Population dynamics of phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) and its parasitoids in Tafí Viejo, Tucumán, Argentina

Seasonal abundance of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), was investigated between Nov 1999 and Apr 2003 in Tafí Viejo (Tucuman province). Phyllocnistis citrella populations increased during spring and summer, declined during fall, and disappeared in the winter. Five species of parasitoids, one exotic and four indigenous, attacked citrus leafminer immature stages in commercial and experimental lemon orchards. Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was the most abundant parasitoid. Cirrospilus neotropicus Diez & Fidalgo (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was the most abundant indigenous species, followed by Galeopsomyia fausta LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). The other indigenous species were not common and were only occasionally collected from citrus leafminer larvae. Parasitoids and P. citrella exhibited similar population fluctuations throughout the entire sampling period. A certain degree of synchrony exists between the most abundant parasitoids (A. citricola, C. neotropicus, and G. fausta) and the pest. The highest rates of parasitism were observed in the fall. Ageniaspis citricola exhibited approximately 29.5% parasitism, whereas all the native species together were only 8.2%. Data showed that a clear dependence existed between percentages of parasitism and citrus leafminer population density for the most frequent parasitoid populations. The results of this study show that C. neotropicus has an important role among the native species present in Argentina.Fil: Diez, Patricia Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Peña, Jorge E.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Fidalgo, Patricio. University of Florida; Estados Unido

Active and assisted living ecosystem for the elderly

A novel ecosystem to promote the physical, emotional and psychic health and well-being of the elderly is presented. Our proposal was designed to add several services developed to meet the needs of the senior population, namely services to improve social inclusion and increase contribution to society. Moreover, the solution monitors the vital signs of elderly individuals, as well as environmental parameters and behavior patterns, in order to seek eminent danger situations and predict potential hazardous issues, acting in accordance with the various alert levels specified for each individual. The platform was tested by seniors in a real scenario. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed ecosystem was well accepted and is easy to use by seniors

Natural Distribution of Parasitoids of Larvae of the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, in Argentina

To develop a better understanding of the natural distribution of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and to update the knowledge of the incidence of its complex of parasitoids. S. frugiperda, samplings in whorl-stage corn were carried out in provinces of Argentina from 1999 to 2003. S. frugiperda larvae were collected from corn in localities of the provinces of Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy, Santiago del Estero, La Rioja, Córdoba, San Luis, Chaco and Misiones. In each locality 30 corn plants were sampled and only larvae located in those plants were collected. The parasitoids that emerged from S. frugiperda larvae were identified and counted. The abundance of the parasitoids and the parasitism rate were estimated. The S. frugiperda parasitoids collected were Campoletis grioti (Blanchard) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Chelonus insularis (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Archytas marmoratus (Townsend) (Diptera Tachinidae) and/or A. incertus (Macquart), Ophion sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Euplectrus platyhypenae Howard (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), and Incamyia chilensis (Aldrich) (Diptera Tachinidae). C. grioti was the most abundant and frequent during the five-year survey. Similar diversity of parasitoids was obtained in all the provinces, with the exception of I. chilensis and E. platyhypenae that were recovered only in the province of Salta. In the Northwestern region, in Tucumán, C. grioti and species of Archytas were the most abundant and frequent parasitoids. On the contrary, in Salta and Jujuy Ch. insularis was the parasitoid most abundant and frequently recovered. The parasitism rate obtained in Tucumán, Salta and Jujuy provinces were 21.96%, 17.87% and 6.63% respectively with an average of 18.93%. These results demonstrate that hymenopteran and dipteran parasitoids of S. frugiperda occurred differentially throughout the Argentinian provinces and played an important role on the natural control of the S. frugiperda larval population

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

A new species of Limaytilla Casal, 1964 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from Argentina, a key for the known species, and new record data for the Argentinian species

A new species of Limaytilla from Argentina is described and illustrated based on males, L. diaguita Torréns & Fidalgo sp. nov.. Diagnoses for both sexes of the genus and an illustrated key for the Argentinian species are provided as well as new record data for L. pampa Casal and L. pehuenche Casal. Habitus photographs of all Argentinian species and L. orlandoi Cambra, Quintero & Pagliano from Chile, are also provided.Fil: Torrens, Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Fidalgo, Patricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; Argentin

Phylogenetic relationships of Pluroides porteri, a new genus and species of Plumariidae from Argentina (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea)

Pluroides porteri, a new genus and species of plumariid wasp from the provinces of Catamarca, La Rioja and San Juan in western Argentina, is described. The new genus Pluroides together with Mapluroides, Maplurius and Plumaroides, belong in a strongly supported South American clade, which is the sister-group to the African Myrmecopterinella.Fil: Diez, Patricia Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Roig Alsina, Arturo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Fidalgo, Patricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; Argentin

Plumaroides Brothers 1974

Plumaroides Brothers, 1974 (Figs 1–10) Plumaroides Brothers 1974: 351 –365; Day 1977: 171; Roig-Alsina 1994: 91; Brothers 2006: 389; Diez & Roig-Alsina 2008: 45; Diez 2008: 25. Type species Plumaroides andalgalensis Brothers, 1974, by original designation and monotypy. The diagnosis of the male of the genus is mainly given by: palpar formula (5: 2); first nebulous vein on fore wing, arising at the base of marginal cell; scape with a distinct ventral apical swelling; seventh tergum sharp-pointed and with one medial longitudinal carina.Published as part of Diez, Patricia A. & Fidalgo, Patricio, 2012, Two new species of the genus Plumaroides Brothers, 1974 (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea, Plumariidae) from Argentina, pp. 64-68 in Zootaxa 3188 on page 65, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.28002

Una nueva especie de mimarido de la subfamilia myrmaromminae (Insecta, hymenóptera)

Fil: Fidalgo, Patricio. CONICETFil: De Santis, Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, UNL

Plumaroides tapilophus Diez & Fidalgo, sp. nov.

Plumaroides tapilophus Diez & Fidalgo, sp. nov. (Figs 5–8) Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from other known species of the genus by the almost flat longitudinal medial carina on the seventh tergum. Description. MALE. Holotype male. Total length 3.8 mm (paratypes 3.6 to 5.6 mm). Color: Body light brown with head significantly darker and the following parts slightly light: antennae, front, clypeus, gena, base of mandible, labial and maxillary palpus, legs, pterostigma. Sculpture: Alutaceous, body with abundant, regular hairs. Head and mesosoma with conspicuous punctures separated approximately by 1 x their diameter. Head. 0.7 x as high as wide, in frontal view, equal to maximum width of the mesosoma between tegulae. Ocellocular distance 1.1 x the diameter of lateral ocellus, postocellar distance 2.1 x the ocellocular. Antennocular distance 0.5 x the diameter of antennal socket; interantennal distance 3.4 x the antennocular. Distance between socket and clypeus 0.8 x the diameter of socket. Malar space 0.2 x height of eye. Clypeus slightly curved in the basal margin; apex of clypeus in frontal view emarginate medially, apical margin recessed, epistomal suture distinct and curved medially (Fig. 5). Discal setae of clypeus vary in size, being the longest as long as height of clypeus, medially. Labrum small, distinct in frontal view, weakly emarginated apically. Labial palpus two segmented both segments equal lengths. Maxillary palpus five segmented; proportions of segments (length/width): 1.3: 0.3; 1.2: 0.4; 1.5: 0.4; 1.2: 0.5; 1.0: 0.4. Mandible with three blunt teeth, with setae varying in length, being the longest 0.5 x the basal width of mandible. Antenna with 13 segments tapering to apex. Scape subrectangular, shorter than pedicel and first flagellomer together. Proportion of flagellomeres (lengths), from base to apex 0.8; 1.2; 1.4; 1.4; 1.2; 1.2; 1.1; 1.2; 1.1; 1.1; 1.3. Flagellomeres with short, decumbent and abundant setae, longest setae 0.1 x as long as width of flagellomere; ovoid sensory plate, present on flagellomeres in varying numbers, 8 to 14 in flagellomeres 2 to 4, and 1 to 4 in flagellomeres 1 and 5 to 10; last flagellomer without sensilias. Mesosoma. 1.8 x as long as wide. Proportions of length of mesoscutum, mesoscutelum, metanotum, metapostnotum and propodeum in dorsal view, along median axis: 37: 33: 19: 4: 14. Pronotum not distinct, except for small part of pronotal lobe in front of tegula; ventrolateral angle rounded. Mesoscutum with parapsidal line and notaulus distinct. Metanotum subrectangular 0.5 x as long as mesoscutum. Propodeum convex, subrectangular in dorsal view, 4 x wider than long; spiracles loop-shaped and separated from the basal margin of the propodeum by a distance less than the length of the spiracle. Wings: Fore wing: 2.3 x as long as wide; marginal cell with anterior margin 1.6 x as long as posterior margin; basal margin slightly curved forward (Fig. 6). Hind wing with vannal lobe 1.3 x the length of submedial cell; seven hamuli. Legs: Slender; tibiae and tarsi with scattered weak setae; fore tibiae with 13 strong spiniform setae apically and along outer margin; mid tibiae with approximately 30 strong spiniform setae apically and along outer margin; hind tibiae without spiniform setae. Tibial spurs 1-2 - 2; anterior spur curved and weakly pectinate on inner margin; fore basitarsus with shallow strigilar concavity approximately as half as length of basal region, bearing strigilar comb of fine setae. Metasoma. 1.7 x as long as its maximum width. Seventh tergum with subtriangular shape and polished distal zone; lateral carinae well developed; longitudinal medial carina almost flat, uniformly increasing its heights from base to apex (Fig. 7 and 8). FEMALE. Unknown. Type material. Holotype 3: Argentina, province Catamarca, 10 km north Fiambal, 16 -II-07, Diez, Fidalgo (MACN). Paratypes: 20 3, same data as holotype (MACN); 4 3, same data as holotype (MLP); 4 3, same data as holotype (IFML). Province La Rioja: 1 3, RN 27 between San Ramon and Valle Vertil, 14 -XII-06, Diez, Fidalgo (MACN). Variation. The ocellocular distance varies 1.0 to 1.6 x the diameter of lateral ocellus; postocellar distance varies 1.5 to 2.3 x the ocellocular; antenocular distance varies 0.3 to 0.6 x the diameter socket; interantennal distance varies 3.5 to 5.1 x the antenocular distance; distance between clypeus and socket varies 0.5 to 1.0 x the diameter socket. In marginal cell, anterior margin varies 1.5 to 2.0 x longer than posterior margin. Conspicuous punctures separated by more than 1 x their diameter. In some specimens fore tibiae have 4 to 6 strong spiniform setae. Lateral carinae of seventh tergum may be poorly developed. Distribution. Catamarca and La Rioja provinces, Argentina Discussion. Plumaroides tapilophus sp. nov. can be distinguished from other species of Plumaroides by: ocellocular distance is 1.1 x the diameter of lateral ocellus in P. tapilophus sp. nov., while it is 1.6 x in P. andalgalensis and P. brothersi, and 2.0 x in P. tiphlus; length of anterior margin of marginal cell is 1.5 to 2.0 x as long as posterior margin in P. tapilophus sp. nov., while it is 2.2 x in P. andalgalensis, 2.8 x in P. brothersi and 4.3 x in P. tiphlus; P. tapilophus sp. nov. has long setae on coxa and femur of fore leg in dorsal view, while these long setae are absent on the coxae in P. andalgalensis, P. brothersi and P. tiphlus. Etymology. This species was named after the almost flat longitudinal medial carina of seventh tergum (from Greek tapeinos: low and lophos: crest).Published as part of Diez, Patricia A. & Fidalgo, Patricio, 2012, Two new species of the genus Plumaroides Brothers, 1974 (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea, Plumariidae) from Argentina, pp. 64-68 in Zootaxa 3188 on pages 66-67, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.28002