First report of Peckia (Squamatodes) ingens (Walker, 1849) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) colonizing human corpse in the Neotropical region

We report a case of male corpse colonization found inside a residence in the municipality of Areia, Paraíba, Brazil. The body was found in the gaseous stage of decomposition and was colonized by fly larvae. We reared the larvae collected at the crime scene on a temperature-controlled. We supplied beef as a feeding substrate for the larvae until adult emergence to allow taxonomic identification. Three specimens of Peckia (Squamatodes) ingens emerged in the laboratory. Thus, we present the first record of the flesh-fly Peckia (S.) ingens colonizing a human corpse in Neotropical region, updating the list of species with forensic potential. In addition, information on the total time of the species development and the implications of these findings for the consolidation of forensic entomology in the Northeast region were discussed

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

Sazonalidade e Padrões Diários de Atividade de Machos de Euglossina (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apini) e Preferências por Fragrâncias Artificiais em um Remanescente de Brejo de Altitude na Paraíba

Euglossina bees are distributed exclusively in the Neotropical Region, with around 200 species described. By the usage of artificial fragrances as baits, it is possible to accomplish faunistic inventories and study several ecological aspects of the group. To contribute to the knowledge of the biodiversity of a Montane Atlantic Forest remnant, concerning to Euglossina, seven fragrances were used as baits in different climatic periods. A total of 2,981 males belonging to 14 species of Euglossina were collected. Abundance and richness were higher in the dry period. Changes in the daily activity patterns were observed from a period to the other. Generally, in the rainy season the males were more active after 11am and in the dry season between 8am and 11am. Euglossa carolina (Nemésio), Eulaema nigrita (Lepeletier) and Eulaema cingulata (Fabricius) were the most abundant species on both periods. Ionone beta was the fragrance which attracted more species and specimens.As abelhas Euglossina ocorrem exclusivamente na região neotropical, com cerca de 200 espécies descritas. Utilizando-se fragrâncias artificiais como iscas, é possível realizar levantamentos faunísticos e estudar diversos aspectos ecológicos do grupo. Com o intuito de contribuir ao conhecimento da biodiversidade dos brejos de altitude, no tocante às abelhas Euglossina, sete fragrâncias artificiais foram utilizadas como iscas em um remanescente na cidade de Areia, Paraíba, em distintos períodos climáticos. Foram coletados 2.981 machos pertencentes a 14 espécies de Euglossina. A abundância e a riqueza foram maiores no período de estiagem, havendo variação no horário de atividade de um período para o outro. De modo geral, no período chuvoso os machos foram mais ativos após as 11h e, no de estiagem, entre 8h e 11h. Euglossa carolina (Nemésio), Eulaema nigrita (Lepeletier) e Eulaema cingulata (Fabricius) foram as espécies mais abundantes nos dois períodos. Beta ionona foi a fragrância que atraiu o maior número de espécies e indivíduos

Megasoma gyas rumbucheri Fischer, 1968 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae): first record from a Conservation Unit in Brazil

A single male of Megasoma gyas rumbucheri Fischer, 1968, an endangered subspecies, was collected during a study of insect fauna in a protected area of Caatinga, State of Paraíba, Brazil, being the first record of the subspecies collected in a Conservation Unit and the most recent record of the subspecies in latitudes above the River São Francisco

Ecological Roles of Coleoptera Associated with Carcasses in Caatinga

The ecological roles of Coleoptera fauna associated with pig carcasses exposed in a Caatinga area were examined. Tray, pitfall and modified Shannon traps were settled together to collect these insects during two seasons (dry and rainy). 4,851 beetles were collected, belonging to 19 families and 88 species. The most abundant ecological category was predator/parasite (72.7%), followed by omnivorous (15.1%), necrophagous (10.9%) and incidental (1.3%). Future researches on the biology of predator/parasite species are required to understand their possible forensic utility for postmortem interval estimate.O papel ecológico da coleopterofauna associada a carcaças de porcos em uma área de Caatinga foi examinado. Para captura desses insetos foram utilizadas armadilhas do tipo bandeja, pitfall e Shannon modificada, durante duas estações (seca e chuvosa). 4.851 coleópteros foram coletados, pertencentes a 19 famílias e 88 espécies. A categoria ecológica mais abundante foi predador/parasita (72,7%), seguida por onívoro (15,1%), necrófago (10,9%) e incidental (1,3%). Futuros estudos sobre biologia das espécies predadoras/parasitas são necessários para se determinar sua possível utilidade forense na estimativa do intervalo pós-morte

First Record of Scirtidae (Coleoptera) Associated with Decaying Carcasses in the Neotropical Region

During a two-year study on the insect fauna associated with pig carcasses in an Atlantic forest remnant in João Pessoa, state of Paraíba, Brazil, 127 adult Scirtes sp. were collected. This is the first record of specimens of the family Scirtidae associated with carcasses in the Neotropical region.Durante um estudo de dois anos da entomofauna associada a carcaças de suínos em um remanescente de Mata Atlântica em João Pessoa, PB, Brasil, foram coletados 127 indivíduos de Scirtes sp. Este é o primeiro registro de exemplares da família Scirtidae associados a carcaças na região Neotropica