Sazonalidade na nidificação de abelhas e vespas solitárias em ninhos-armadilha em área de Caatinga

Solitary bees and wasps that nidify in preexisting cavities were systematically surveyed from august 2004 to august 2006, by means of trap-nests technique, at the Estação Ecológica do Seridó, Serra Negra do Norte, Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil. Ten wooden blocks with 32 openings each, at 1.5 m above ground, with cardboard trap-nests of 4, 6, 9 and 12 mm of diameter, were placed, and inspected every 15 days. The blocks were installed in two landscape extremes points of semi-arid region, dry localities, without water storage, and near water bodies, with available water in dry station and associated vegetation. 368 nests were collected, 52 from nine species of bees, 243 from nine species of wasps. 73 nests were attacked by twelve species of parasites. In general, the number of nests of bees and wasps suffered significant reduction within during dry seasons. There was no record of diapause for bees but some wasp individuals of Trypoxylon lenkoi and T. sp.4 presented a delayed emergency of adults. This occasional diapause must be important for the population dynamics of these insects in the Caatinga region.A estrutura da guilda de abelhas e vespas solitárias que nidificam em cavidades pré-existentes foi sistematicamente investigada na Estação Ecológica do Seridó, Serra Negra do Norte, RN, no período de agosto de 2004 a agosto de 2006, por meio da técnica de amostragem em ninhos-armadilha. Dez blocos de madeira, com 32 orifícios, ocupados com tubos de cartolina com 4, 6, 9 ou 12 mm de diâmetro, foram instalados a 1,5 m do solo e inspecionados quinzenalmente. Os pontos de amostragem foram definidos considerando duas condições ecológicas extremas dentro da paisagem do semi-árido, locais secos, sem armazenamento de água nas proximidades, e locais próximos a açudes, com água livre disponível mesmo durante a estação seca. Foram coletados 368 ninhos, sendo 52 de nove espécies de abelhas e 243 de nove espécies de vespas. 73 ninhos foram parasitados por doze espécies de parasitas. Ocorreram diminuições no número de ninhos de abelhas e vespas coletados nos períodos secos nos dois anos estudados quando comparado aos períodos chuvosos. Não houve registro de diapausa para abelhas, mas alguns indivíduos de vespas das espécies Trypoxylon lenkoi e T. sp.4 apresentaram um prolongado período para emergência de adultos. Essa diapausa eventual deve ter importância fundamental na dinâmica populacional das espécies de abelhas e vespas solitárias da Caatinga

Morphological and molecular evidence for considering Xylocopa nigrocincta as the senior synonym of Xylocopa suspecta (Apidae: Xylocopini)

Xylocopa nigrocincta Smith, 1854, and Xylocopa suspecta Moure & Camargo, 1988, are two nominal species within the subgenus Neoxylocopa and have a sympatric geographic distribution in South America. While X. nigrocincta is recognized by the presence of reddish metasomatic bands, X. suspecta is entirely black. Although morphologically distinct in terms of metasomal band colour, other morphological characters suggest that both species could be the same evolutionary entity and therefore synonymous. The aim of this research was to review both nigrocincta and suspecta morphotypes using an integrative approach (morphological and molecular) to evaluate if they are truly two different evolutionary lineages. Females of both species were obtained from field collections and museums, representing a large part of their morphotype distribution. Additional diagnostic characters of the external morphology were investigated, such as metasomal band colour, metasomal punctuation, wing colours, and apical regions of the basitibial plate. Mitochondrial gene sequences (COI and CytB) were used for phylogenetic reconstructions. Our results showed that both nigrocincta and suspecta morphotypes are undistinguished based on morphology, although the metasomal band colour, together with the geographic distribution, revealed the presence of three distinct morphogroups, including an intermediate one with a variable number of reddish bands. Nonetheless, the three morphogroups are not supported by molecular data and therefore represent intra-specific variations. In conclusion, our results do not support the hypothesis that the two nominal species are distinct evolutionary lineages, and we propose a synonym between X. nigrocincta and X. suspecta

Sazonalidade na comunidade de coleoptera em duas fitofisionomias de Caatinga

Temporal variations in climatic conditions and trophic resources have strong influence on the abundance of insects in the xerophilous environments of Caatinga, being this tropical semiarid region characterized as having a long dry season and also a long rainy one. Two characteristic habitats in this region were investigated regarding the seasonal variation in the beetle’s fauna, near an evergreen riparian forest and at a deciduous xerophytic vegetation in Paraíba state, in northeastern Brazil. The aim of this study was to compare the seasonal variation in abundance, composition and richness of Coleoptera species in these two phytophysiognomies, evaluating possible evidences that mesic habitats serve, at least for some species, as refuges during the dry seasons. Weekly samples with malaise trap were carried out uninterruptedly in each area, during four years. There was a strong seasonal variation in the community of beetles in the xerophilous vegetation, with differences in the average number of individuals and species between rainy and dry season samples. However, no significant differences were recorded near the riparian forest. The species turnover was the component that contributed the most to beta diversity in both phytophysiognomies. The results regarding variation in richness and abundance of the species between dry and rainy seasons corroborate the previous evidences of the strong seasonality of the community of beetles in the Caatinga xerophilous vegetation, but the absence of such variation in the riparian forest is interpreted as an indicative of the importance of the mesic habitats as refuges during the dry season, at least for some species. Each species group must be studied in order to confirm the role of these areas in the population dynamics and in the permanence of active adult individuals during dry season.Variações temporais nas condições climáticas e nos recursos tróficos têm forte influência sobre a abundância de insetos em ambientes xerófilos de Caatinga, sendo essa região semiárida tropical caracterizada por uma longa estação seca e uma chuvosa. Duas áreas características dessa região foram monitoradas quanto à variação sazonal na fauna de coleópteros, próximo a uma mata ciliar sempre verde e em vegetação xerófila caducifólia no Semiárido da Paraíba, determinados pelos distintos períodos de chuvas e de seca. Diante disso, investigou-se a variação sazonal de coleópteros próximo a uma mata ciliar em relação a uma área de vegetação xerófila em região de Caatinga no Semiárido da Paraíba. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a variação sazonal na abundância, composição e riqueza de espécies nessas duas fitofisionomias e, avaliando possíveis evidências de que ambientes mésicos sirvam como refúgio para ao menos parte das espécies durante o período seco. Amostras semanais com armadilha Malaise foram obtidas ininterruptamente durante quatro anos em cada área. Foi registrada uma forte variação sazonal na comunidade de besouros na vegetação xerófila, sendo encontradas diferenças entre os períodos chuvoso e seco no número médio de espécies e de indivíduos por amostra, mas mais próximo da mata ciliar não foram registradas diferenças significativas. A substituição de espécies entre amostras foi o componente que mais contribuiu para a diversidade beta em ambas as fitofisionomias. Os resultados encontrados quanto à variação na riqueza e abundância das espécies entre as estações seca e chuvosa corroboram evidências prévias do caráter fortemente sazonal da comunidade de besouros em vegetação xerófila na Caatinga, mas a ausência de variação significativa próximo à mata ciliar é interpretada como indicativo da importância de áreas mésicas como refúgio durante a estação seca nesta região semiárida, ao menos para algumas espécies. Devendo ser estudado cada grupo de espécies para confirmar o papel dessas áreas na dinâmica populacional e na manutenção de indivíduos adultos ativos durante o período seco

ABUNDÂNCIA, RIQUEZA DE ESPÉCIES E SAZONALIDADE DE BORBOLETAS (LEPIDOPTERA:: HESPERIOIDEA E PAPILIONOIDEA) VISITANTES FLORAIS EM ÁREA DE CAATINGA E FLORESTA CILIAR NO SEMIÁRIDO PARAIBANO

As borboletas são visitantes florais frequentes e atuam como potenciais polinizadores. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a abundância, riqueza de espécies e sazonalidade de borboletas visitantes florais em área de caatinga e de floresta ciliar no semiárido paraibano. A guilda das borboletas foi estudada por meio de uma amostragem padronizada dos indivíduos em flores ou em vôo, ao longo de seis transectos em cada fragmento, capturada por um único coletor, através de redes entomológicas. As borboletas foram amostradas mensalmente, no período de fevereiro de 2011 a janeiro de 2012, durante um dia de cada mês, das 5h30 ás 16h30, com uma hora de intervalo a cada hora de amostragem. No total de 72 horas-rede de esforço amostral, registrou-se 47 espécies de borboletas, sendo 28 na caatinga e 42 na floresta ciliar. As famílias Hesperiidae e Nymphalidae foram as mais representativas em número de espécies, representando, em conjunto, um total de 57% na caatinga e 67% na floresta ciliar. Na comparação do número de indivíduos, destaca-se a família Pieridae, representando 54% e 69% em cada ambiente, respectivamente. A similaridade de Sorensen foi de 1,76 e cada amostra mensal, na área próxima à floresta ciliar, tendeu a apresentar um maior número de espécies (n= 12, z= 2,4318, p=<0,05) e indivíduos (n=12, z= 2,5103, p=<0,05) amostrados. Desta forma, o diagnóstico da diversidade das borboletas é fundamental, pois contribui para o conhecimento da lepidopterofauna da região, assim como o papel das florestas ciliares como refúgio em períodos desfavoráveis

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Sistemática, filogenia e distribuição geográfica das espécies sul-americanas de Centris (Paracentris) Cameron, 1903 e de Centris (Penthemisia) Moure, 1950, incluindo uma análise filogenética do "grupo Centris" sensu Ayala, 1998 (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Centridini)

<abstract language="eng">Systematics, phylogeny and geographical distribution of the South American species of Centris (Paracentris) Cameron, 1903, and Centris (Penthemisia) Moure, 1950, including a phylogenetic analysis of the "Centris group" sensu Ayala, 1998 (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Centridini). A cladistic analysis with the objective of testing the hypothesis of monophily of Centris (Paracentris) Cameron, 1903, and of studying its phylogenetic relationships with the other subgenera that belong to the Centris group, sensu Ayala, 1998, and the relationships among the species that occur in South America, is presented. Centris (Paracentris) is a group of New World bees of amphitropical distribution, especially diversified in the Andes and in the xeric areas of South and North America. Thirty-one species were included in the analysis, four considered as outgroup, and 49 characters, all from external morphology and genitalia of adult specimens. Parsimony analyses with equal weights for the characters and successive weighting were performed with the programs NONA and PAUP, and analyses of implied weighting with the program PeeWee. The strict consensus among the trees obtained in all the analyses indicates that C. (Paracentris), as previously recognized, is a paraphyletic group. In order to eliminate that condition, the subgenera C. (Acritocentris), C. (Exallocentris) and C. (Xerocentris), all described by SNELLING (1974) are synonymized under C. (Paracentris). The subgenus C. (Penthemisia) Moure, 1950, previously considered a synonym of C. (Paracentris), is reinstated, but in a more restricted sense than originally proposed and with the following species: Centris brethesi Schrottky, 1902; C. buchholzi Herbst, 1918; C. chilensis (Spinola, 1851), C. mixta mixta Friese, 1904, and C. mixta tamarugalis Toro & Chiappa, 1989. Centris mixta, previously recognized as the only South American species of the subgenus C. (Xerocentris), a group supposedly amphitropical, came out as the sister-species of C. buchholzi. The following South American species were recognized under Centris (Paracentris): Centris burgdorfi Friese, 1901; C. caelebs Friese, 1900; C. cordillerana Roig-Alsina, 2000; C. euphenax Cockerell, 1913; C. flavohirta Friese, 1900; C. garleppi (Schrottky, 1913); C. klugii Friese, 1900; C. lyngbyei Jensen-Haarup, 1908; C. mourei Roig-Alsina, 2000; C. neffi Moure, 2000; C. nigerrima (Spinola, 1851); C. toroi sp. nov.; C. tricolor Friese, 1900; C. unifasciata (Schrottky, 1913), and C. vogeli Roig-Alsina, 2000. The relationships among the subgenera of the "Centris group" were: (Xanthemisia (Penthemisia (Centris s. str. - Paracentris))). Centris xanthomelaena Moure & Castro 2001, an endemic species of the Caatinga and previously considered a C. (Paracentris), came out as the sister group of C. (Centris) s. str. A new species of C. (Paracentris) from Chile is described: Centris toroi sp. nov. Lectotypus designations and redescriptions are presented for Centris burgdorfi, C. caelebs, C. lyngbyei, C. tricolor, C. autrani Vachal, 1904 and C. smithii Friese, 1900. New synonyms proposed: C. buchholzi Herbst, 1918 = Centris wilmattae Cockerell, 1926 syn. nov.; C. caelebs Friese, 1900 = Paracentris fulvohirta Cameron, 1903. The female of C. vogeli Roig-Alsina, 2000 and the male of C. xanthomelaena are described

Relicthemisia, a new subgenus of the oil-collecting bee genus Centris Fabricius, 1804 with notes on distribution and host plants of C. xanthomelaena Moure & Castro, 2001 (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Centris xanthomelaena Moure & Castro, 2001 is a relict species, endemic to northeastern Brazil and broadly recorded within the semiarid region of Caatinga xerophilous open vegetation. It was originally included in the subgenus Paracentris Cameron, 1903 but posteriorly interpreted as remotely related to it or to the subgenus Centris s. str. Fabricius, 1804. In this paper it is proposed to recognize this species as the single member of the monotypic Relicthemisia, a new subgenus which belongs to the ‘Centris group’, one of the main internal lineages of the genus. The proposition of this new subgenus is based on both, morphological and molecular data which indicate its long history as a distinct lineage. Distribution records, floral hosts as well as photographs of both sexes of C. xanthomelaena are also provided

A new species of the bee genus Centris from Peru (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Zanella, Fernando César Vieira, Vivallo, Felipe (2009): A new species of the bee genus Centris from Peru (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Zootaxa 2175: 66-68, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27510

&lt;i&gt;Relicthemisia&lt;/i&gt;, a new subgenus of the oil-collecting bee genus &lt;i&gt;Centris&lt;/i&gt; Fabricius, 1804 with notes on distribution and host plants of &lt;i&gt;C. xanthomelaena&lt;/i&gt; Moure &amp; Castro, 2001 (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Centris xanthomelaena Moure &amp; Castro, 2001 is a relict species, endemic to northeastern Brazil and broadly recorded within the semiarid region of Caatinga xerophilous open vegetation. It was originally included in the subgenus Paracentris Cameron, 1903 but posteriorly interpreted as remotely related to it or to the subgenus Centris s. str. Fabricius, 1804. In this paper it is proposed to recognize this species as the single member of the monotypic Relicthemisia, a new subgenus which belongs to the ‘Centris group’, one of the main internal lineages of the genus. The proposition of this new subgenus is based on both, morphological and molecular data which indicate its long history as a distinct lineage. Distribution records, floral hosts as well as photographs of both sexes of C. xanthomelaena are also provided.</p