Entomology

La mosca de la fruta, o del vinagre, conocida como Drosophila melanogaster en el ámbito científico, es un pequeño insecto que pertenece al orden de los dípteros. Su utilidad va más allá del conocimiento básico de los animales y actualmente juega un papel destacado en la investigación biomédica. Se estudió la productividad filial en dos generaciones sucesivas de un cruce dihíbrido entre los mutantes ebony (eb) y vestigial (vg) de Drosophila melanogaster. Los resultados permitieron demostrar que, toda la primera generación filial (F1), presentó un fenotipo con color corporal ocre y forma de alas normal, para el genotipo doblemente heterocigótico de tipo e+ev+v, pues, los alelos para los caracteres mutantes recesivos no se expresaron. El fenotipo de los descendientes de la segunda generación filial (F2) del cruce entre dos individuos mutantes pertenecientes a Drosophila melanogaster, una hembra de fenotipo con color corporal ocre y forma de alas vestigiales para el genotipo e+e+vv y un macho con color corporal ébano y forma de alas normales para el genotipo eev+v+,  se ajusta a una proporción Mendeliana de tipo 9:3:3:1. Se concluyó que, Drosophila melanogaster es una especie con características genéticas (reducido número de cromosomas y variaciones mutagénicas frecuentes), ontogénicas (ciclo de vida corto con holometabolía) y ecológicas (relación con partes vegetativas para su desarrollo), que constituyen una fuente importante para la investigación; y que para el caso de investigación, la productividad filial en dos generaciones de un cruce dihíbrido entre individuos mutantes ebony (eb) y vestigial (vg) permitieron corroborar las leyes Mendelianas.

The click beetles and their larvae (wireworms) are dangerous pest of different economically important crops of Hungary. They cause
damage mostly in maize, sunflower and wheat. In order to develop the effectiveness of actions against them we need actual distribution and
abundance data on the most important species. In 2010 a country wide sampling program was started to collect actual data on six Agriotes
species. In 2012 26 sampling sites were studied with species specific pheromone traps in Transdanubia (14) and Eastern Hungary (12). We
determined the distribution and relative frequency of the six studied species. In this sampling period 72583 individuals of the six sampled
species and 1627 individuals of additionally caught elaterid species were trapped. On the basis of distribution of most abundant species we
assigned the areas of the country endangered by wireworms.

The locusts (Orthoptera: Acrididae) are one of the most feared pests in the world. Now in Hungary locust plagues are not a real danger.
Orthopterans live in the Carpathian Basin are mostly ‘friendly’ moreover endangered members of natural, semi-natural and agroecosystems.
Here we collect distribution and habitat preference data of protected orthopterans living in agricultural landscapes in Hungary
and provide information about them in order to call attention of farmers and help its protection.
Generally we can assume that intensive land use and increasing use of chemicals in plant protection endanger species that live inboard
and neighbouring of cultivated lands. The positive effects of traditional land use can be proved in case of more species. The conservation of
these rare and vulnerable species needs activity of both nature conservation and agriculture.

The Orthoptera fauna of the Villány Hills were assessed on the basis
of published distribution data, unpublished results of authors and the
Orthoptera collection of the Department of Evolutionary Zoology,
University of Debrecen. In the 15 sampling sites of the area 49
Orthoptera species (Ensifera: 23 Tettigonioidea and 2 Grylloidea; 24
Caelifera) were recorded, which makes up 61.7% of the Hungarian
fauna. Seven species – Acrida ungarica, Acrotylus insubricus,
Isophya camptoxypha, Phaneroptera falcata, Poecilimon fussii,
Myrmecophilus acervorum and Tetrix tenuicornis – have no data from
the last thirty years. These species probably do not occur in the area.

With the aim of contribute to the knowledge of taxonomy and distribution of the genera of the order Ephemeroptera in Caldas, samples were taken between May of 2008 and May of 2012 in 12 municipalities of the department of Caldas - Colombia, covering an altitudinal range from 159 to 3433 m and a total of 55 water sources. Six families and 26 genera of Ephemeroptera were found, of which Cabecar is a new record for Colombia, also recording for the first time the nymphs of Tikuna and Ulmeritoides for the country. Americabaetis, Apobaetis, Callibaetis, Cloeodes, Guajirolus, Paracloeodes, Cabecar, Traveryphes, Tricorythodes, Terpides, Tikuna, Ulmeritoides, Caenis and Campsurus are new records for Caldas. Differences in the composition of the fauna in the diverse altitudinal zones were found, being the areas below 1000 m with highest genera richness.

Los insectos están profundamente insertados en la vida del ser humano, en relación con aspectos cognitivos, afectivos
y de comportamiento. En este breve ensayo se discute la importancia de la etnoentomología como campo de estudio
científico de las relaciones totales de los seres humanos con los insectos.

Allium cepa assay and Papilio demoleus metamorphosis were used to determine genotoxicity and mutagenicity of composite coated Citrus reticulata. In Allium test, the parameters scored for the different concentrations of C. reticulata extract tested are the length and number of roots (macroscopic), mitotic index and number of chromosomal aberrations (microscopic). Aberrant cells were determined in terms of clumping, fragmentation, wavy outlines, enlarged nucleus, binucleated and devoid chromatin material.
On the other hand, mutagenicity impact on test solution exposed P. demoleus was determined through morphometric analysis of the wings span specifically forewings (span Af and Bf) and hindwing (Span Ah and Bh) attributes. Experimentation of the test solution with A. cepa assay (growth inhibition) and exposing the P. demoleus (in captive breeding) reveals that composite coated C. reticulata has genotoxic properties causing chromosomal aberrations in allium and highly suspicious mutagenic properties causing decrement of wings span among butterfly samples exposed with test solution.
Plant systems such as Allium cepa and Papilio demoleus metamorphosis are sensitive biomonitors/bioindicator of the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of composite coated C. reticulata. Considering all the results of exposure, experimentation shows that test solution has direct impact on genotypic and phenotypic attributes of an organism. Composite coating caused chromosomal aberrations in Allium cepa while morphological change in wings of P. demoleus.

Key words: genotoxicity, mutagenicity, composite coating, allium test, mophometry analysis, Papilio demoleus, biosafety, biomedical

Abstract
A species’ mating system depends on its spatial distribution and temporal availability of mating opportunities, as well as on the resources that create these opportunities. In addition, for many species, courtship is driven by specific behaviors that precede and follow copulation. Although Sphex ingens is a taxonomically well known species of digger wasp, its ecology and behavior remain poorly known. Hence, we analyzed patterns and trends of sexual behavior, in order to understand whether courtship can persist in a polygamous mating system. We monitored by video wasp populations in Ilha Grande, southeastern Brazil. Based on the observed behaviors, we calculated stochastic probabilities with a Markov chain to infer on behavioral trends. We recorded four behavioral phases based on 19,196 behavioral acts observed in 224 copulation attempts. There were no significant differences in common behavioral acts between males and females. The copulation patterns, conflicts, and trends observed in S. ingens clearly show the influence of sexual selection in its promiscuous mating system.