Resumen Las avispas parasitoides Clistopyga misionensis Bordera & Sääksjärvi e Hymenoepimecis pucallpina Pádua & Sääksjärvi fueron descritas recientemente y solo se conocen de Perú y Argentina. Para ambas especies, los machos siguen siendo desconocidos. Aquí proporcionamos el primer registro de H. pucallpina para Brasil, Mato Grosso, y el macho se describe e ilustra por primera vez. También proporcionamos un nuevo registro de distribución de C. misionensis para Brasil, Minas Gerais. Se proporciona un mapa de distribución e imágenes.

Abstract The parasitoid wasps Clistopyga misionensis Bordera & Sääksjärvi and Hymenoepimecis pucallpina Pádua & Sääksjärvi were described recently and were known only from Peru and Argentina, respectively. The males of both species remain unknown. Here, we provide the first record of H. pucallpina for Brazil, Mato Grosso, and its male is described and illustrated for the first time. We also provide a new distribution record of C. misionensi for Brazil, Minas Gerais. A distribution map and images are provided.

Abstract Background: Chile is the second largest avocado producer in the world. However, there have been few studies on interactions between native bees and avocado pollination in a Chilean environment. The flowering period of avocado is very sensitive to temperature fluctuations and so environmental conditions, particularly cool temperatures, can have a strong influence on its floral behaviour. Thus, we aimed to determine whether temperature also influences bee visitation rates to avocado flowers or if this was due to the number of available flowers. Moreover, we proposed to verify the attractiveness of avocado flowers to native bees and compare flower handling time and type of floral resource collected between managed and native bees. Methods: An avocado orchard of “Hass” cultivar located in the Mediterranean region of Chile was studied during the flowering season of 2016. The frequency of exotic and native bee species in flowers, floral phenology, and environmental temperature were analysed, and the foraging behaviours of exotic and native bee species in avocado flowers compared. Results: Five Chilean native and two exotic species were recorded visiting avocado flowers at the studied orchard. The bees generally sought nectar rather than pollen. The European honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) was the most frequent flower visitor, followed by the native species Colletes cyanescens and Cadeguala occidentalis . There was a strong positive correlation between temperature and number of visits, but no significant correlation between number of open flowers and number of visits. Conclusions: Native Chilean bees visited avocado flowers and some of them were frequent floral visitors. They generally sought for nectar rather than pollen and were as fast as honeybees handling avocado flowers. The environmental temperature plays a key role in the frequency of bees in avocado flowers. The warmer weather is related to the higher number of bees visits to avocado flowers.

Lepidura Townes is a genus with an Andean distribution of the subfamily Mesochorinae, occurring in Chile and Argentina. Among the 14 species described, the males remain unknown in seven: L. callaina Dasch, L. improcera Dasch, L. mallecoensis Dasch, L. nigricephala Araujo & Vivallo, L. patagonica Araujo & Vivallo, L. seminitida Araujo & Vivallo and L. viridis Dasch. Based on the study of specimens deposited in the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia”, Argentina, the male of L. patagonica is described and illustrated for the flrst time. In addition, a new distribution record of L. olivacea Dasch in Argentina is also provided.

Lepidura Townes es un género con distribución andina de la subfamilia Mesochorinae, con especies presentes en Chile y Argentina. De las 14 especies descritas, los machos permanecen desconocidos en siete: L. callaina Dasch, L. improcera Dasch, L. mallecoensis Dasch, L. nigricephala Araujo & Vivallo, L. patagonica Araujo & Vivallo, L. seminitida Araujo & Vivallo y L. viridis Dasch. En base al estudio de especímenes depositados en el Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia”, Argentina, aquí se describe e ilustra por primera vez el macho de L. patagonica. Adicionalmente, se proporciona un nuevo registro de distribución de L. olivacea Dasch en Argentina.

ABSTRACT Mesochorus species are hyperparasitoids capable of nullifying biological control agents. This study is the first to map and predict the distribution of this genus in Brazil. Species distribution modeling was used to estimate the potential distribution of Mesochorus. We obtained 72 occurrence records of 49 Mesochorus species, being 30 endemics. According to our prediction model, this genus can be distributed in all Brazilian biomes, with higher suitability of occurrence in the Atlantic Forest and lower in the Caatinga and Pampa.

RESUMEN Las especies de Mesochorus son hiperparasitoides capaces de anular los agentes de control biológico. Este estudio es el primero en mapear y predecir la distribución de este género en Brasil. Se utilizó un modelo de distribución de especies para estimar la distribución potencial de Mesochorus. Obtuvimos 72 registros de ocurrencia de 49 especies de Mesochorus, siendo 30 endémicas. De acuerdo con nuestro modelo de predicción, este género se puede distribuir en todos los biomas brasileños, con una mayor idoneidad de ocurrencia en el Bosque Atlántico y menor en la Caatinga y Pampa.

ABSTRACT Orchidaceae is a diverse group with conservation issues all over the World. Due to its endangered situation, knowledge about its reproductive biology is needed to plan conservation strategies. We conducted a study during October 2016 and October 2017 in Maule region, Chile, and discovered the following unreported interactions: Colletes seminitidus Spinola and Astylus trifasciatus Guér. transferring pollen from Bipinnula fimbriata; Centris nigerrima (Spinola) transferring pollen from Chloraea bletioides; Cadeguala occidentalis (Haliday) flower-visiting Chloraea gavilu; Centris cineraria Smith and Megachile saulcyi Guérin-Méneville transferring pollen from Gavilea venosa.

RESUMEN Orchidaceae es un grupo diverso, amenazado en todo el mundo. Debido a su situación de peligro, el conocimiento sobre su biología reproductiva es necesario para planificar estrategias de conservación. Hemos realizado un estudio durante octubre de 2016 y octubre de 2017 en la Región del Maule, descubriendo las siguientes interacciones no reportadas: Colletes seminitidus Spinola y Astylus trifasciatus Guér. visitando Bipinnula fimbriata; Centris nigerrima (Spinola) visitando Chloraea bletioides; Cadeguala occidentalis (Haliday) visitando Chloraea gavilu; Centris cineraria Smith y Megachile saulcyi Guérin-Méneville sacando polen de Gavilea venosa.

ABSTRACT Bees have a diversified natural history, thus the methods applied to study such diversity are varied. When it comes to studies of nesting biology, bees which nest in pre-existing cavities have been reasonably well studied since researchers started using trap-nests. However, bees whose nests are built underground are poorly studied due to the difficulty of finding natural nesting areas and the absence of a method that facilitates bee nest excavation. The latter is evidenced by the lack of accurate descriptions in literature of how nests are excavated. In this study we tested cylindrical rubber refills of eraser pen as a new material to be used as a tracer of underground nest galleries in a natural nesting area of two species of Epicharis Klug, 1807 (Apidae). We compared this technique directly with plaster in powder form mixed with water and our results with other methodological studies describing alternative methods and materials. The rubber refill technique overcame the main issues presented by materials such as plaster, molten metal alloys and bioplastic, namely: death of the organisms by high temperatures and/or formation of plugs and materials unduly following the roots inside the galleries.