Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are defensive compounds present in several plant families. However, some specialist herbivore insects have overcome these toxic compounds and sequester PAs converted to N-oxide as a defense against predators and a precursor of male sexual pheromones. In this context, we investigated PA sequestration by the specialist pericopine moth Scearctia figulina (Erebidae: Arctiinae), which feeds on leaves of Heliotropium transalpinum (Boraginaceae) as larvae. Additionally, we examined the role of PAs against different predators. The PAs sequestered from the host plant were metabolized by larvae and transferred to adults via two main pathways: (i) rinderine and its acetyl derivative (7S,3'R) were epimerized to intermedine (7R,3'R) and lycopsamine (7R,3'S), and (ii) insect PAs were biosynthesized from necine bases obtained from plant-acquired PAs, with necic acids of insect origin. Both metabolic products may be related to the biosynthesis of 7R male pheromone and to chemical defense. Larvae and adults were chemically protected against the spiders Nephila clavipes and Lycosa erythrognatha and the chick Gallus gallus, and this defense may be associated to PAs.

It is unusual to see a bird trapped in a spider web. Currently only 69 records have been documented worldwide, including 54 species of birds in 23 families. The family Trochilidae provides the greatest diversity of species caught in spider web. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the species most frequently caught spider webs. This note is the first report in Mexico of a record of a female ruby-throated hummingbird trapped in a web of the golden orb-spider (Nephila clavipes) in Novillo Canyon, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Es inusual ver un ave atrapada en una telaraña. En la actualidad sólo se han documentado 69 registros a nivel mundial que incluyen 54 especies de aves distribuidas en 23 familias. La familia Trochilidae aporta la mayor diversidad de especies atrapadas en telaraña. El colibrí garganta rubí (Archilochus colubris) es la especie atrapada con más frecuencia en telarañas. Esta nota registra por vez primera para México el caso de una hembra de colibrí garganta rubí atrapada en una telaraña de la araña seda dorada (Nephila clavipes), en el Cañón del Novillo, Tamaulipas, México.

Organismos de solo desempenham um importante papel em cultivos orgânicos de Crotalaria juncea (Fabaceae) e estão associados com a conservação natural do ambiente. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a população de organismos de solo no cultivo orgânico de C. juncea, bem como sua importância como um refúgio para inimigos naturais. Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Diabrotica sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Doru luteipes (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), Gryllus assimilis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), Lagria villosa (Coleoptera: Lagriidae), Melanotus sp. (Coleoptera: Elateridae), Meloidogyne incognita (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae), Nephila clavipes (Araneae: Nephilidae), Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), Pheidole sp. (Hymenoptera: Myrmicidae), Phyllophaga sp. (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae), Procornitermes sp. (Isoptera: Termitidae), Solenopsis sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) e Utetheisa ornatrix (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) foram identificados em C. juncea. Os organismos que foram encontrados durante um período de três meses em 144 trincheiras em C. juncea foram as espécies de pragas (84,47%) e inimigos naturais (15,53%). Inimigos naturais tiveram uma média de 11,89 indivíduos por 1,08 m³ de solo cultivado com C. juncea. A abundância de organismos na fase de vagem (5,49%) de C. juncea foi menor do que nas fases vegetativa (83,50%) e floração (11,01%). Plantas de C. juncea podem ser usadas como parte de um sistema de cultivo para o Manejo Integrado de Pragas.

Soil organisms play an important role in organic crops of Crotalaria juncea (Fabaceae) and are associated with the natural conservation of the environment. The present study was aimed to investigate the population of soil organisms in the organic culture of C. juncea, as well as its importance as a refuge for natural enemies. Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Diabrotica sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Doru luteipes (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), Gryllus assimilis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), Lagria villosa (Coleoptera: Lagriidae), Melanotus sp. (Coleoptera: Elateridae), Meloidogyne incognita (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae), Nephila clavipes (Araneae: Nephilidae), Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), Pheidole sp. (Hymenoptera: Myrmicidae), Phyllophaga sp. (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae), Procornitermes sp. (Isoptera: Termitidae), Solenopsis sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and Utetheisa ornatrix (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) were identified in C. juncea. The organisms that were found during a 3-month period in 144 trenches in C. juncea were pest species (84.47%) and natural enemies (15.53%) as well. Natural enemies had an average of 11.89 individuals per 1.08 m³ of soil cultivated with C. juncea. The abundance of organisms in the pod stage (5.49%) of C. juncea was lower than that in the vegetative (83.50%) and flowering (11.01%) stages. Crotalaria juncea plants can be used as part of a crop system for Integrated Pest Management.

Redescribimos taxonómicamente el gusano Macroperipatus geagy Bouvier 1899, a partir de 15 especímenes recolectados en los cafetales de hacienda El Roble, Santander, Colombia. De acuerdo con la reconstrucción en tres dimensiones de la superficie dorsal del cuerpo, las papilas primarias y accesorias de M. geagy se distribuyen sin formar un patrón determinado. Características diagnósticas: un diente accesorio y un diente principal en la mandíbula externa; y un diente principal, un diente accesorio y siete dentículos en la sierra de la mandíbula interna. Cuerpo: longitud (X=45.66; S=26.10 mm), peso (X= 0.95; S= 2.21) y pares de lobopodos (X= 28.13; S= 1.30). Se elaboró una clave para seis especies de Macroperipatus. La secreción adhesiva en estado líquido perdió 60% del peso inicial al alcanzar los 70 ºC, la muestra sólida perdió el 13% del peso cerca de los 90 ºC, la fase de estabilidad térmica de la secreción estuvo entre los 90 y 280 ºC en la secreción líquida y entre los 100 y 205 ºC en la sólida. La temperatura de inicio de la degradación de las muestras se registró a los 355 ºC. En comparación con la araña Nephila sp., el onicóforo perdió mayor porcentaje de peso y alcanzó la fase de degradación a temperaturas más bajas. Los cambios en el flujo de calor en la secreción adhesiva sólida y líquida de M. geagy fueron confirmados con el comportamiento de las muestras en el análisis de termogravimetría. La proporción de láminas beta calculado en el espectro infrarrojo de la secreción adhesiva fue del 59%. La presencia de este tipo de conformación de la estructura secundaria de las proteínas en la secreción adhesiva de M. geagy conferiría extensibilidad y resistencia a la tracción, en similitud con las fibras de seda tejidas por las arañas para depredación.

Velvet worm taxonomy from Santander, Colombia and thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy of the adhesive secretion (Onychophora: Peripatidae). Onychophoran worms are terrestrial organisms that have changed relatively little since the mid-Cambrian. We collected Macroperipatus geagy in coffee plantations at "Hacienda El Roble", Santander, Colombia, and here redescribe the species based on 15 individuals. A digital three-dimensional reconstruction of the ventral side of the body indicates that the primary and accessory papillae lack a defined distribution pattern. Diagnostic characters: one main tooth and one accessory tooth in the outer jaw, and one main tooth, one accessory tooth and seven denticles in the internal jaw. Measurements: length (X=45.66 mm; SD=26.10), weight (X= 0.95 g; SD= 2.21) and number of lobopods (X= 28.13 pairs; SD= 1.30). We present a taxonomic key for six species of Macroperipatus. The liquid adhesive secretion lost 60% of the initial weight at 70 oC (solid: 13% close to 90 oC). The stability phase of the liquid secretion was within 90-280 oC (100 oC -205 oC in the solid secretion). The starting degradation temperature of the sample was 355 oC. Heat flow changes in the solid and liquid secretions were confirmed by the sample behavior during thermogravimetric analysis. The percentage of β sheets calculated by infrared spectrum was 59%. In comparison with Nephila spiders, the onychophoran secretion lost more weight and entered the phase of degradation at lower temperatures. This secondary structure of proteins gives the onychophoran adhesive secretion a tensile strength and extensibility similar to those of the silk produced by spiders for prey-capture. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (3): 567-588. Epub 2009 September 30.

An ephydrid, Hyadina porteri Brèthes, 1919, is found to be a senior synonym of Hippelates australis Sabrosky, 1955. New combination: Liohippelates porteri (Brèthes). Two new species, Pseudogaurax souzalopesi from Peru and P. silbergliedi from Panama are described and placed in the synopsis by Sabrosky (1966).