Taxonomic study and population variation of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae and Diaspididae) and associated parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) in an olive grove at Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

This study evaluated the population variation of Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) and associated parasitoids in Olea europaea L. (Oleaceae) groves located in the municipality of Barra do Ribeiro (30°30′54.95″S; 51°30′20.84″W), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Eight samples were collected during the four seasons from November 2015 until October 2017; four branches with approximately 20 leaves were taken from12 olive trees (four each from Arbequina, Arbosana and Koroneiki varieties). The collected material was placed inplastic bags and taken to the laboratory for further study. Scale insects were slide-mounted and were identifiedaccording to morphological characteristics of the adult female. Parts of two branches and 40 leaves of each variety infested with scale insects were sectioned and placed inside glass tubes, labeled, capped with cotton, kept in the laboratory at room temperature and examined daily to verify the emergence of parasitoids. Parasitoid specimens studied were critical point dried from ethanol and point-mounted. Some specimens were slide mounted in Canada balsam for more detailed study. In all samples, the presence of H. lataniae, as well as six associated parasitoid species, were identified. Metaphycus flavus (Howard) is recorded for the first time as a parasitoid of H. lataniae. Two other scale insects were also identified: Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni Tozzetti) (Diaspididae) and Saissetia coffeae (Walker) (Coccidae), but the population data of these did not permit statistical analysis. A key to identify the scale insect species recorded on olive trees in Brazil, based on adult females, is provided.Fil: Wolff, Vera. Secretaria Estadual de Agricultura, Pecuária e Irrigação; BrasilFil: Efron, Caio. Secretaria Estadual de Agricultura, Pecuária e Irrigação; BrasilFil: Aquino, Daniel Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Tonietto, Adilson. Secretaria Estadual de Agricultura, Pecuária e Irrigação; Brasi

Natural Incidence of Egg Parasitoids of Edessa meditabunda (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on Crotalaria spectabilis in Campo Novo do Parecis, MT, Brazil

Egg parasitoids of the stink bug Edessa meditabunda (F) were studied on rattlepod Crotalaria spectabilis used in soybean crop rotation in Campo Novo do Parecis, Mato Grosso state, central western Brazil. Seven species of parasitoids were found: two Encyrtidae, one Eurytomidae, and four Platygastridae. The occurrence of Trissolcus euchisti (Ashmead) and Trissolcus elimatus Johnson (Platygastridae) on eggs of E. meditabunda is recorded for the first time. Moreover, this is the first record of T. elimatus and T. euchisti from Brazil.Fil: Golin, Vanessa. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Loiacono, Marta Susana. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Margaría, Cecilia B.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Aquino, Daniel Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentin

New World Stephanocampta (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)—descriptions of a new species from Argentina and of the male of S. masoni

The genus Stephanocampta Mathot (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) includes only two previously described species, S. yaosekoensis Mathot from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Mathot 1966) and S. masoni (Yoshimoto) from Costa Rica and Panama (Yoshimoto 1990). Here we describe and illustrate a new species from Argentina based on a female, illustrate both sexes and newly describe the male of S. masoni, and provide a key to differentiate females of the three species.Fil: Aquino, Daniel Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Triapitsyn, Serguei V.. University of California; Estados Unido

Revisión del género Polynema Haliday s.l. (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) en Argentina y paises limítrofes

La familia Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) de distribución cosmopolita, cuenta con alrededor de 103 géneros y más de 1400 especies descritas; incluye algunos de los insectos más pequeños conocidos y se considera uno de los grupos de himenópteros más comunes. Sus integrantes son endoparasitoides idiobiontes de huevos de insectos de los órdenes Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Ortoptera, Psocoptera y Odonata. El género Polynema Haliday se considera uno de los más dificultosos dentro de la familia Mymaridae y es actualmente un conglomerado de 270 especies válidas clasificadas en varios grupos cercanamente relacionados y poco definidos, lo que dificulta la identificación a nivel específico. El presente trabajo de tesis tuvo como objetivo la revisión de las especies que componen el género Polynema s.l. en Argentina y países limítrofes, para lo cual se realizó el estudio que contempló la catalogación y redescripción de los taxones conocidos, descripción de nuevos taxones y elaboración de un análisis cladístico de las especies estudiadas. En el tratamiento taxonómico se proporciona para cada especie una lista sinonímica, diagnosis, descripción de hembra y macho, medidas correspondientes, hospedador, distribución, observaciones, material tipo y material estudiado. Se utilizaron los caracteres empleados tradicionalmente en las descripciones agregando otros que resultaron diagnósticos. Se tomaron fotografías de los ejemplares estudiados, en particular de las estructuras morfológicas que resultan útiles para su identificación y diagnosis. Se incluye una clave para la identificación de hembras. Para la realización de este trabajo se estudiaron 4500 ejemplares procedentes en su mayoría de diferentes regiones de la República Argentina, asimismo se ha estudiado material proveniente de Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Paraguay y Uruguay. La mayor parte de los especímenes estudiados fueron obtenidos con trampas Malaise, Moericke y red de arrastre en varias campañas iniciadas y coordinadas por el Dr. Serguei Triapitsyn. Asimismo numerosos ejemplares estudiados han sido recolectados en las provincias de Buenos Aires (Tigre y Bella Vista), Misiones (Loreto) y Neuquén (Pucará), por el entomólogo Dr. Alejandro Ogloblin y depositado en la colección de la División Entomología del Museo de La Plata. Se incluye material obtenido en recolecciones personales durante el período de estudio en distintas localidades de las provincias de Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos y Misiones, asimismo material cedido en préstamo desde diferentes instituciones nacionales y extranjeras. El material obtenido de crías de cicadélidos fue cedido en préstamo por la Dra. Érica Luft Albarracín. Se efectuaron alrededor de 600 preparaciones microscópicas para el estudio de los caracteres y toma de fotografías. Se estudió el material tipo correspondiente a 14 de las 18 especies del género Polynema conocidas para el Neotrópico. Como resultado, se redescriben sobre la base del análisis morfológico, tres especies conocidas con el aporte de nuevos caracteres: P. (Polynema) haitianum, P. (Polynema) phaseoli y P. (Doryclitus) platense. Se describen 19 nuevas especies para la ciencia. Se describen por primera vez los machos de cuatro especies: P. haitianum, P. phaseoli, P. platensis y P. uruguayense. Se efectuaron tres nuevas combinaciones: Polynema albicoxa Ashmead a Acmopolynema albicoxa (Ashmead); Polynema porteri (Brèthes) a Agalmopolynema porteri (Brèthes); Polynema giraulti Perkins a Stephanodes giraulti (Perkins). Se amplía la distribución geográfica de siete de las 15 especies previamente conocidas en la región. Se registran por primera vez hospedadores para dos especies: P. haitianum y P. reticulatum. Se designó Lectotipo de la especie P. (Doriclytus) reticulatum. Se presenta un análisis cladístico cuyo objetivo fue establecer las relaciones entre las especies estudiadas. Para la realización del mismo se construyó una matriz de 33 taxones x 27 caracteres morfológicos, que fue analizada con el programa TNT 1.0 (Goloboff et al. 2003a), utilizando pesos implicados. Como resultado del análisis se obtuvo un árbol de máxima parsimonia (Fit=20.34; CI=0.405; RI=0.560). Como resultado del análisis se obtuvieron tres grupos conformados por los subgéneros preexistentes (P. (Polynema), P. (Doriclytus) y P. (Dorypolynema) lo que justifica la clasificación subgenérica. Asimismo, quedan conformados dentro del subgénero Doriclytus, los grupos de especies pallidiventre y polychrmum definidos por Triapitsyn y Aquino (2008).Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Revisión del género Polynema Haliday s.l. (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) en Argentina y países limítrofes

Tesis presentada para optar al Grado de Doctor en Ciencias NaturalesFil: Aquino, Daniel Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentin

Taxonomic study and population variation of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae and Diaspididae) and associated parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) in an olive grove at Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

This study evaluated the population variation of Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) and associated parasitoids in Olea europaea L. (Oleaceae) groves located in the municipality of Barra do Ribeiro (30°30′54.95″S; 51°30′20.84″W), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Eight samples were collected during the four seasons from November 2015 until October 2017; four branches with approximately 20 leaves were taken from12 olive trees (four each from Arbequina, Arbosana and Koroneiki varieties). The collected material was placed inplastic bags and taken to the laboratory for further study. Scale insects were slide-mounted and were identifiedaccording to morphological characteristics of the adult female. Parts of two branches and 40 leaves of each variety infested with scale insects were sectioned and placed inside glass tubes, labeled, capped with cotton, kept in the laboratory at room temperature and examined daily to verify the emergence of parasitoids. Parasitoid specimens studied were critical point dried from ethanol and point-mounted. Some specimens were slide mounted in Canada balsam for more detailed study. In all samples, the presence of H. lataniae, as well as six associated parasitoid species, were identified. Metaphycus flavus (Howard) is recorded for the first time as a parasitoid of H. lataniae. Two other scale insects were also identified: Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni Tozzetti) (Diaspididae) and Saissetia coffeae (Walker) (Coccidae), but the population data of these did not permit statistical analysis. A key to identify the scale insect species recorded on olive trees in Brazil, based on adult females, is provided.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Diapriinae Wasps (Hymenoptera: Diaprioidea: Diapriidae) Associated with Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Argentina

We provide an overview of diapriid wasps associated with ants in Argentina and the diversity of interactions they have developed with their hosts. As a result, we report 16 species of nine genera of Diapriinae, two new geographic distributions, three new association records, illustrations, and photographs.We highlightmyrmecophile symphylic species,with a high degree of integration with the host ants, adaptation being morphological and behavioral. A table with diapriid species and ant hosts is given.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo (FCNM)Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales (FCAF

Comparing Machine Learning and Optimization Approaches for the N − k Interdiction Problem Considering Load Variability

Power grids must be operated, protected, and maintained such that a small number of line failures will not result in significant load shedding. To identify problematic combinations of failures, we consider an N-k interdiction problem that seeks the set of k failed lines (out of N total lines) that result in the largest load shed. This is naturally formulated as a bilevel optimization problem with an upper level representing the attacker that selects line failures and a lower level modeling the defender's generator redispatch to minimize the load shedding. Compounding the difficulties inherent to the bilevel nature of interdiction problems, we consider a nonlinear AC power flow model that makes this problem intractable with traditional solution approaches. Furthermore, since the solutions found at a particular load condition may not generalize to other loading conditions, operators may need to quickly recompute these worst-case failures online to protect against them during operations. To address these challenges, we formulate and compare the performance of three simplified methods for solving the N-k interdiction problem: a state-of-the-art optimization approach based on a network-flow relaxation of the power flow equations and two newly developed machine learning algorithms that predict load sheds given the state of the network

First record of males of the invasive eucalyptus pest species Leptocybe invasa Fisher & LaSalle, 2004 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae) from South America

The “blue gum chalcid”, Leptocybe invasa is a pest of eucalyptus worldwide. It has an Australian origin and has expanded into Asia, Europe, Africa and America. L. invasa females were reported from South America in the last decade. Thelytokous parthenogenesis is the most common reproductive mechanism of this pest. However, male adults have been reported from Asia and Southeastern Europe. In this work, L. invasa males are reported for the first time from South America (Argentina) and information on morphological characters of males is provided. The importance of this discovery is highlighted based on recent studies that suggested the existence of two cryptic Leptocybe species in invasive populations.Fil: Aquino, Daniel Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Hernandez, Carmen Marcela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Andorno, Andrea Verónica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; Argentin

Managing Vehicle Charging During Emergencies via Conservative Distribution System Modeling

Combinatorial distribution system optimization problems, such as scheduling electric vehicle (EV) charging during evacuations, present significant computational challenges. These challenges stem from the large numbers of constraints, continuous variables, and discrete variables, coupled with the unbalanced nature of distribution systems. In response to the escalating frequency of extreme events impacting electric power systems, this paper introduces a method that integrates sample-based conservative linear power flow approximations (CLAs) into an optimization framework. In particular, this integration aims to ameliorate the aforementioned challenges of distribution system optimization in the context of efficiently minimizing the charging time required for EVs in urban evacuation scenarios.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure