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Abstract Scoliidae is a family commonly found throughout the globe and, currently, one of the most neglected taxa within the Hymenoptera. As expected, information about this group is extremely scarce, confusing, and outdated, especially when it comes to its taxonomy and systematics. Therefore, here the genus Aelocampsomeris Bradley, 1957 is revised. This genus comprises three species: Aelocampsomeris brethesi Bradley, 1927, Aelocampsomeris campestris Burmeister, 1854, and Aelocampsomeris variegata Fabricius, 1793. While Aelocampsomeris variegata, is a very common and well-known species, Aelocampsomeris brethesi, and Aelocampsomeris campestris, remain much less known. Examination of the male and female type specimens, as well as new specimens, allowed an accurate review. We provide a detailed morphological redescription, illustrations and a species key.

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ABSTRACT Soil-dwelling pests, such as Phyllophaga larvae, pose significant challenges to agriculture as they feed on crop roots, causing substantial losses. Their hidden behavior within the soil further complicates monitoring and control efforts. Traditional methods, such as manual excavation and acoustic detection, are often invasive, labor-intensive, or limited in precision. To address these challenges, this study aimed to establish a reliable methodology to study larval trajectories and responses within the soil environment without disturbing its natural behavior. This study describes the development of an innovative system for precise tracking of these larvae, combining magnetic markers with an array of magnetoresistive sensors. Larvae were tagged with neodymium magnets and tracked using an array of 64 anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors while being attracted by food sources and repelled by electrical stimuli. The movement of larvae marked with magnetic tags and attracted by Zea mays and Solanum tuberosum roots was successfully monitored. The system was validated using a 3D printer framework as a reference, achieving high accuracy with minimal uncertainty. Adjustments were made to the z-axis to account for variations in the distance between the magnet and the sensor array. Experiments demonstrated the ability to guide larval behavior through controlled electrical stimuli, confirming the system's utility for monitoring and behavioral studies. This approach offers significant improvements over traditional methods by preserving soil integrity, enhancing precision, and enabling real-time tracking. The findings provide a valuable tool for understanding subterranean pest dynamics and support the development of sustainable pest management strategies in agriculture.

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ABSTRACT Mcclungia fallensstat. rest. is a butterfly species found in lowland warm forests in the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, and Bahia states. Due to its limited range, it is currently considered Critically Endangered in Brazil. However, a recent field trip to the fully protected Reserva Biológica (Rebio) União reserve in Rio de Janeiro revealed a large colony of about 50 individuals, enabling observations and fresh material collection for molecular studies. Based on molecular and morphological data, M. fallens stat. rest. was recovered as a distinct species rather than a subspecies of M. cymo. According to IUCN guidelines, its Extent of Occurrence (EOO) suggests it should be classified as Least Concern, while the Area of Occupancy (AOO) suggests Endangered. However, due to insufficient life history data, using the AOO threshold is discouraged, leading to a more conservative Least Concern classification. Further research is essential to confirm the presence of M. fallens stat. rest. presence in historically recorded locations, especially inland areas where forests have been largely cleared. Additional studies in areas like Rebio União could yield crucial data on population size, longevity, sex ratios, and behavior, aiding in its conservation assessment and planning.

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ABSTRACT The Neotropical genus Xanthozona Townsend, 1908 (Diptera: Tachinidae) comprises species that serve as important parasitoids of palm tree pests, particularly the larvae of Brassolis Fabricius, 1807 and Opsiphanes Doubleday, [1849]. However, its host range, distribution, taxonomy, and relationships with similar genera have remained unclear. Here, the taxonomy of Xanthozona is revised, with two new junior synonyms proposed: Jurinia scutellaris Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 = Jurinia indica Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, syn. nov. = Tachina melanopyga Wiedemann, 1830, syn. nov. As a result, X. scutellaris (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) is recognized as the sole representative of the genus. An illustrated key to Tachinini genera that are similar to Xanthozona Townsend, 1908, is provided, highlighting the most useful diagnostic characters. Redescriptions and illustrations of males, females, and the puparium are presented, alongside the first description of the first-instar larva. The classification, distribution and host range of X. scutellaris have been reassessed, and significant misconceptions regarding its oviposition strategy are discussed.

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ABSTRACT A new subspecies of Heliconiini, Eueides tales forsteri ssp. nov. Freitas, Winhard & Brown is described from the southeastern Marajó Island, Pará, northern Brazil. This subspecies is characterized by the strongly reduced postdiscal yellow spots on the forewing and by the presence of red dennis-ray pattern on the hindwing. This subspecies is only known from its type locality, in the municipality of Soure, but it should be present in other areas in the southeastern region of the Marajó island.

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ABSTRACT The green-belly stink bug is an early pest in the second crop of corn, following soybean. The dynamics of infestations by this pest in systems where corn is defoliated in the early stages is still unknown. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the feeding of the stink bug on corn subjected to early defoliation. In a greenhouse, used a 2 x 4 factorial design, with two cultivars: BRS3042 VTPRO2 and 1F640PRO2, and four treatments: Without stink bug and with plant cutting (WSB-C); With stink bug before cutting (SB-BC); With stink bug after cutting (SB-AC); With stink bug and without cutting (SB-WC), with ten repetitions. Cutting of the plants was performed at the V3 stage, at a height of five centimeters above the soil. Infestation with stink bugs was carried out five days after emergence and/or after cutting, with two stink bugs per pot. The following were evaluated: injury score, height, stem diameter, fresh and dry plant weight. The plants that were not cut (SB-WC) presented the highest values in height and diameter, resulting in injury scores around 1 compared to those that were infested after the cut (SB-AC), which had scores varying between 3 and 4 and had smaller height and diameter. It was concluded that removing the leaf surface impairs the establishment of the corn plant, and with the infestation of the green-belly stink bug, the severity of the damage increases.

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ABSTRACT This study provides the first data on the molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Fannia sp. specimens collected from livestock farms in Kırşehir province, Türkiye. Two molecular markers, the mitochondrial DNA COI gene and the partial region of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) gene, were used for the molecular characterization of the specimens. All COI sequences were identical, representing a single haplotype. Similarly, all ITS2 sequences were identical, representing a single genotype. The BLASTn analysis of the Turkish Fannia COI haplotype showed 100% similarity to Fannia canicularis haplotypes from Portugal, Spain, China, Finland, India, South Korea, Poland, and Canada, and to Fannia subpubescens Collin, 1958 from Finland, and Fannia sp. from Canada, suggesting these are likely F. canicularis. The COI barcode region successfully separated the Fannia species into monophyletic clusters in ML and BI analysis. Besides, the BLASTn analysis of the Turkish Fannia ITS2 genotype revealed lower similarity (64.2% - 88.4%) to ITS2 sequences from other Fannia species. These findings suggest that the mitochondrial COI barcode region is a reliable marker for differentiating the Fannia species. Further studies are needed to elucidate the genetic diversity and epidemiology of these flies in Türkiye.

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ABSTRACT The presence of the pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is reported for the first time in urban trees in Guayaquil (2022) and Portoviejo (2023), Ecuador. PHM was found in more than 55 plant species, including export crops. Among the most affected species in this study are plants from the families Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Fabaceae, Heliconiaceae, Malvaceae, Rhizophoraceae, Rubiaceae, Verbenaceae and Zingiberaceae. Additionally, the wasp Anagyrus kamali Moursi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was detected parasitizing M. hirsutus in several locations, including the cantons of Manta and Portoviejo, in the province of Manabí, and in the Samborondón canton, in the province of Guayas. This finding opens the possibility of implementing effective biological control strategies, reducing dependence on insecticides and protecting biodiversity. Environmental education is recommended to promote sustainable agricultural practices and integrated pest management.