Zoologia (Entomologia)

""We provide an illustrated list of species belonging to the genus Symmachia Hübner, [1819] (Lepidoptera:
Riodinidae: Symmachiini) collected during an expedition conducted between September 10-21, 2011 in the northern
part of the Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, Acre, Brazil, a remote region of Amazon rainforest. A total of 46
individuals were collected belonging to 15 species. For all recorded species, drawings of male genitalia and behavioral
information are provided to support future studies on the taxonomy of the group. A new species, Symmachia divisora
Dolibaina and Leite, sp. nov., is described, and a revised status for Symmachia hetaerina hesione Stichel, 1910, stat.
rev., is proposed.""

""Despite figuring among the countries with high diversity of butterflies, Brazil has little information
available of its biodiversity. Paraná is one of brazilian states with the less known lepidopteran fauna. Only Curitiba
and vicinity have a list of butterflies species published, while all other Paraná regions lack such information.
Aiming to provide new informations about the butterflies fauna in Paraná state, this study compiles information
of 63 years of collect (1944 to 2002 and from 2005 to 2010) in Guarapuava and vicinity, south-central Paraná,
and emphasizes the typical grassland species, now nearly extinct in this region. Were recorded 689 species, 264 of
these were recorded only in one of the sampling periods. About 6% are typical grassland species and fewer than
half of those were recorded recently. Pieridae, Nymphalidae and Papilionidae latest records are more similar to
earlier records than Riodinidae, Hesperiidae, and Lycaenidae. We suggest the creation of permanent conservation
areas comprising grasslands, as they encompass a unique fauna and are threatened locally; furthermore, they are
not protected by any conservation areas already established in the region.""

Many countries regard the red lists of threatened species as useful tools for promoting the biological conservation. However, little effort has been made to gather base-line information on the presence and distribution of such species, or their conservation. Therefore, the present work provides new records of some threatened butterflies species distributed through Paraná, one of which is already included in the Brazilian red list, and thus complementing the knowledge of geographical distribution and conservation. In total, 15 new records belonging to 8 species are given, confirming past records, or representing new distribution records. The species addressed in our study are: Passova passova practa Evans, 1951 (CR), Zonia zonia diabo Mielke & Casagrande, 1998 (VU - Brazil), Alesa prema (Godart, [1824]) (VU), Symmachia arion (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1865) (VU), Cyanophrys bertha (Jones, 1912) (EN), Euryades corethrus (Boisduval, 1836) (EN), Charonias theano (Boisduval, 1836) (EN), and Pampasatyrus glaucope glaucope (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1865) (VU). Except for Charonias theano and Pampasatyrus glaucope glaucope, all species were recorded on the past three years (2007-2009). Approximately one-half of the records included here correspond to small conservation units located at the northwest and northeast regions of Paraná, while records from central-south region correspond to non-protected areas, specially the endemic grasslands species. From these new data, we suggest the following modifications to threat status: remove P. p. practa, C. bertha and S. arion from the red list. Z. z. diabo should be considered critically endangered (CR), while the status of E. corethrus should be revised to critically endangered (CR). We make no recommendations for change in status for A. prema, P. g. glaucope and C. theano.

""This paper provides the exact location of the first records from Brazil of Aricoris terias (Godman, 1903) and an
updated geographic distributional map of the species, extending the known range of the species over 1300 km. This is also
the first record of this species on a wet forest environment.""

"A new species, Mesenopsis jordana sp. nov., from southeastern Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São
Paulo is described and a taxonomic dichotomous key for species of the genus Mesenopsis is provided. Additionally,
mimetic models for species of Mesenopsis are suggested and a new distribution record for M. albivitta is provided."

"A new species from southern Brazil, Stichelia catarinensis sp. nov., is described and lectotypes for Charis dukinfieldia
Schaus, 1902 and Phaenochitonia bocchoris suavis Stichel, 1911 are designated. Phaenochitonia bocchoris suavis
Stichel, 1911 syn. nov. is considered synonymous with Amarynthis bocchoris Hewitson, 1876. Two species groups are
recognized: "cuneifascia" species group, including S. cuneifascia and S. catarinensis sp. nov., and "bocchoris" species
group, including S. bocchoris, S. dukinfieldia and S. pelotensis. Additionally, a taxonomic dichotomous key and morphologic
illustration for the species of the genus are provided."

"Three new species of Synargis Hübner, 1819, from Paraguay and southern and central Brazil are described: Synargis
fandanga sp. nov. from Paraguay (Amambay and Paraguari) and southern Brazil (Paraná and Santa Catarina),
Synargis rasqueada sp. nov. from central Brazil (Mato Grosso), and Synargis gorpa sp. nov. from southern
Brazil (Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul). Lectotypes are designated for Lemonias axenus Hewitson,
1876, Ematurgina axenus ochrophlegma Sitchel, 1911, Ematurgina acervata Seitz, 1932, and Ematurgina perrupta
Seitz, 1932. Ematurgina ochrophlegma f. dissimilis Hayward, 1949, is a new synonym of Synargis bifasciata (Mengel,
1902), and Ematurgina ochrophlegma f. distincta Hayward, 1949, is a new synonym of Synargis axenus (Hewitson,
1876). The revalidation of E. perrupta Seitz, 1932, and the new status Synargis ochrophlegma (Stichel, 1911) are
proposed. Ematurgina perrupta ab. roeberi Seitz, 1932, and Ematurgina bifasciata ochrophlegma ab. leucomelaina
Breyer, 1930, are considered unavailable names. Based on a previous phylogenetic hypothesis, the phylogeny of the
genus Synargis is reassessed, adding these new and revalidated taxa, and nine additional characters. The ‘Synargis
regulus’ species group and the ‘Synargis axenus complex’ are recovered as monophyletic, with S. gorpa sp. nov. sister
to the remaining species of the ‘S. axenus complex’. Additionally, an up-to-date geographical distribution map and a
dichotomous key are provided, and the taxonomy of the taxa involved is discussed."

Ectatomma parasiticum Feitosa & Fresneau, a new ant species socially parasitic on Ectatomma tuberculatum (Olivier), is described from gynes discovered in Apazapan, state of Veracruz, Mexico, and reared in the laboratory. Ectatomma parasiticum is the first social parasite described in the Ectatomminae. This species can be distinguished from its host by morphological and behavioral features characteristic of the inquilines known in other ant subfamilies including reduced size, thickened petiole, and agonistic interactions with host species.

The Neotropical ant genus Lachnomyrmex Wheeler, 1910 is revised for the first time. A revised generic description is provided for workers and gynes; males remain unknown. Morphological patterns combined with geographical data led to the recognition of 16 species, of which 10 are here described as new: L. amazonicus sp. n., L. fernandezi sp. n., L. grandis Fernández & Baena, L. haskinsi Smith, L. lattkei sp. n., L. longinodus Fernández & Baena, L. longinoi sp. n., L. mackayi sp. n., L. nordestinus sp. n., L. pilosus Weber, L. laticeps sp. n., L. platynodus sp. n., L. plaumanni Borgmeier, L. regularis sp. n., L. scrobiculatus Wheeler, and L. victori sp. n. The gynes of L. grandis, L. haskinsi, and L. pilosus are described for the first time. Illustrated identification keys for workers, distribution maps, and high resolution illustrations are supplied for all species. Some Lachnomyrmex species are relatively common in the leaf-litter of submontane wet forests in Central and South America; others remain known by very few individuals. The relatively small and apparently monogynic Lachnomyrmex colonies inhabit small nests in the ground, among rotten leaves and inside fallen logs. Workers generally forage alone on the ground or within the leaf litter, but have been recorded also on tree trunks, and apparently do not recruit nestmates.

Simopelta minima (Brandão, 1989) was originally described based on four workers collected in soil samples from a small cocoa plantation in Ilhéus, state of Bahia, eastern Brazil. In the subsequent years after the description, this cocoa plantation was eliminated and the species was then considered extinct by the Brazilian environmental institutions. The recent rediscovery of S. minima workers in subterranean pitfall trap samples from Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, over 1.000 km distant from type locality, suggests that the rarity and vulnerability status of some ant species may be explained by insufficient sampling of adequate microhabitats, in time and space.

The ant genus Sphinctomyrmex has been represented in the Neotropical Region until now by a single species, S. stali, known only from sparse localities in southeastern Brazil. Two new neotropical species are herein described, S. marcoyi sp. n. and S. schoerederi sp. n. from workers collected in the Brazilian Amazon and Atlantic Forest, respectively. New records for Sphinctomyrmex stali are presented, and the species is redescribed together with discussions on its high morphological variation and the identity of its type specimen. A key for the neotropical Sphinctomyrmex workers, images of all species presently known, and a distribution map are supplied.

Large-scale agricultural production in Brazil preferentially occupies plateaus reclaimed from areas originally covered by Cerrado (savanna). Depending on the region, a percentage of the pristine vegetation coverage must be preserved by law, resulting in the creation of fragmented legal Cerrado reserves. The geometry of these relatively small legal reserves creates new habitat edges and ecotones, whose effects on the invertebrate fauna are poorly understood. This study aims to assess the effects of abrupt edges resulting from soy production on ground-dwelling ant assemblages in the Brazilian Cerrado. The study sites are located within the Amazon region, in the state of Maranhão, northern Brazil, but were covered by Cerrado, irregularly inter-spaced with gallery forests along streams, and covering a relatively low plateau. We compared species richness and species composition of ground-dwelling ants along eight transects set 0, 50 100 150 200 and 250 m into the sensu stricto Cerrado and 50 m and 100 m into the soy field. The collecting periods covered the wet and dry seasons. Effects on ant species richness were non-significant, although composition of the assemblages was significantly affected by edge effects, which were, in part, found to be species specific. We hypothesize that edge effects are probably greater than estimated because of the shape and complexity of reserves. Consideration of edge effects in the Cerrado Biome should enable the design of appropriate reserve sizes and shapes to meet conservation goals.

O presente trabalho trata de um levantamento da fauna de formigas de serapilheira de uma área de Floresta Atlântica localizada no Parque Estadual da Cantareira - SP, complementar ao projeto “Riqueza e diversidade de Hymenoptera e Isoptera ao longo de um gradiente latitudinal na Mata Atlântica - a floresta pluvial do leste do Brasil”, que integra o programa BIOTA-FAPESP.
Adotamos o protocolo do projeto, coletando 50 amostras de 1 m2 de serapilheira que foram peneiradas e submetidas ao extrator de Winkler por 48 horas. Coletamos 62 espécies de 25 gêneros em oito subfamílias de formigas, sendo Myrmicinae a mais rica em espécies (39), seguida por Ponerinae (14), Ectatomminae, Heteroponerinae e Formicinae (duas cada), Amblyoponinae, Proceratiinae e Dolichoderinae (uma cada). Os gêneros mais ricos em morfoespécies foram Solenopsis e Hypoponera (12 cada) e Pheidole (oito). Estimadores de riqueza apontaram o número total de espécies da localidade, num intervalo de confiança de 95%, entre 68 e 85. Em comparação, outras localidades de mata atlântica sempre úmida têm mostrado uma riqueza significativamente maior. Nossa hipótese é que a proximidade de regiões de grande concentração urbana, aliada a fatores que operam em escala local, altera a estrutura da comunidade local de formigas de serapilheira.

Gnamptogenys concinna is the only Neotropical ant that is authentically arboreal in the genus Gnamptogenys; it is also the one with the largest size. It is poorly known as rarely sampled. We present hereafter new localities for this species, in particular the first records for French Guiana and the Atlantic rain forest of Brazil, with a map of distribution. Its great ecological success is due to the morphological divergence between G. concinna and the other Neotropical Gnamptogenys, as well as the conquest of canopy, vegetation stratum unexploited by other species in the same genus, through evolutionary mechanisms for which different hypotheses are formulated.

I present and discuss the most recent and significant changes in the classification of the major ant groups, with emphasis on the Neotropical subfamilies, comparing recent and the past proposals. In addition, I comment some of in progress studies that may affect significantly the knowledge on the relations between these groups, reflected in the current taxonomic classification of ants.
Myrmecology deals with the several aspects of the study of a single family, Formicidae, which, however, shows comparatively high biodiversity. Still, the subarea can be considered to be a privileged within Zoology by the significant number of active myrmecologists compared to researchers that work with similar taxonomic categories. This has contributed significantly to the knowledge so far accumulated on the group.
  Over the past few years, myrmecologists have seen the construction of Barry Bolton´s contribution expressed in two catalogs, one illustrated key for genera of the world, a complete ant taxonomic bibliography, and a complete reorganization of the world subfamilies (Bolton 1994, Bolton 1995, Bolton 2003, Bolton et al., 2006). Although not based on explicit phylogenetic analysis, Bolton inferred the phylogenetic relationships employed in their proposals for classification using his expertise in comparative morphology. The accuracy of his classifications is made evident when we examine the recent proposals of ant phylogeny using molecular characters; many of the groups proposed by Bolton are retrieved under different approaches. The internal phylogenetic relationships of Formicidae are, however, far from being satisfactorily known, representing an important source of present discussion in the literature.
  Recent findings derived from the use of new tools for making phylogenetic inferences and differences of opinion among ant systematists regarding the position of some groups make the classification of higher taxonomic groups rather unstable and provide a relative accumulation of proposals that can somehow hinder the communication among myrmecologists, especially those who not employ systematics as the main work tool, but need to make use of accurate and recent classifications for the development and dissemination of their work.
  When published in accordance with the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a proposed classification is immediately valid. However, contrary to what many researchers believe, the novel classification does not need to be adopted in ongoing studies. Theoretically, when an author (whether taxonomist, ecologist, ethologist, or specialist in any other discipline) uses a specific classification in his work, it means that he/she knows and agrees with the criteria used by the author to build the classification. Thus, it is unwise to use a classification proposal without knowing its contents. Furthermore, by adopting a proposal different from the most recent classification, the author should be able to justify his/her choice and so to judge the merits of different proposals.

A new myrmicine ant, Tropidomyrmex elianae gen. n. & sp. n., is described from southeastern and central Brazil, based on workers,  ergatoid gynes, males and larvae. Tropidomyrmex workers are relatively small, monomorphic, characterized mainly by the feebly pigmented and extremely thin integument; subfalcate mandibles bearing a single apical tooth; palpal formula 1,2; clypeus relatively broad and convex; reduced compound eyes; propodeum unarmed and with a strongly medially depressed declivous face; double and bilobed well developed subpostpetiolar processes; and peculiarities in the sting apparatus. A colony fragment of T. elianae containing workers, ergatoid gynes, males, and brood was found inside a ground termite nest (Anoplotermes pacificus Apicotermitinae) in a montane rocky scrubland in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Tropidomyrmex elianae is known also from two workers collected in leaf litter samples processed with a Winkler extractor, from the state of Tocantins, central-north Brazil. Despite the differences from the accepted solenopsidine genera, Tropidomyrmex is tentatively assigned to this tribe. Within the solenopsidine ants, the genus is apparently related to Tranopelta. Tropidomyrmex is marked by extreme reductions, perhaps reflecting adaptations to particular habits and habitats.