaeic strata) or which have shorter femurs and scapes, narrower head, longer than elevated mesossoma and larger areas of trochanter and posterior coxa. Cryptobiotic morphology should be used for those species that do not forage exposed and remain hidden in any environment and not as a tool or criterium for identifying underground species. Keywords: Morphology of ants. Locomotion appendages. Soil fauna. Formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) são organismos amplamente disseminados no ambiente, ocorrendo do dossel ao subsolo. São importantes bioturbadoras e fundamentais para a manutenção da qualidade do solo. O solo é um importante agente direcionador de processos evolutivos, atuando em diversos grupos (de invertebrados a vertebrados) na seleção de caracteres que favorecem a ocorrência neste estrato. Dentre os caracteres sob maior pressão evolutiva, neste ambiente, estão os associados à locomoção. Em formigas, caracteres associados aos apêndices locomotores são pouco estudados. Com o advento de técnicas de amostragem hipogeicas e a confirmação de que assembleias de formigas de solo apresentam estratificação vertical, houve um aumento na captura de formigas subterrâneas, com incremento de sua representatividade em coleções científicas. Consequentemente, as possibilidades para pesquisa envolvendo questões ecológicas associadas às formigas subterrâneas foram consideravelmente ampliadas, assim como a demanda por ferramentas que propiciem identificações precisas das assembleias de solo. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar a existência de um padrão morfológico conspícuo que represente as formigas hipogeicas (espécies que vivem exclusivamente no estrato subterrâneo), a partir de um proxy baseado nos apêndices locomotores. Para tanto, utilizamos 61 caracteres, dentre os quais 30 foram tomados das pernas e dez foram originados a partir do cálculo da área dos apêndices. Mensuramos 1071 espécimes de 224 espécies de formigas previamente classificadas como epigeicas, intersticiais de solo e hipogeicas, via critério de exclusividade de ocorrência. Usamos Análise de Componentes Principais e posteriormente Análise de Discriminantes Lineares para avaliar a existência de um padrão. Como resultado, os caracteres associados aos apêndices locomotores se mostraram relevantes às análises, de modo que obtivemos um conjunto de atributos que permite a distinção de formigas subterrâneas (hipogeicas e intersticiais) e epigeicas. Finalmente, sugerimos uma padronização na utilização dos termos associados às assembleias de formigas de solo afim de melhorar a comunicação entre a comunidade científica. Sugerimos que o termo hipogeicas seja restrito às espécies identificadas via critério de exclusividade (obtido a partir da associação obrigatória de técnicas hipo e epigeicas de coleta). Também sugerimos a utilização do termo subterrâneas como generalização para as espécies que foram capturadas por técnicas hipogeicas (sem comparação com estrato epigeico) ou que tenham fêmures e escapos mais curtos, cabeça mais estreita, mesossoma mais comprido que alto e maiores áreas de trocanter e coxa posterior. A morfologia criptobiótica deve ser utilizada àquelas espécies que não forrageiam expostas, permanecendo ocultas em qualquer ambiente, e não como ferramenta ou critério de identificação de espécies subterrâneas. Palavras-chave: Morfologia de formigas. Apêndices locomotores. Fauna de solo.Abstract: Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are organisms widely disseminated in the environment, occurring from the canopy to the underground. They are important bioturbators and fundamental for the maintenance of soil quality. Soil is an important driving agent of evolutionary processes, acting in several groups (from invertebrates to vertebrates) in the selection of characters that favor the occurrence in this stratum. Among the traits under the greatest evolutionary pressure, in this environment, are those associated with locomotion. In ants, characters associated with locomotive appendages are poorly studied. Due the advent of hypogaeic sampling techniques and the confirmation that assemblies of soil ants present vertical stratification, there was an increase in the capture of subterranean ants, with an increase in their representativeness in scientific collections. Consequently, the possibilities for research involving ecological issues associated with subterranean ants have been considerably expanded, as has the demand for tools that provide accurate identifications of soil assemblies. This work aims to evaluate the existence of a conspicuous morphological pattern that represents hypogaeic ants (species that live exclusively in the subterraneous estrata), using as a proxy locomotion appendage. For that, we used 61 traits, among which 30 were taken from the legs and ten were originated from the calculation of the legs segments area. We measured 1071 specimens, from 224 ant species previously classified as epigaeic, interstitial and hypogaeic, using exclusivity criteria. We use Principal Component Analysis and later Linear Discriminant Analysis to assess the existence of a pattern. As a result, the characters associated with the locomotor appendages proved to be relevant to the analysis, so that we obtained a set of attributes that allows the distinction of underground (hypogaeic and soil interstitial) and epigaeic ants. Finally, we suggest a standardization in the use of terms associated with assemblies of soil ants in order to improve communication between the scientific community. We recommend that the term hypogaeic be restricted to species identified via exclusivity criteria (obtained from the mandatory association of hypo and epigaeic sampling methods). We also suggest the use of the term subterranean as a generalization for species that were captured by hypogaeic techniques (without comparison with epigaeic strata) or which have shorter femurs and scapes, narrower head, longer than elevated mesossoma and larger areas of trochanter and posterior coxa. Cryptobiotic morphology should be used for those species that do not forage exposed and remain hidden in any environment and not as a tool or criterium for identifying underground species. Keywords: Morphology of ants. Locomotion appendages. Soil fauna