Although seed dispersal by ants might reduce seed predation near the parent plants, predation on discarded seeds clustered on nest refuse piles may reduce any initial benefit provided by seed removal. Here we examine the fate of Croton sonderianus seeds that were discarded by Pheidole fallax Mayr ants on their nest refuses in caatinga vegetation of northeast Brazil. We collected all seeds discarded in refuse piles of 20 nests and within a radius of 50 cm from their borders, and examined them for evidence of predation. A total of 3,017 seeds were recorded either located in the P. fallax refuse piles (89.1%) or nest vicinity (10.9%). Predation was three fold higher in nest vicinity as compared to refuse piles. By removing seeds from beneath parent plants and relocating then to refuse piles, P. fallax is possibly providing double protection services for C. sonderianus seeds. Our findings represent the first evidence for predator-avoidance as benefit for plants resulting from ant seed-dispersal in the neotropics.

The objective of this research was to estimate the relative magnitude of effects included in contemporary groups (CG) and their interactions with adjusted and actual 120 d and 210 d weights in 72, 731 male and female Nelore calves born from 1985 to 2005 in 40 herds from PMGRN (Genetic Improvement Program of Nelore). Ten models with different CG structures were compared. The analyses were done using the general linear models (GLM) procedure run in SAS software. All of the effects included in the CG for each model were significant (p < 0.001) for the four traits analyzed. Inclusion of semester or trimester of birth as part of a CG was more appropriate than its use as an independent effect in the model because it accounted for interactions with the other effects in the CG. Calf sex (CS) and dam age at calving (DAC) had similar effects across the models, which suggested independence from other effects in these models. The corresponding age deviation effect had a larger impact on actual weight at 120 d than any other effect in all of the models tested. The use of actual weights in models with no CS effect in CG provides an alternative that would allow better genetic connectedness among CGs and greater accuracy in genetic evaluations.

a) Foram estudados os dois pares de áreas glandulares da largata de Sibine nesea. O primeiro par se localisa no 7° segmento abdominal enquanto o segundo está no 9° segmento abdominal. Estas áreas glandulares são semelhantes entre si em forma e função. São cobertas por espinhos que ficam em posição erecta e representam o aparelho inoculador. b) A cerda, pequena, se localisa na ponta do espinho com uma inserção modificada, de modo que sua base se afunila e ela se apoia firmemente sôbre a extremidade do espinho. c) O espinho representa uma evaginação da parede do corpo. É longo e apresenta em tôda a sua superfície escaminhas dirigidas para baixo e que aumentam de tamanho caminhando-se da extremidade para a base do espinho. d) A hipoderme que desce do espinho forma dentro da parede do corpo uma grande célula glandular que apresenta na extremidade apical uma zona radiada condutora da secreção dentro da célula. e) A hipoderme que desce do espinho é que vai formar o canal condutor da secreção que, saindo da célula glandular, vai ser conduzida e encher tôda a cavidade da mesmo e da cerda. f) O núcleo é fortemente polimorfo. g) A peçonha inoculada ocasiona irritações, queimaduras e mesmo flictenas na epiderme do homem.

a) The two pairs of glandular plains of the caterpillar of Sibine nesea are described. The first pair is situated in the 7th abdominal segment, whilst, the second one is found in the 9th abdominal segment. All the glandular plains demonstrate the same form and function. They are garnished with spines which allways remain in a vertical position and represent the inoculation apparatus. b) The little bristle lies on the top of the spine with a modificated insertion, so that its conical base is fastly fixed into the top of the spine. c) The spine represents an evagination of the wall of the body. It is alongated and possesses on the whole surface little scales which are turned backward and became greater near the base of the spine. d) The hypodermis, which returns back from th spine, forms in the wall of the body a voluminous gland cell which possesses in its apical part a radiating figure by of which is realized the excretion of the secretion liquid. e) The hypodermis mentioned under d forms the conduct canal of the secretion. After leaving the cell the secretion ascends and fills the cavity of the spine and the bristle. f) The nucleus is an extremely polymorphical one. g) The inoculated venom causes irritations, burnings and even formations of bladders in the human epidermis.

a) Es werden die beiden Paare von Druesenfeldern der Raupe von Sibine nesea untersucht. Das erste Paar liegt im 7. Abdominalsegment, waehrend das zweite im 9. Abdominalsegment gefunden wird. Beide Druesenfelder sind in Form und Funktion gleichwertig. Sie sind mit Dornen besetzt, die immer senkrecht stehen und den Inokulationsapparat bilden. b) Die kleine Borste liegt am Ende des Dornes mit einer modifizierten Insertion, so dass sich ihre konische Basis fest in das Ende des Dornes einfuegt. c) Der Dorn stellt eine Ausstuelpung der Koerperwand dar. Er ist langgestreckt und besitzt auf seiner gesamten Oberflache rueckwaerts gerichtete Schueppchen, die zur Basis hin immer groesser werden. d) Die aus dem Dorn zurueckkehrende Hypodermis bildet in der Koerperwand eine grosse Druesenzelle, die in ihrem Apikalteil eine Strahlenfigur zur Sekretausleitung besitzt. e) Die unter d genannte Hypodermis bildet den Ausleitungskanal fuer das Giftsekret, das nach dem Austritt aus der Zelle aufsteigt und den Hohlraum von Dorn und Borste ausfuellt. f) Der Kern der Druesenzelle ist sehr stark polymorph. g) Das inokulierte Gift verursacht Reizungen, Verbrennungen und selbst Blasenbildungen auf der Haut des Menschen.