Abstract In this work, we report for the first time the occurrence of the parasitoid wasp Brachymeria amenocles (Walker, 1846) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) associated with the larvae of the flesh fly, Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), in Brazil. This parasitoid species was collected together with the species Brachymeria podagrica (Fabricius, 1787), in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, geographically located in the Southeast region of Brazil, in larvae of the same host species reared in the same attraction substrate, behaving as solitary parasitoids. A trap containing putrefying sardine was exposed for 48 h, in the upper part of a house, located in Vila Isabel, an urban area. The larvae collected were reared in the laboratory without control of environmental conditions. A total of three adult parasitoid wasps of the species B. podagrica, and nine adult parasitoid wasps of the species B. amenocles emerged from 12 host pupae, resulting in a prevalence of parasitoidism of 4.8% and 14.5%, respectively. Developing parasitoids at the pupal phase were observed in another 34 host pupae dissected.

Abstract Access to genetic resources (GR) and/or traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources (ATK) has been regulated in Brazil since 2001. The law 13,123 / 2015 determined a significant change in the theme, mainly on the rules of distribution of benefits obtained for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, the access to technology and technology transfer, the exploitation of products or reproductive material from the GR or ATK and consignment to the outside of part or all the living or dead organism shipped for GR. The implementation of international treaties on GR and ATK for research, biotechnological development and bioprospecting have been causing difficulties for Brazilian researchers, mainly due to the lack of information and dissemination available for compliance with the legislation. In this work, the members of the Committee for Access to Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge of the Federal Fluminense University (UFFGEN) - Brazil, and collaborators performed a critical reflection on the new law, helping Brazilian researchers with information necessary to understand the changes made by the new legislation, especially in the field of Biotechnology associated with Brazilian Biodiversity.

ABSTRACT Plants represent a huge source of substances, with pharmacological potential. Brazil has a diversity of agricultural insect pests and an urgent need for safer methods of insect control. Dysdercus peruvianus (Guerin-Meneville, 1831), Pyrrhocoridae, is an economically important species of the Order Hemiptera and a pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., Malvaceae). Secondary metabolites in stems of Clusia hilariana Schltdl., Clusiaceae, such as terpenes and benzophenones, have been reported to be insecticidal. The present study investigated the effects of semi-purified fractions of hexane crude extracts from male C. hilariana stems on development of D. peruvianus. Biological parameters at different stages of development including body malformations, range of molting period and toxicity were evaluated. Most insects died and failed to develop due to attachment of their exuviae to the abdomen. Deformations of wings and defective tarsi also occurred. The secondary metabolites from semi-purified fractions of C. hilariana caused mortality, interference in molting and metamorphosis, and body deformations, probably by interacting with the neuroendocrine system. The results demonstrate the potential of C. hilariana extracts as an alternative for the control of the phytophagous insect D. peruvianus and for the development of environmentally safe and biodegradable bio insecticides.

Abstract: As a part of our continuing search for insect and arthropod development regulators from Brazilian restinga vegetation of the Rio de Janeiro State, crude extracts, purified fractions and essential oils were submitted to screening tests seeking for biological activities on the development of the insects Rhodnius prolixus, Dysdercus peruvianus, Oncopeltus fasciatus and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Up to now, 102 secondary metabolites have been detected in the fractions, among them monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and two triterpenes which were obtained from the species, Eugenia sulcata, Pilocarpus spicatus, Manilkara subsericea, Myrciaria floribunda and Zanthoxylum caribaeum. These secondary plant metabolites are considered of interest for the use of studies related to arthropod endocrinology, vector-parasite interaction system, and population control of vector insect and agricultural pest. The observed biological activities were surprisingly high, involving increased mortality, molting and metamorphosis inhibition, paralysis, corporeal deformities, apparition of permanent nymphs, of adultoids and juvenoids, partial or total inhibition of oviposition and egg hatching. These compounds are now being studied further to determine if they may or may not be useful in controlling insect populations and/or interfere with the life cycle and vector transmission of parasites to animal and human populations.

ABSTRACT The effects of the hexanic extracts of the fruits and flowers of Clusia fluminensis Planch. & Triana, Clusiaceae, as well as their main constituents, the triterpene lanosterol and the benzophenone clusianone, were evaluated on hemipterans Dysdercus peruvianus and Oncopeltus fasciatus. The topical treatments of insects with the hexanic extracts significantly affected the survival of O. fasciatus, but not that of D. peruvianus. Concomitantly, extracts delayed the development of both hemipterans. Moreover, isolated lanosterol significantly reduced both the survival and development of O. fasciatus and D. peruvianus, while clusianone only reduce the survival of D. peruvianus and marginally inhibited the development of both insects. The results show the specific activity of lanosterol and clusianone against the two evaluated insect species and indicate the potential of compounds derived from C. fluminensis for the development of specific biopesticides for the control of agricultural pests. Subsequent work will examine the mode of action of lanosterol and clusianone isolates from C. fluminensis.

Resumen En el medio ambiente de la Antártica la temperatura del agua es de entre 2 y - 1.9 °C. Por consecuencia ciertas especies han perdido la capacidad de adaptarse a los cambios repentinos de la temperatura del agua. El estudio de la respuesta inmune del erizo antártico (Sterechinus neumayeri) podría ayudar a comprender los futuros impactos en los animales endémicos del cambio climático en la Península Antártica. En este estudio nosotros hemos evaluado la respuesta inmunitaria de S. neumayeri respecto de estimulaciones con bacterias (Lipopolisacáridos y Vibrio alginolitycus) asi como durante el estrés térmico a 5 y 10 °C. La respuesta del erizo fue evaluada en relación al número de celomocitos circulantes, capacidad fagocítica de estos y por el análisis de la expresión de tres genes inmunitarios. Después de la estimulación con LPS un aumento significativo de células esferoidales rojas, de amebocitos fagocíticos y de celomocitos totales fue observado después de las primeras horas de estimulación, de la misma manera que la capacidad fagocítica. Por otra parte los tres genes inmunes medidos mostraron un aumento significativo de su expresión por qPCR después de la estimulación con LPS. El estrés térmico de 5 °C produjo un aumento de la expresión de estos tres genes inmunitarios, por el contrario a una temperatura más alta (10 °C) se produce la reducción de dos de entre ellos. Adicionalmente un aumento del consumo de oxígeno fue observado durante la estimulación bacteriana. Nuestros resultados muestran que la respuesta inmunitaria en el erizo antártico puede ser afectada por el estrés térmico agudo y que la respuesta inmune en invertebrados antárticos tendría un costo metabólico.

Abstract In the Antarctic marine environment, the water temperature is usually between 2 and - 1.9 °C. Consequently, some Antarctic species have lost the capacity to adapt to sudden changes in temperature. The study of the immune response in Antarctic sea urchin (Sterechinus neumayeri) could help us understand the future impacts of global warming on endemic animals in the Antarctic Peninsula. In this study, the Antarctic sea urchins were challenged with lipopolysaccharides and Vibrio alginolitycus. The cellular response was evaluated by the number of coelomocytes and phagocytosis. A significant increase was observed in red sphere cells and total coelomocytes in animals exposed to LPS. A significant rise in phagocytosis in animals stimulated by LPS was also evidenced. Moreover, the gene expression of three immune related genes was measured by qPCR, showing a rapid increase in their expression levels. By contrast, these immune genes showed a depression in their expression by a thermal effect at 5 and 10 °C. In addition, during bacterial injection, the oxygen consumption was higher in challenged animals. Our results showed that the immune response in the Antarctic sea urchin may be affected by acute thermal stress and that this immune response has a metabolic cost. Rev. Biol. Trop. 63 (Suppl. 2): 309-320. Epub 2015 June 01.

Essential oils are known for their insect control potential, which is mainly attributed to the presence of terpenes that interfere with hormonal and physiological processes of arthropods. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of essential oil from the leaves of Eugenia sulcata Spring ex Mart., Myrtaceae, on the development of two species of agricultural pest insects, Dysdercus peruvianus and Oncopeltus fasciatus.Results showed that the essential oil induced mortality, and reduced numbers of adults. Topical treatment of Oncopeltus fasciatus using pure essential oil caused significant mortality rates (96.67%), while Dysdercus peruvianus had a higher tolerance, with 80% mortality at the end of the experiments. Results suggest that essential oil from the leaves of Eugenia sulcata may be used in agriculture for insect pest control.

Myrciaria floribunda (H. West ex Willd.) O. Berg, Myrtaceae, is popularly known as "camboim-amarelo" and was collected at Restinga de Jurubatiba (RJ, Brazil). Leaves from this species were submitted to hydrodistillation to extract its essential oil. Monoterpenes were the main compounds found (53.9%), and 1,8-cineole was the major constituent (38.4%). Studies were carried out to evaluate the effects of this essential oil on the development of two species of agricultural pests (Oncopeltus fasciatus and Dysdercus peruvianus). The essential oil was considered effective against D. peruvianus and O. fasciatus, causing mortality in both insects. The LD50 values (µg/insect) observed were 112.44 µg/insect (O. fasciatus) and 309.64 µg/insect (D. peruvianus) after one day of treatment, and 72.18 µg/insect (O. fasciatus) and 94.42 µg/insect (D. peruvianus) after 22 days of treatment. The present study reports for the first time the bioinsecticidal activity of essential oil of Myrciaria floribunda leaves, and provides important data regarding the use of essential oils in complementary programs for pest control.

Bioensaios contra ninfas de 5º estádio de Rhodnius prolixus foram conduzidos utilizando-se óleo essencial de Pilocarpus spicatus extraído por hidrodestilação. Os principais resultados podem ser resumidos como se segue: (i) altos níveis de toxicidade e paralisia associados à discreta inibição da muda foram induzidos pela aplicação tópica de 0,5 µL ou 1,0 µL do óleo essencial por inseto; (ii) fagoinibição parcial, altos níveis de inibição da muda, período intermuda prolongado e alto número de insetos paralisados mas ausência de toxicidade foram observados após tratamento oral com 5,0 µL ou 10 µL de óleo essencial de P. spicatus por mL de sangue ingerido. A importância destes resultados em relação a eventos biológicos relevantes em R. prolixus é aqui discutida.

Bioassays against fifth-instar nymphae of Rhodnius prolixus were conducted with essential oil of Pilocarpus spicatus extracted by hydrodistillation. The main results may be summarized as follows: (i) high levels of toxicity and paralysis together with discrete moulting inhibition were caused by topical application of either 0.5 µL or 1.0 µL per insect of the crude essential oil; (ii) partial fagoinhibition, high moulting inhibition, prolonged intermoulting period and high number of paralyzed insects, but no toxicity were observed after oral treatment using either 5 µL or 10 µL of Pilocarpus spilcatus essential oil per mL of ingested blood meal. The importance of these results in relation to the relevant biological events in R. prolixus is herein discussed.

A vegetação fluminense, em particular aquela proveniente da Restinga de Jurubatiba, foi investigada por um grupo multidisciplinar de botânicos, químico, radiobiólogo, fisiologistas de insetos e geneticista. Amostras de 564 espécimes foram coletadas, identificadas, organizadas em herbário e um banco de dados está sendo elaborado contendo, além das clássicas informações botânicas, dados químicos e indicações quanto ao uso econômico potencial destas plantas, em paisagismo, como alimentos alternativos ou como plantas medicinais. Estudos fitoquímicos da Guttiferae, Clusia hilariana, forneceram ácido oleanólico e nemorosona. Estes metabólitos foram ensaiados no barbeiro Rhodnius prolixus, vetor da doença de Chagas. Por fim, observou-se que plantas aquáticas apresentaram teores muito altos do radionuclídeo natural, polônio-210, fato este que parece estar relacionado mais com as condições de solo do que com um aporte atmosférico.

The fluminense vegetation, more specifically the flora from the Jurubatiba restinga has been investigated by a multidisciplinary team of botanists, chemist, radiobiologist, insect physiologists and geneticist. Vouchers of 564 specimens have been collected, identified, organized in an herbarium, and a database is being build up containing, in addition to classical botanical data, chemical data and information on the potential economic use either for landscape gardening, alternative foods or as medicinal plants. Phytochemical studies of the Guttiferae, Clusia hilariana, yielded oleanolic acid and nemorosone. Their biological activities against the haematophagous insect Rhodnius prolixus vector of Chagas disease have been investigated. Finally, it has been observed that aquatic plants possessed high levels of the natural radionuclide polonium-210, which seems to be originated mainly from soil rather than from atmospheric supply.