ABSTRACT. This study is focused on the parasitic wasps Bephrata Cameron, 1884 (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae), a small and poorly represented genus in entomological collections. Herein we report new geographical records to Bephrata bahiae (Ashmead, 1904), B. bouceki Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. cultriformis (Ashmead, 1894), B. leptogaster Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. lorraineae Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. ruficollis Cameron 1884 and B. ticos Gates & Hanson, 2009. Except for B. bahiae, B. chica Gates & Hanson, 2009 and B. christeri Gates & Hanson, 2009, all other studied species were recorded for the first time to Brazil. Additionally, we provide maps with the geographical distribution of the studied species based on the new records and literature data, and an identification key for the species recorded in Brazil. With these new records there are currently nine species of Bephrata known in Brazil.

RESUMO. Sinopse das vespas parasitoides Bephrata (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Eurytomidae) no Brasil. O presente estudo tem foco nos Bephrata Cameron, 1884 (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae), um pequeno gênero de vespas parasitoides pouco representado em coleções entomológicas. Aqui relatamos novos registros geográficos para Bephrata bahiae (Ashmead, 1904), B. bouceki Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. cultriformis (Ashmead, 1894), B. leptogaster Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. lorraineae Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. ruficollis Cameron 1884 and B. ticos Gates & Hanson, 2009. À exceção de B. bahiae, B. chica Gates & Hanson, 2009 e B. christeri Gates & Hanson, 2009, as demais espécies estudadas foram registradas pela primeira vez para o Brasil. Adicionalmente fornecemos mapas com a distribuição geográfica das espécies estudadas baseados em novos registros e dados da literatura e uma chave de identificação para espécies conhecidas para o Brasil. Com esses novos registros há, na atualidade, nove espécies de Bephrata conhecidas no Brasil.

ABSTRACT Two new species of Protonephrocerus Collin, P flavipilus Skevington, Marques Rafael sp. nov. and P misionensis Skevington sp. nov. are described. The only other currently recognized species in the genus, P chiloensis Collin, is redescribed and genetic data ascribed to this species are transferred to P flavipilus sp. nov. All previously published genetic data refer to P flavipilus sp. nov. The first records of Protonephrocerus in Argentina are documented.

RESUMEN Se describen dos nuevas especies de Protonephrocerus Collin, P. flavipilus Skevington, Marques & Rafael sp. nov. y P misionensis Skevington sp. nov. La única especie actualmente reconocida en el género, P chiloensis Collin, se redescribe y los datos genéticos atribuidos a dicha especie se transfieren a P flavipilus sp. nov. Todos los datos genéticos publicados anteriormente se refieren a P flavipilus sp. nov. Se documentan los primeros registros de Protonephrocerus en Argentina.

ABSTRACT The number of studies on Neotropical mantises has been growing in recent years, and the systematics of Mantodea is now a dynamic field with noteworthy contributions. Several taxonomic revisions have been published recently. The taxonomy of Paraphotina Giglio-Tos, 1915 is reviewed as part of current studies on systematics of Neotropical Mantodea. Currently, Paraphotina contains four species from South America: P. caatingaensis (Menezes & Bravo, 2013) comb. nov., P. insolita (Rehn, 1941), P. occidentalis Lombardo, 1998 and P. reticulata (Saussure, 1871). Paraphotina venezuelana Beier, 1963 is a new junior synonym of P. insolita . Keys for the Paraphotina species are proposed. The distribution of Paraphotina species is apparently correlates with areas of endemism in the Amazonian and Cerrado regions.

Hesperioidea e Papilionoidea (Lepidoptera) coligidos em expedição aos Rios Nhamundá e Abacaxis, Amazonas, Brasil: novos subsídios para o conhecimento da biodiversidade da Amazônia Brasileira. Objetivando um aprimoramento do conhecimento da lepidopterofauna diurna da Amazônia brasileira, este estudo lista 180 taxa coligidos em cinco pontos distintos de dois afluentes do Rio Amazonas, envolvendo as áreas de endemismo Guiana e Rondônia. As coletas foram passivas e ativas e as diferentes localidades comparadas através de análise de Escalonamento Multidimensional Não-Métrico (NMDS).

Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea (Lepidoptera) collected in an expedition to the Nhamundá and Abacaxis rivers, Amazonas, Brazil: new insights for understanding the biodiversity of the Brazilian Amazon. Aiming at improving the knowledge of the diurnal lepidopterofauna of the Amazon rainforest, this study lists 180 taxa collected at five different points along two tributaries of the Amazon River, including the Guyana and Rondonia areas of endemism. The different localities were compared using Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling analysis (NMDS).

Adult triatomines occasionally fly into artificially lit premises in Amazonia. This can result in Trypanosoma cruzi transmission to humans either by direct contact or via foodstuff contamination, but the frequency of such behaviour has not been quantified. To address this issue, a light-trap was set 45 m above ground in primary rainforest near Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil and operated monthly for three consecutive nights over the course of one year (432 trap-hours). The most commonly caught reduviids were triatomines, including 38 Panstrongylus geniculatus, nine Panstrongylus lignarius, three Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus, five Rhodnius robustus, two Rhodnius pictipes, one Rhodnius amazonicus and 17 Eratyrus mucronatus. Males were collected more frequently than females. The only month without any catches was May. Attraction of most of the known local T. cruzi vectors to artificial light sources is common and year-round in the Amazon rainforest, implying that they may often invade premises built near forest edges and thus become involved in disease transmission. Consequently, effective Chagas disease prevention in Amazonia will require integrating entomological surveillance with the currently used epidemiological surveillance.

Adults of Tabanidae may become serious pests wherever they occur due to their attack to humans and others animals. Tabanids were captured near ground, water surface and at 25 m high on primary forests and forest gaps of anthropogenic origin, to understand their abundance, seasonality, diversity and similarity on such environments. Collections were carried out in the Base II of the War Instruction Center in the Jungle (CIGS) located at 54 km from Manaus municipality, Amazonas state. Two Malaise flight interception traps and four attraction traps (two suspended at 25 m high and two above the water surface of igarapé) were installed in forest gap and primary forest, areas for 10 consecutive days, during 15 months. A total of 2,643 specimens of 66 species were captured. Diachlorini (35 species /11 genera) was the most abundant tribe, followed by Tabanini (19 species /three genera), Chrysopsini (seven species /one genus) and Scionini (five species /two genera). Seventeen species were captured only in the primary forest, 11 in the anthropic clearing, and 38 species were common to both environments. The most abundant species were Phorcotabanus cinereus (Wiedemann), Tabanus occidentalis L, Chrysops laetus Fabricius and Tabanus angustifrons Macquart. The greatest richness was found in drier months (September/October) in both areas. Theforest gap showed higher abundance of specimens (1,827) than the primary forest (816). Traps suspended above the water surface were the most efficient (1,723 specimens) probably due to the dispersion of horseflies over small streams.

Em breve, um milhão de espécies de insetos estará descrita em todo mundo. O Brasil, com cerca de 9% desse total e possivelmente outras 400 mil espécies ainda não descritas, tem a maior diversidade de insetos. Mas temos cerca de 140 taxônomos ativos, o que significa aproximadamente 3.600 espécies de insetos para cada profissional. Como cada um deles publica em média 100 espécies novas durante sua vida profissional, seriam necessários 2-3 mil anos para descrever toda nossa entomodiversidade. Alguns dos problemas para o desenvolvimento da taxonomia de insetos no Brasil são: dificuldades em obter empréstimos de alguns museus estrangeiros; dificuldades para dissecar espécimes tipos emprestados; depreciação de revistas taxonômicas pela aplicação do fator de impacto; persistência da compreensão limitada do valor do conhecimento taxonômico; legislação restritiva para trabalho de campo; e desrespeito à legislação brasileira que regulamenta sobre o depósito de material biológico coletado no país. Para ações verdadeiramente efetivas para preservação da diversidade biológica no país são necessários: a criação de um centro nacional de informação sobre o conhecimento de diversidade entomológica; investimentos em conjunto de instituições que atuariam como eixos de desenvolvimento do conhecimento taxonômico; investimentos na formação de novos taxonomistas; soluções para os problemas burocráticos que inibem o cumprimento constitucional de conhecimento da biodiversidade; e ações altamente organizadas para conter o desmatamento em áreas de alta diversidade.

Insects will soon reach one million known species worldwide. Brazil, with about 9% of this total, and possibly another 400 thousand species yet to be discovered, harbors the highest insect diversity in the world. The country has a complement of about 140 active taxonomists, which means a quota of 3,600 insect species per professional. Each Brazilian taxonomist publishes, on average, about 100 species during a professional life span, so it would take 2-3 thousand years to only know the country's insect diversity. Some of the problems hindering the development of insect taxonomy in Brazil are: difficulties with international loans; difficulties with permission for dissecting loaned type specimens; low scientific esteem of taxonomic journals as assessed by the Impact Factor index; academic low esteem of taxonomy knowledge; legal restrictions to field work and disregard of the Brazilian legislation that regulates the final destination of biological material. If truly responsible actions towards preserving biological diversity are to be undertaken nationwide, key problems must be addressed and solved: creation of a national center of information on entomological diversity; investment in a core of institutions that would act as an axis for the development of taxonomic knowledge; investment in the formation of a new generation of taxonomists; elimination of bureaucratic obstacles currently hampering the accomplishment of the constitutional mandate for developing knowledge on biological diversity and developing organized actions to control the deforestation of highly biodiverse areas.

Eudorylas schreiteri (Shannon) é registrada pela primeira vez como endoparasitóide da cigarrinha do milho Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) no norte da Argentina. Uma tabela das espécies neotropicais de pipunculídeos com hospedeiros conhecidos é apresentada.

The big-headed fly Eudorylas schreiteri (Shannon) is recorded for the first time as an endoparasitoid of the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) in Northern Argentina. A table of known Neotropical pipunculid-host associations is presented.

A sazonalidade e periodicidade diurna de vôo de tabanídeos de dossel na Reserva Ducke, Manaus, AM, foram analisadas utilizando-se uma armadilha suspensa instalada a 20 m de altura, conectada a um cilindro de gás carbônico. Realizaram-se coletas quinzenais, com duração de um dia, no período de abril de 2000 a junho de 2001. O material foi retirado da armadilha em intervalos de 2h e acondicionado em tubos plásticos. Coletaram-se 955 indivíduos, correspondendo a trinta espécies. Philipotabanus stigmaticalis (Kröber) (37,9%) ocorreu ao longo do ano, com maior atividade de vôo entre 12:00h e 16:00h. Acanthocera marginalis Walker (16,3%) ocorreu ao longo do ano, sendo mais abundante nos meses menos chuvosos (julho a novembro), com maior atividade no período entre 10:00h e 12:00h. Acanthocera gorayebi Henriques & Rafael (9,0%) foi mais abundante em julho, com maior atividade entre 10:00h e 12:00h. Dichelacera damicornis (Fabricius) (10,9%) ocorreu nos meses de maior precipitação (janeiro, fevereiro e abril), com maior atividade diurna entre 10:00h e 14:00h. Diachlorus podagricus (Fabricius) (6,6%) ocorreu ao longo de todo o ano exceto em fevereiro, mostrando maior atividade entre 10:00h e 14:00h. Os fatores climáticos, quando correlacionados com a riqueza de tabanídeos, somente mostraram correlação com a precipitação; enquanto a abundância dos espécimes foi correlacionada com a umidade e com a precipitação.

The seasonality and diurnal flight activity of tabanids from canopy was studied at Ducke Reserve, in the county of Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil, using a suspended trap installed at 20 m above the soil, connected to the carbon dioxide gas cylinder. During one day, twice monthly collects of Tabanidae were taken from April 2000 to June 2001. The material was collected from the trap in intervals of 2h and placed in plastic tubes. A total of 955 individuals, corresponding to thirty species were collected. Philipotabanus stigmaticalis (Kröber) (37.9%) was caught all over the year and showed higher flight activity between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Acanthocera marginalis Walker (16.3%) was more abundant in the less rainy months (July to November) with a higher activity period between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Acanthocera gorayebi Henriques & Rafael (9.0%) was more abundant in July with more activity between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Dichelacera damicornis (Fabricius) (10.9%) was more abundant in the months of heavier rainfall (January, February and April) and showed higher diurnal activity between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Diachlorus podagricus (Fabricius) (6.6%) was caught throughout the year except in February and showed higher activity between 10:00 a.m. and 14:00 p.m. The climatic factors when correlated to the tabanids richness just showed significant correlation with precipitation, while the specimens abundance was correlated to humidity and precipitation.

É descrito um novo método de criação para imaturos de mutucas e discutem-se as vantagens do uso do substrato para manutenção de espécies que necessitam de longos períodos para o desenvolvimento.

A new method for rearing immature horse flies by using a substrate of bryophytes and sand is described and the advantages of such substrate for maintenance of species with long development periods are discussed.

Macrostomus ferrugineus (Fabricius, 1805), espécie-tipo de Macrostomus Wiedemann, 1817 e Porphyrochroa palliata (Coquillett, 1902), espécie-tipo de Porphyrochroa Melander, 1927 são redescritas e ilustradas a partir dos tipos. Os dois gêneros são neotropicais, considerados grupo-irmãos e suas sinapomorfias são apresentadas. São listadas as espécies pertencentes a ambos os gêneros e as espécies neotropicais que permanecem no gênero heterogêneo Rhamphomyia Meigen, 1822. Uma chave é fornecida para separação dos gêneros próximos e 25 espécies são transferidas ao gênero Porphyrochroa: P. abdominalis (Bezzi, 1905) comb. nov., P. argyrina (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. barueri (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. carrerai (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. catarinae (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. cyanogaster (Wheeler & Melander, 1901) comb. nov., P. digitata (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. distinctipennis (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. divisa (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. dolichocera (Bezzi, 1905) comb. nov., P. fasciventris (Curran, 1931), P. furcifer (Wheeler & Melander, 1901) comb. nov., P. galactodes (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. juri (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. micrargyra (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. monstrosa (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. mundurucu (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. mura (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. orthoneura (Bezzi, 1905) comb. nov., P. palliata (Coquillett, 1902), P. penicillata (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. perpulchra (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. pulchriventris (Bezzi, 1905) comb. nov., P. rotundipennis (Bezzi, 1905) comb. nov., P. seticauda (Smith, 1963) comb. nov., P. variseta (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., and P. wiedemanni (Smith, 1962) comb. nov. A lectotype is designated for P. palliata (Coquillett, 1902).

Macrostomus ferrugineus (Fabricius, 1805), the type-species of Macrostomus Wiedemann, 1817 and Porphyrochroa palliata (Coquillett, 1902), the type-species of Porphyrochroa Melander, 1927 are redescribed and figured from the types. Both Neotropical genera are considered sistergroups and their synapomorphies are presented. The species belonging to both genera, and those Neotropical species remaining in the heterogeneous group Rhamphomyia Meigen, 1822 are listed. A key to genera is provided, 25 species are transferred to Porphyrochroa: P. abdominalis (Bezzi, 1905) comb. nov., P. argyrina (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. barueri (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. carrerai (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. catarinae (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. cyanogaster (Wheeler & Melander, 1901) comb. nov., P. digitata (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. distinctipennis (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. divisa (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. dolichocera (Bezzi, 1905) comb. nov., P. fasciventris (Curran, 1931), P. furcifer (Wheeler & Melander, 1901) comb. nov., P. galactodes (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. juri (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. micrargyra (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. monstrosa (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. mundurucu (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. mura (Smith, 1962) comb. nov., P. orthoneura (Bezzi, 1905) comb. nov., P. palliata (Coquillett, 1902), P. penicillata (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. perpulchra (Bezzi, 1909) comb. nov., P. pulchriventris (Bezzi, 1905) comb. nov., P. rotundipennis (Bezzi, 1905) comb. nov., P. seticauda (Smith, 1963) comb. nov., P. variseta (Smith, 1962) comb. nov. and P. wiedemanni (Smith, 1962) comb. nov. A lectotype is designated for P. palliata (Coquillett, 1902).

Atividades de tabanídeos (Diptera, Tabanidae) atacando pato doméstico Cairina moschata Linnaeus (Aves, Anatidae), introduzido em área de floresta na Amazônia Central, Manaus, Brasil. São apresentados o hábito alimentar, comportamento de ataque, atividade diária e anual de adultos de Phorcotabanus cinereus (Wiedemann, 1821), Chrysops laetus (Fabricius, 1805) e Phaeotabanus cajennensis (Fabricius, 1787) atacando pato doméstico - Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758). As últimas duas últimas espécies são registradas pela primeira vez atacando aves. O estudo compreendeu observações mensais durante dois dias consecutivos de Abril/97 a Março/98, entre 5:30 e 18:30 h, na base de instrução 2 do Centro de Instrução de Guerra na Selva (BI-2/CIGS), Manaus. A ocorrência anual de P. cinereus, foi de julho a setembro, com atividade diária entre 9:00 e 17:00 horas, com maior abundância entre 12:00 e 14:00 horas. C. laetus, ocorreu de junho a outubro, com atividade diária entre 8:00 e 15:00 horas, e maior abundância entre 11:00 e 12:00 horas. A ocorrência de P. cajennensis com um espécime, foi em julho entre 10:00 e 11:00 horas.

Presented here are the feeding habits, attack behavior, daily and annual activity of adult of Phorcotabanus cinereus (Wiedeman, 1821), Chrysops laetus (Fabricius, 1805) and Phaeotabanus cajennensis (Fabricius, 1787), while biting a domestic duck, Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758). The last two species were recorded for the first time attacking birds. This study comprehended monthly observations of two consecutive days from April/97 to March/98 between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Army Instructional Base ((BI-2/CIGS) near Manaus. Annual occurrence of P. cinereus was from July to September, with a daily occurrence between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and highest activity at 12:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. C. laetus ocurred from June to October; with a daily occurrence between 8:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. and highest activity at 11:00 and 12:00 a.m. Occurrence of P. cajennensis with one specimen only, was in July between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Tabanid females are better known as hematophagous on man and other mammals, and linked to mechanical transmission of parasites. The association between tabanids and reptiles is poorly known, but has been gaining more corroboration through experiments and occasional observation in the tropics. The present study was conducted at a military base (CIGS/BI-2), situated 54 km from Manaus, Amazonas, in a small stream in a clearing (02°45'33"S; 59°51'03"W). Observations were made monthly, from April 1997 to March 1998, during two consecutive days. At the same time, other vertebrate animals were offered, including humans. However in this paper only data obtained on a common caiman, Caiman crocodilus (Linn.), and an anaconda, Eunectes murinus (Linn.), in diurnal observations from 05:30 a.m. to 18:30 p.m., will be discussed. A total of 254 tabanid specimens were collected, 40 from the anaconda and 214 from the caiman. Four tabanid species were recorded on these two reptiles: Stenotabanus cretatus Fairchild, S. bequaerti Rafael et al., Phaeotabanus nigriflavus (Kröber) and Tabanus occidentalis Linn. Diurnal activities showed species-specific patterns. The first three species occurred only in the dry season. T. occidentalis occurred during the whole observation period, and with increased frequency at the end of the dry season. We observed preferences for body area and related behavior of the host. Observations on the attack of tabanids on one dead caiman are also presented.

Four Chilean species of Empididae (Diptera) are revised: Aplomera pachymera (Macquart, 1838), A. gayi Macquart, 1838, Empis nudipes Macquart, 1838 and E. polita Macquart, 1838. Aplomera chilensis (Bezzi, 1909) was also studied and it is being considered junior synonym of A. pachymera. Empis nudipes Macquart, 1838 is confirmed to be a junior synonym of A. gayi Macquart, 1838. Lectotype is being designated for A. pachymera, A. chilensis and E. polita. Illustration of terminalia and photomicrographs of wings are also included.

The two species described in the genus Axelempis Curran, 1931, junior synonym of Macrostomus Wiedemann, 1817, Axelempis fulvithorax Curran, 1931 and A. fasciventris Curran, 1931 are redescribed from the types. The first one remains in the genus Macrostomus and the second one is transferred to Porphyrochroa Melander, 1928, here revalidated.