Species of Geotrupidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Coleoptera of the family Geotrupidae play an important ecological role in the decomposition of animal and plant organic matter. In Brazil there is little information on the diversity and distribution of this group, thus, this work had a purpose to study Geotrupidae species, occurring in Aquidauana, MS. A survey for geotrupids was conducted in Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Beetles were captured using a light trap over a period of two years, from January 2006 to December 2007. A total of 907 specimens were collected and identified to eight species. From the subfamily Bolboceratinae, the species identified were Bolbapium minutum (Luederwaldt, 1929) and Pereirabolbus castaneus (Klug, 1845). In the subfamily Athyreinae the species identified were Athyreus bilobus Howden & Martínez, 1978, Parathyreus aff. bahiae, Neoathyreus aff. julietae, N. sexdentatus Laporte, 1840, N. centromaculatus (Felsche, 1909) and N. goyasensis (Boucomont, 1902). Four species (A. bilobus, N. centromaculatus, N. goyasensis and P. castaneus) are reported for the first time in Aquidauana, MS, Brazil. The most abundant species, representing 85.9% of the total capture, was B. minutum. The greatest numbers of specimens was caught from October to December of both years of the study

Occurrence of adults and biological aspects of Geniates borelli Camerano (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae) in Aquidauana, MS, Brazil

Occurrence of adults and biological aspects of Geniates borelli Camerano (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae) in Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Due to the importance of Geniates borelli Camerano as a pest in many crops, studies were developed at Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana campus, MS, Brazil. Adults were collected with a light trap from January 2006 to December 2007. 3,320 adults were collected, and the highest quantities were obtained in October 2006 and November 2007, with 1,548 and 802 adults recorded, respectively. Collected adults were kept in plastic containers with soil and Brachiaria decumbens seedlings for oviposition. 535 eggs measuring 2.30 × 1.60 mm were obtained. As the embryonic development progressed, eggs increased in size to 3.00 × 2.70 mm, and this change occurred between 6 and 10 days after oviposition. The embryonic period lasted 17.9 days. The first, second, and third instars lasted 37.6, 49.7, and 74 days, respectively. The prepupal stage lasted 65.9 days and the pupal stage lasted an average of 18.5 days. The biological cycle is completed in 315.8 days, which characterizes the species as univoltine. The average longevity of females was 35.4 days and 28.5 days for males

Biological aspects of Leucothyreus alvarengai Frey and Leucothyreus aff. semipruinosus Ohaus (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae, Rutelinae) in crop succession at central Brazil

Biological aspects of Leucothyreus alvarengai Frey and Leucothyreus aff. semipruinosus Ohaus (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae, Rutelinae) in crop succession at central Brazil. Beetles of the family Melolonthidae make up a large group and some species are considered pests of planted crops. Little information is available on the basic biological aspects of the genus Leucothyreus, such as association with cultivated crops and their occurrence periods. Therefore studies were developed in soybean and corn crops in Tangará da Serra, Mato Grosso, Brazil, with the objective of studying the occurrence and biological aspects of Leucothyreus alvarengai Frey and Leucothyreus aff. semipruinosus Ohaus. For acquisition of immature specimens of both species, in April 2011 sampling was performed in corn fields, in July and October in the fallow area, and in soybeans fields planted in December; in 2012 sampling was performed in January and February in soybean fields and in March in corn fields. In 2011 the total number of larvae obtained in April, July, October and December were 100, 6, 30 and 27, and in January, February and March of 2012 these quantities were 32, 52 and 65 larvae, respectively. In all sampling events the larvae of L. alvarengai were collected in greater quantity. At the beginning of the reproductive period of L. alvarengai and L. aff. semipruinosus, it was observed that the adults began to fly and soon after started oviposition in the field in September. The appearance of larvae coincides with the time of soybean planting in the field, thus the larvae feed on roots of soybean plants at the beginning of their development and the cycle from egg to adult of the two species was completed in one year

Biological aspects of Cyclocephala tucumana Brethes, 1904 and Cyclocephala melanocephala (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

The studies were conducted on the biological aspects of Cyclocephala tucumana Brethes, 1904 and C. melanocephala (Fabricius, 1775) in Aquidauana, MS, Brazil. From January to December 2009 a light trap was installed to make collections of adults of C. tucumana and from January 2010 to February 2011 for collections of adults of C. melanocephala, at the experimental farm of the Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul. Adults were maintained in plastic containers with soil and complete plants of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf cv. Basilisk to oviposition and start biological studies. Adults of C. tucumana were collected from September to November in the field; the embryonic period lasted on average 14.7 days, and the first, second and third larval instars lasted 47.7, 66.1 and 78.6 days, respectively. Pre-pupa and pupa phases lasted 98.2 and 15.1 days, respectively, and longevity of the adults was 13.3 days. From the egg to adult stage of C. tucumana was a period of average 211.2 days. Adults of C. melanocephala were collected from September to October 2010 and February 2011. The embryonic period lasted 17.8 days, and larvae in the first, second and third instars lasted 22.3, 21.0 and 27.0 days, respectively. The pre-pupa stage lasted 11.3 days and pupa phase lasted 13.3 days. The longevity of adults was 26 days, and the cycle from egg to adult lasted 113 days

Esp\ue9cies de Scarabaeidae fit\uf3fagos (Insecta: Coleoptera) associadas ao sistema radicular de Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart. (Arecaceae)

A palmeira Acrocomia aculeata (bocaiúva) representa uma importante fonte de renda para pequenos agricultores que a exploram em sua maioria, na forma de extrativismo, e além da importância socioeconômica é abrigo e recurso alimentar para um grande grupo de animais. Entretanto, poucos são os estudos sobre a artropodofauna associada a esta planta, assim, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo conhecer as espécies e os aspectos biológicos dos coleópteros fitófagos da família Scarabaeidae que estão associados com o sistema radicular desta palmeira. A coleta dos Scarabaeidae foi realizada quinzenalmente, de abril a outubro de 2007, através de escavações realizadas na base das plantas, e os espécimes encontrados eram quantificados e conduzidos ao laboratório de entomologia para estudo dos aspectos biológicos. Foram coletados 150 espécimes de Scarabaeidae, dos quais 138 (92,0%) eram larvas, duas (1,3%) eram pupas e 10 (6,7%) adultos. As larvas foram encontradas em maiores quantidades nos meses de abril e maio, onde registrou-se respectivamente 4,88 e 5,38 larvas por planta. A maior quantidade de larvas foi encontrada em maio, onde registrou-se a média de 5,38 larvas por planta. As pupas foram coletadas em julho e agosto, e os adultos de agosto a outubro. Os escarabeídeos fitófagos encontrados associados ao sistema radicular de A. aculeata estão distribuídos em três subfamílias, cinco gêneros e sete espécies. As espécies encontradas foram, Astaena sp., Cyclocephala verticalis Burmeister, Leucothyreus dorsalis Blanchard, Leucothyreus sp., Liogenys fuscus Blanchard, Phyllophaga sp.1 e Phyllophaga sp.2. Os espécimes de Leucothyreus sp. representaram 30,8% do total de insetos obtidos

Bionomic data and larval density of Scarabaeidae (Pleurosticti) in sugarcane in the central region of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Bionomic data and larval density of Scarabaeidae (Pleurosticti) in sugarcane in the central region of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Phytophagous larvae of Scarabaeidae cause damage to diverse crops. Information on these pests is scarce; therefore, the objective of this study was to determine biological aspects and larval density of species occurring in an area of sugarcane. The studies were developed in Sidrolândia from April 2009 to March 2010. Scarab beetle larvae were collected in sugarcane roots every fifteen days, taken to the laboratory and reared to obtain the adults and determine biological parameters. A total of 2,656 larvae were collected, being 162 Liogenys fuscus, 120 Cyclocephala verticalis, 37 Cyclocephala forsteri, and 2337 Anomonyx sp. In January, 53.65 larvae m-2 were obtained, and the most abundant species was Anomonyx sp, representing 87.99% of the total larvae collected. From November to March, the greatest densities of Anomonyx were observed in the field. The adults of this species occurred from May to September, and egg laying from September to November. Eggs measured 1.1 x 1.7 mm, and incubation period last 15.4 days. First instar larvae were observed mainly in October; second instar larvae from November to April; and third instar from January to July. Pupae were observed from May to August. The most abundant scarab beetle, Anomonyx sp. in roots of sugarcane presents one generation per year in Sidrolândia, MS.<br>Dados bionômicos e densidade larval de Scarabaeidae (Pleurosticti) em cultura de cana-de-açúcar na região central de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Larvas fitófagas de Scarabaeidae causam danos em diversas culturas. Entretanto as informações sobre essas pragas são bastante escassas. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar aspectos morfológicos, biológicos e densidade larval de escarabeídeos em área de cana-de-açúcar. Os estudos foram desenvolvidos em Sidrolândia, MS, de abril de 2009 a março de 2010. As larvas presentes nas raízes de cana-de-açúcar foram coletadas quinzenalmente, levadas para o laboratório e criadas até a obtenção de adultos e avaliação de parâmetros biológicos. Foram coletadas 2.656 larvas, sendo 162 de Liogenys fuscus, 120 de Cyclocephala verticalis, 37 de Cyclocephala forsteri e 2337 Anomonyx sp. Em janeiro, foram registradas 53,65 larvas m-2, sendo Anomonyx sp. a espécie mais abundante, representando 87,99% do total. De novembro a março, foram observadas as maiores densidades de Anomonyx no campo. Os adultos foram observados de maio a setembro. A postura ocorreu de setembro a novembro. Os ovos mediram 1,1x 1,7 mm, com período de incubação de 15,4 dias. As larvas de primeiro ínstar foram observadas em outubro, as de segundo ínstar de novembro a abril e as de terceiro de janeiro a julho. As pupas ocorreram de maio a agosto. A espécie de Scarabaeidae mais abundante na cana-de-açúcar é Anomonyx sp., que apresenta uma geração por ano

Diversidade de besouros copr\uf3fagos (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) coletados com armadilha de intercepta\ue7\ue3o de voo no Pantanal Sul-Mato-Grossense, Brasil

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Occurrence, biology and behavior of Liogenys fuscus Blanchard (Insecta, Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) in Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Due to the importance of some Pleurosticti Scarabaeidae as agricultural pests allied to information absence on the species that occur in Brazilian Central-West region, on studies occurrence, biology and behavior on this group of scarabs were conducted. Biology and behavioral studies started with Liogenys fuscus Blanchard, 1850 (Melolonthinae), a very common species and were developed in Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul. Adult beetles were collected from light traps from February 2005 to January 2007, at the experimental farm of the Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul in Aquidauana (UEMS). In the laboratory adults were placed in plastic containers with soil with sprouts of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf (Poaceae). Eggs were transferred to a climatized chamber at 26 ± 1º C with a 12hourlight, 12hour darkness photoperiod cycle. Adult flight activity occurred in August and in September to December from 06:00 pm to 06:00 am, with the largest number of individuals flying from 07:00 to 10:00 pm. Eggs measured 1 x 1.5 mm and were laid individually or in groups in soil chambers; eggs were initially white and became yellow near hatching. The embryonic period lasted 14.3 days; first, second and third instars lasted 28.5, 48.8, and 68.2 days, respectively. The prepupal period lasted 120.2 days and the prepupa stayed inactive in soil. The mean duration of pupal stage was 27.5 days and the mean longevity of adults was 23.6 days. In laboratory the calling behavior between males and females was observed; copulation lasted, in mean, 25 minutes