First record of epicadus trituberculatus (Taczanowski, 1872) (araneae, thomisidae, stephanopinae) in the Brazilian Northeast

We present the first record of Epicadus trituberculatus (Taczanowski, 1872) from the Northeast Region of Brazil. The new record is based on six specimens observed in two areas of montane semi-deciduous tropical forest located in two municipalities: Guaramiranga and Pacatuba, Ceará state, Brazil. Of the six specimens observed we collected manually only three to preserve as voucher material. In Brazil, E. trituberculatus has a wide distribution range, which extends from the Atlantic Forest, Amazon, and Cerrado biomes and the Pampa ecoregion. With the new record there are currently six known species of Epicadus in northeastern Brazil155937940CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPnão temnão temnão temThis study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil(CAPES), Finance Code 001 (G.A. Villanueva-Bonilla). We were also financially supported by the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia dos Hymenoptera Para-sitoides (HYMPAR/Sudeste – CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), and FUNCAP– BPI proc. BP3- 00139-00186.01.00/18 (research grants to J.F. Sobczak

First record of anelosimus jucundus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) (araneae, theridiidae) in the state of Ceara, Brazil

We present the first record for Anelosimus jucundus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896 for the state of Ceará, Brazil. We collected 22 individuals in three different ecosystems: (1) Mangrove swamps, (2) Caatinga-type desert vegetation, and (3) Montane semi-deciduous tropical forest. We corrected the misinformation of Levi’s 1963 Ceará record, was actually from the state of Pernambuco. Anelosimus jucundus presents a wide altitudinal distribution, which indicates that this species can tolerate a variety climatic conditions and can colonize a variety of sites with different vegetation155933936CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPnão temnão temnão temThis study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES), Finance Code 001 (G.A. Villanueva-Bonilla). We were also financially supported by the Instituto Na-cional de Ciência e Tecnologia dos Hymenoptera Para-sitoides (HYMPAR/Sudeste – CNPq/FAPESP/CAPES), FUNCAP-BPI proc. BP3- 00139- 00186.01.00/18 (research grants to J.F. Sobczak

UBVRI Light curves of 44 Type Ia supernovae

We present UBVRI photometry of 44 Type la supernovae (SNe la) observed from 1997 to 2001 as part of a continuing monitoring campaign at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The data set comprises 2190 observations and is the largest homogeneously observed and reduced sample of SNe la to date, nearly doubling the number of well-observed, nearby SNe la with published multicolor CCD light curves. The large sample of [U-band photometry is a unique addition, with important connections to SNe la observed at high redshift. The decline rate of SN la U-band light curves correlates well with the decline rate in other bands, as does the U - B color at maximum light. However, the U-band peak magnitudes show an increased dispersion relative to other bands even after accounting for extinction and decline rate, amounting to an additional ∼40% intrinsic scatter compared to the B band

Parasitoid-induced Mortality Of Araneus Omnicolor (araneae, Araneidae) By Hymenoepimecis Sp. (hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) In Southeastern Brazil

All species included in the Polysphincta genus-group develop as ectophagous parasitoids of active spiders, killing their hosts prior to pupation. However, little information regarding natural history and ovipositing behavior of most species are available. In this study we inspected 85 webs of Araneus omnicolor to evaluate the frequency of parasitism and host size preferences of the wasp Hymenoepimecis sp. We also described the web characteristics of normal and parasitized spiders and the wasp ovipositing behavior. About 41% of the adult females of A. omnicolor inspected were parasitized. The highest incidence of parasitism was observed among relatively small females while no egg or larva was found in large individuals. Araneus omnicolor builds a strong web composed of an orb and barrier threads, where the spider rests within a curled leaf. The parasitoid larva builds its cocoon within this refuge, and modified cocoon webs were not observed. The ovipositing behavior of Hymenoepimecis sp. was very similar to that of Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga parasitizing Leucauge argyra, including the position of the sting, the killing of a previously attached larva, and the expelling of the egg from the base of the ovipositor. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.943223227Blackledge, T.A., Coddington, J.A., Gillespie, R.G., Are three-dimensional spider webs defensive adaptations? (2003) Ecol Lett, 6, pp. 13-18Dubois, J., Rollard, C., Villemant, C., Gauld, I.D., The phylogenetic position of parasitoids of spiders within Pimplinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) (2002) Proceedings of the 20th European Colloquium of Arachnology, pp. 27-35. , Samu F, Szinetár Cs eds, Plant Protection Institute and Berzsenyi College, Budapest, ppEberhard, W.G., The natural history and behavior of Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) a parasitoid of Plesiometa argyra (Araneae: Tetragnathidae) (2000) J Hymenopt Res, 9, pp. 220-240Eberhard, W.G., Spider manipulation by a wasp larva (2000) Nature, 406, pp. 255-256Eberhard, W.G., Under the influence: Webs and building behavior of Plesiometa argyra (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) when parasitized by Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) (2001) J Arachnol, 29, pp. 354-366Fincke, O.M., Higgins, L., Rojas, E., Parasitism of Nephila clavipes (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) by an ichneumonid (Hymenoptera, Polysphinctini) in Panama (1990) J Arachnol, 18, pp. 321-329Fitton, M.G., Shaw, M.R., Austin, A.D., The Hymenoptera associated with spiders in Europe (1987) Zool J Linn Soc, 90, pp. 65-93Gauld, I., The re-definition of pimpline genus Hymenoepimecis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) with a description of a plesiomorphic new Costa Rican species (2000) J Hymenopt Res, 9, pp. 213-219Gauld, I.D., Dubois, J., Phylogeny of the Polysphincta group of genera (Hymenoptera: IchneumonidaePimplinae): a taxonomic revision of spider ectoparasitoids (2006) Syst Entomol, 31 (3), pp. 529-564. , DOI 10.1111/j.1365-3113.2006.00334.xLevi, H.W., The Neotropical and Mexican species of the orbweaver genera Araneus, Dubiepeira, and Aculepeira (Araneae: Araneidae) (1991) Bull Mus Comp Zool, 152, pp. 167-315Rehnberg, B.G., Selection of the spider prey by Trypoxylon politum (Say) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) (1987) Can Entomol, 119, pp. 189-194Tolbert, W.W., Predator avoidance behavior and web defensive structures in the orb weavers Argiope aurantia and Argiope trifasciata (Araneae, Araneidae) (1975) Psyche, 82, pp. 29-52Townes, H., The genera of Ichneumonidae, part 1 (1969) Mem Am Entomol Inst, 11, pp. 1-300Wahl, D.B., Gauld, I.D., The cladistics and higher classification of the Pimpliformes (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) (1998) Syst Entomol, 23, pp. 265-29

Natural History Of Interaction Between Meteorus Sp. Haliday, 1835 (hymenoptera: Braconidae) And Its Hyperparasitoid Toxeumella Albipes Girault, 1913 (hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) [história Natural Da Interação Entre Meteorus Sp. Haliday, 1835 (hymenoptera: Braconidae) E Seu Hiperparasitoide Toxeumella Albipes Girault, 1913 (hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)]

Some parasitoids build a cocoon mass that hangs in the host body until the adults emergence, which is an advantage against attack by predators who troll the vegetation in search of prey. However, such behaviour is not effective against the hyperparasitoid attacks. This study reports the interaction between the caterpillar Manduca sexta Linnaeus, 1763 (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) parasitised by Meteorus sp. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) larvae and its hyperparasitoid Toxeumella albipes (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae). This is the first description of the attack and oviposition of T. albipes.721211214Askari, A., Mertins, J.W., Coppel, H.C., Developmental biology and immature stages of Meteorus pulchricornis in the laboratory (1977) Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 70, pp. 655-659Eberhard, W.G., The natural history and behavior of Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) a parasitoid of Plesiometa argyra (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) (2000) Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 9, pp. 220-240Fuester, R.W., Taylor, P.B., Pent, H., Swan, K., Laboratory biology of a uniparental strain of Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an exotic parasite of the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) (1993) Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 86, pp. 298-304Gauld, I.D., Bolton, B., (1988) The Hymenoptera, p. 332. , Oxford: Oxford University PressHuddleston, T., A revision of the western Palaearctic species of the genus Meteorus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) (1980) Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology, 41, pp. 1-58Maetõ, K., Systematic studies on the tribe Meteorini from Japan (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) VI. The pulchricornis group of the genus Meteorus (2) (1989) Japanese Journal of Entomology, 57, pp. 768-777Maetõ, K., Phylogenetic relationships and host associations of the subfamily Meteorinae Cresson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) (1990) Japanese Journal of Entomology, 58, pp. 383-396Muesebeck, C.F.W., A revision of the North American species of ichneumon-flies belonging to the genus Meteorus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) (1923) Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 63, pp. 1-44Quicke, D.L.J., Mori, M., Zaldivar-Riveron, A., Laurenne, N.M., Shaw, S.R., Suspended mummies in Aleiodes species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) with descriptions of six new species from western Uganda based largely on DNA sequence data (2006) Journal of Natural History, 40, pp. 2663-2680. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930601121288Shaw, M.R., Huddleston, T., Classification and biology of braconid wasps (1991) Handbooks for the identification of British insects, 7, pp. 1-126Shaw, S.R., Braconidae (1995) The Hymenoptera of Costa Rica, pp. 431-463. , In HANSON, PE. and GAULD, ID. (Eds.)., Oxford: University PressShaw, S.R., Subfamily Meteorinae (1997) Manual of the New World genera of the family Braconidae (Hymenoptera), pp. 326-330. , In: WHARTON, RA., MARSH, PM. and SHARKEY, MJ. (Eds.). Special Publication of the International Society of HymenopteristsShaw, S.R., Nishida, K., A new species of gregarious parasitoid (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) reared from caterpillars of Venadicodia caneti (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) in Costa Rica (2005) Zootaxa, 1028, pp. 49-60Shirai, S., Maetõ, K., Suspending cocoons to evade ant predation in Meteorus pulchricornis, a braconid parasitoid of exposed-living lepidopteran larvae (2009) Entomological Science, 12, pp. 107-109. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-8298.2009.00301.xSobczak, J.F., Loffredo, A.P.S., Penteado-Dias, A.M., Gonzaga, M.O., Two new species of Hymenoepimecis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) with notes on their spider hosts and behaviour manipulation (2009) Journal of Natural History, 43 (43-44), pp. 2691-2699. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930903244010Stigenberg, J., (2008) Review of the tribe Meteorini Cresson based on Swedish material (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae), , Stockholms: Examensarbetee Zoologiska Institutionen Stockholms Universitet. ThesisZitani, N.M., (2003) The evolution and adaptive significance of silk use in the Meteorinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), p. 126. , Ph, Wyoming: University of Wyoming. D. DissertationZitani, N.M., Shaw, S.R., From meteors to death stars: Variations on a silk thread (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Meteorinae) (2002) American Entomologist, 48, pp. 228-23