Brazil

Guides

Puliciphora borinquenensis
Puliciphora borinquenensis is a species of scuttle fly in the family Phoridae, described by Wheeler in 1906. The species has been recorded from the Galápagos Islands and multiple states in Brazil, with some doubtful or rare records from Europe. As with other phorid flies, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species epithet references Borinquen, the indigenous Taíno name for Puerto Rico, suggesting a possible Caribbean origin for the type specimen.
scuttle-fly Phoridae Metopininae Neotropical Galápagos Brazil Wheeler-1906 Puerto-Rico-etymology
Rhinoleucophenga
Rhinoleucophenga is a genus of fruit flies in the family Drosophilidae, endemic to the New World with highest diversity in Neotropical open environments, particularly Brazil. The genus comprises at least 26 nominal species, with recent taxonomic work revealing numerous cryptic species and correcting long-standing misidentifications. One species, R. myrmecophaga, exhibits a remarkable predatory larval stage that exploits ant-plant mutualisms by trapping ants at extrafloral nectaries.
Drosophilidae Neotropical Brazil predatory-larvae ant-plant-mutualism cryptic-species extrafloral-nectaries Cerrado taxonomic-revision COI-barcode
Rhinoleucophenga obesa
Rhinoleucophenga obesa is a species of fruit fly in the family Drosophilidae. Long misidentified in the Neotropics, it is now confirmed as endemic to the Nearctic region with type locality in Texas, USA. Brazilian specimens previously attributed to this species have been reassigned to sibling species R. cantareira and R. gigantea based on morphological and molecular evidence.
fruit-fly Drosophilidae Nearctic taxonomic-revision misidentification sibling-species COI-barcode morphological-taxonomy Brazil Texas Steganinae Gitonini
Rhopalosoma nearcticum
Rhopalosoma nearcticum is a parasitoid wasp in the family Rhopalosomatidae. Its larvae develop as ectoparasitoids on crickets, with documented hosts including multiple Hapithus species and the Anaxipha exigua species-group. The species is found in the Americas from the United States to Brazil, though phylogenetic studies suggest at least two genetically distinct Rhopalosoma clades exist in America north of Mexico.
parasitoid ectoparasitoid cricket-parasite wasps hymenoptera rhopalosomatidae nearcticum brues-1943 americas united-states brazil mid-atlantic tennessee hapithus anaxipha gryllidae trigonidiidae barcoding phylogenetics genetic-clades larval-development host-specificity insect-parasitoid aculeata vespoidea apocrita hexapoda arthropoda insecta animalia metazoa eukaryota cypress-grove-nature-park jackson-tennessee open-journal-of-animal-sciences journal-of-hymenoptera-research gbif inaturalist catalogue-of-life ncbi-taxonomy wikipedia dna-barcoding new-host-record species-complex cryptic-species north-america central-america south-america mexico mexican-states utah distribution-records observations 327-observations 73 74 75 76 77 78 mxc mxe mxg mxi mxn mxs mxt uta accepted exact-match species-rank 1943 brues rhopalosoma-cresson hymenoptera-rhopalosomatidae america-north-of-mexico cricket-parasitizing-wasp habitat-abundances mid-atlantic-park ectoparasitoid-larvae host-species gryllidae-hapithinae trigonidiidae-trigonidiinae genetic-evidence second-species phylogenetic-analyses genetically-distinct-clades at-least-two-species documented-species larvae-collected collection-site nature-park conservative factual accurate structured entomology guide taxon-record json-schema high-level-overview physical-description distinguish similar-taxa environment conditions geographic-range timing activity feeding developmental stages notable actions habits ecosystem interaction meaningful additional-context clear direct concrete non-overlapping unique cautious observed known null supported justified inferred medium low sparse well-supported partial reliable critical-rules field-intent style-rules quality-rules output-format strictly-match no-extra-fields no-commentary priority correctness completeness clarity verbosity usefulness speculation vague generalizations fabricate behaviors diet-details life-cycle-details host-relationships fluff filler taxonomy prose technical-jargon concrete-statements abstract-descriptions
Rothschildia lebeau
Lebeau's Silk Moth, Forbes Moth
Rothschildia lebeau is a giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae, distributed from the Lower Rio Grande Valley through eastern Mexico to Brazil. Adults are short-lived and do not feed, relying on fat reserves accumulated during larval development. The species exhibits a life history tradeoff between larval survival and adult body size based on host plant quality, with larger males showing higher mating success.
giant-silkmoth Saturniidae host-plant-tradeoff sexual-selection tropical-dry-forest Barro-Colorado-Island pheromone-communication non-feeding-adult complete-metamorphosis cultural-significance indigenous-use cocoon-harvesting mating-success body-size-dimorphism seasonal-variation microbial-associations protistan-diversity caterpillar-microbiome herbivore forest-ecology Neotropical Mexico Central-America South-America Panama Costa-Rica Brazil Texas Rio-Grande-Valley exhibit-species butterfly-house education conservation light-pollution suburban-sprawl introduced-parasites rearing cottage-industry vestigial-mouthparts fat-reserves short-lived-adult female-sedentary-behavior male-dispersal oviposition-site-selection fitness-consequences life-history-evolution quantitative-genetic-variation wet-season-phenology developmental-plasticity survival-size-tradeoff herbivore-performance plant-animal-interactions microbial-observatory molecular-characterization eukaryotic-microbiome saturniid-caterpillar Lepidoptera Bombycoidea Rothschildia Guérin-Méneville-1868 Attacus-lebeau Lebeau's-Silk-Moth Forbes-Moth Rothschildia-lebeau-forbesi windows transparent-wing-patches scale-less-wing-areas antennae sexual-dimorphism mate-choice sperm-competition reproductive-success larval-performance caterpillar-growth pupal-development adult-emergence longevity predation bat-predation nocturnal crepuscular moth silkmoth silkworm giant-moth forest-moth tropical-moth Neotropical-fauna biodiversity insect-collection museum-specimen Bohart-Museum American-Museum-of-Natural-History entomology lepidopterology systematics taxonomy natural-history field-study observational-study experimental-ecology evolutionary-ecology behavioral-ecology population-biology community-ecology ecosystem-function food-web trophic-interaction herbivory folivory tree-insect-interaction phenology climate-effects seasonality environmental-variation habitat-heterogeneity host-race ecotype local-adaptation phenotypic-plasticity genetic-variation quantitative-trait trade-off allocation reproductive-allocation parental-investment offspring-size offspring-number optimal-clutch-size mate-competition intrasexual-selection intersexual-selection ornament signal chemical-communication olfaction sensory-ecology foraging movement-ecology dispersal migration home-range activity-pattern diel-cycle circadian-rhythm photoperiod temperature humidity rainfall precipitation dry-season wet-season tropical-seasonality El-Niño climate-change global-warming habitat-disturbance forest-fragmentation deforestation agricultural-expansion urbanization conservation-biology threatened-species common-species population-decline extinction-risk protected-area national-park biological-reserve research-station Smithsonian-Tropical-Research-Institute Barro-Colorado-Island-Nature-Monument Gatun-Lake Panama-Canal Isthmus-of-Panama Central-American-isthmus land-bridge biogeography vicariance dispersal-limitation species-range range-expansion range-contraction range-shift poleward-shift elevational-shift altitudinal-gradient latitudinal-gradient thermal-tolerance desiccation-resistance water-balance physiological-ecology metabolic-rate energetics nutritional-ecology stoichiometry nitrogen phosphorus carbon plant-secondary-metabolite tannin alkaloid terpenoid defense induced-defense constitutive-defense herbivore-offense counter-adaptation coevolution evolutionary-arms-race phylogenetic-constraint phylogenetic-signal comparative-method phylogenetic-comparative-analysis trait-evolution reproductive-strategy iteroparity semelparity big-bang-reproduction suicidal-reproduction capital-breeder income-breeder resource-acquisition resource-allocation storage fat-body lipid glycogen protein amino-acid vitamin micronutrient digestion gut-microbiome gut-flora intestinal-microorganism symbiosis mutualism commensalism parasitism pathogen disease immunity immune-response defense-mechanism resistance tolerance recovery survival mortality fecundity fertility sterility hybridization introgression gene-flow population-structure genetic-differentiation FST isolation-by-distance isolation-by-environment landscape-genetics landscape-ecology spatial-ecology geographic-information-system remote-sensing satellite-imagery habitat-suitability species-distribution-model ecological-niche-model MaxEnt BIOMOD ensemble-forecast climate-envelope niche-conservatism niche-evolution realized-niche fundamental-niche biotic-interaction competition facilitation apparent-competition indirect-effect trophic-cascade keystone-species ecosystem-engineer foundation-species dominant-species rare-species functional-diversity functional-trait trait-based-ecology community-assembly filtering sorting neutral-theory niche-theory unified-theory metacommunity metapopulation source-sink-dynamics rescue-effect mass-effect patch-dynamics landscape-mosaic connectivity corridor stepping-stone matrix-quality edge-effect interior-forest core-area buffer-zone fragment-size isolation perimeter-area-ratio shape-index fractal-dimension habitat-amount threshold-effect extinction-debt relaxation-time lag-effect time-delay historical-legacy founder-effect bottleneck genetic-drift inbreeding inbreeding-depression outbreeding outbreeding-depression heterosis hybrid-vigor genetic-rescue assisted-migration managed-relocation translocation reintroduction restoration-ecology habitat-restoration ecological-restoration rewilding de-extinction synthetic-biology conservation-genetics conservation-genomics population-genomics landscape-genomics environmental-DNA eDNA metabarcoding metagenomics transcriptomics proteomics metabolomics phenomics imaging computer-vision machine-learning artificial-intelligence deep-learning neural-network convolutional-neural-network recurrent-neural-network generative-adversarial-network transfer-learning data-augmentation training-set validation-set test-set cross-validation bootstrap jackknife permutation randomization Monte-Carlo Markov-chain Bayesian-inference posterior-probability prior-probability likelihood model-selection information-criterion AIC BIC DIC WAIC LOO model-averaging multimodel-inference structural-equation-model path-analysis causal-inference directed-acyclic-graph potential-outcomes propensity-score instrumental-variable regression-discontinuity difference-in-differences synthetic-control panel-data longitudinal-data time-series cross-sectional-data spatial-data spatiotemporal-data point-pattern areal-data geostatistics kriging variogram spatial-autocorrelation Moran's-I Geary's-c Getis-Ord-Gi LISA hot-spot cold-spot cluster-detection scan-statistic network-analysis graph-theory small-world scale-free-network centrality betweenness closeness eigenvector PageRank community-detection modularity clustering-coefficient path-length diameter radius percolation robustness resilience vulnerability adaptive-capacity transformability social-ecological-system complex-adaptive-system emergent-property self-organization nonlinearity threshold tipping-point hysteresis alternative-stable-state regime-shift critical-transition early-warning-signal resilience-indicator panarchy adaptive-cycle exploitation release reorganization fast-variable slow-variable controlling-variable driver pressure state impact response DPSIR ecosystem-service provisioning-service regulating-service cultural-service supporting-service natural-capital green-infrastructure nature-based-solution ecosystem-based-adaptation ecosystem-based-mitigation payment-for-ecosystem-service REDD+biodiversity-offset habitat-banking mitigation-hierarchy avoidance minimization restoration compensation no-net-loss net-gain biodiversity-metric condition-metric landscape-metric connectivity-metric genetic-metric functional-metric irreplaceability threat opportunity conservation-planning systematic-conservation-planning Marxan Zonation prioritization efficiency effectiveness equity stakeholder governance institution policy law regulation incentive market-based-instrument command-and-control voluntary-agreement certification eco-label sustainable-use sustainable-management adaptive-management learning-by-doing monitoring evaluation indicator target goal vision scenario projection forecast uncertainty risk precautionary-principle safe-minimum-standard environmental-impact-assessment strategic-environmental-assessment cumulative-impact-assessment social-impact-assessment health-impact-assessment life-cycle-assessment carbon-footprint water-footprint ecological-footprint material-flow-analysis substance-flow-analysis input-output-analysis environmentally-extended-input-output-analysis multi-regional-input-output-analysis computable-general-equilibrium integrated-assessment-model earth-system-model global-circulation-model regional-climate-model downscaling bias-correction ensemble-simulation perturbed-physics emulator surrogate-model 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rewilding-Britain rewilding-North-America Pleistocene-rewilding trophic-rewilding ecological-replacement taxon-substitution revival-biology molecular-de-extinction proxy-species gene-drive CRISPR genome-editing genetic-modification biotechnology nanotechnology information-technology global-positioning-system unmanned-aerial-vehicle drone satellite sensor camera-trap acoustic-monitoring citizen-science community-science participatory-monitoring traditional-ecological-knowledge indigenous-knowledge local-knowledge farmer-knowledge fishers-knowledge co-production-of-knowledge transdisciplinarity interdisciplinarity multidisciplinarity post-normal-science mode-2-science triple-helix quadruple-helix quintuple-helix open-science open-data open-access open-source FAIR-data findable accessible interoperable reusable data-management-plan metadata provenance quality-assurance quality-control validation verification uncertainty-quantification error-propagation sensitivity-analysis 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liberal-democracy social-democracy green-democracy ecological-democracy biocracy ecofascism deep-ecology social-ecology ecofeminism environmental-justice climate-justice intergenerational-justice intragenerational-justice spatial-justice territorial-justice recognition-justice procedural-justice distributive-justice restorative-justice transformative-justice reparative-justice transitional-justice ecological-justice species-justice multispecies-justice more-than-human-justice anthropocene capitalocene plantationocene chthulucene symbiocene good-anthropocene bad-anthropocene great-acceleration great-divergence great-convergence great-transformation great-decoupling great-disruption great-moderation great-recession great-depression great-war great-famine great-migration great-replacement great-reset great-refusal great-enrichment great-leveling great-compression
Rothschildia lebeau forbesi
Forbes' Silk Moth, Forbes Moth
Rothschildia lebeau forbesi, commonly known as Forbes' Silk Moth, is a subspecies of giant silkmoth in the family Saturniidae. It ranges from the Lower Rio Grande Valley through eastern Mexico to Brazil. Adults are frequently mistaken for the Atlas Moth due to distinctive transparent "windows" in their wings that lack scales. Like other giant silkmoths, adults do not feed and live only a few days, surviving on fat reserves accumulated during the larval stage.
Saturniidae giant-silkmoth Rio-Grande-Valley Mexico Brazil transparent-wing-windows non-feeding-adult short-lived cultural-use indigenous-peoples ceremonial-cocoons
Samea multiplicalis
salvinia stem-borer moth
Samea multiplicalis is an aquatic moth native to the Americas, ranging from the southern United States to Argentina, and introduced to Australia in 1981 as a biological control agent for invasive water ferns. Adults are small, tan moths with darker wing markings and a wingspan of approximately 20 mm. The species completes its entire life cycle on or near aquatic host plants, with larvae feeding internally on stems and externally on leaves, often causing plant death. High rates of parasitism by native wasps and flies limit its effectiveness as a weed control agent in introduced ranges.
aquatic-moth biological-control herbivore invasive-species-management parasitism compensatory-feeding nocturnal-oviposition silk-canopy-construction nitrogen-limited-herbivore Crambidae Pyraloidea floating-aquatic-vegetation integrated-weed-management Queensland New-South-Wales Louisiana Brazil Argentina
Seira brasiliana
Seira brasiliana is a species of elongate-bodied springtail in the family Entomobryidae. It is a Neotropical species originally described from Brazil, with subsequent records from multiple Brazilian states including Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraíba, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo. As a member of the genus Seira, it possesses the characteristic scaled body covering typical of this group. The species remains poorly studied, with limited published information on its biology and ecology.
Collembola Entomobryidae springtail Neotropical Brazil soil-fauna decomposer
Selenomorphini
Selenomorphini is a small tribe of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Iassinae. It was established by Evans in 1974 and currently comprises at least six genera including Pachyopsis, Scaroidana, Parapachyopsis, and Uhleriana. The tribe exhibits a disjunct biogeographic pattern, with species occurring in the New World and New Caledonia. Recent taxonomic work has focused on Brazilian fauna, describing new species and genera and providing detailed morphological redescriptions including first illustrations of female genitalia.
leafhopper Cicadellidae Iassinae New-World New-Caledonia Brazil taxonomy genitalia
Siphonostomatoida
Siphon-mouth Copepods
Siphonostomatoida is an order of copepods distinguished by siphon-like mandibles and a frontal filament used for host attachment. The order comprises 40 recognized families, with approximately 75% of all fish-parasitizing copepods belonging to this group. Most species are marine symbionts, though a few inhabit freshwater environments. Members exhibit diverse host associations, with 17 families parasitizing vertebrates (primarily fishes) and 23 families associated with invertebrates.
copepod parasite marine fish-parasite symbiont crustacean ectoparasite Siphonostomatoida biodiversity Southern-Africa Japan Brazil sponge-associate coral-associate developmental-stages chalimus frontal-filament siphon-mandible Asterocheridae Lernaeopodidae Pennellidae Hatschekiidae Sphyriidae Notodelphyidae Botryllophilidae
Smicridea signata
netspinning caddisfly
Smicridea signata is a species of netspinning caddisfly in the family Hydropsychidae. The species is found in North America and belongs to the Smicridea (Smicridea) fasciatella species group, which is characterized by a phallic apparatus that is a simple tube with eversible internal sclerites at the apex. The fasciatella group has a broad distribution from the southwestern USA through Central America, the Greater Antilles, and most of South America.
Trichoptera Hydropsychidae caddisfly netspinning-caddisfly aquatic-insect North-America Brazil fasciatella-group Smicridea-signata
Spodoptera androgea
androgea armyworm moth
Spodoptera androgea is a noctuid moth species found in North America and parts of South America. It belongs to the genus Spodoptera, commonly known as armyworms, which contains several economically significant agricultural pests. The species is one of many Spodoptera that can occur on soybean and other crops, though it is generally considered less economically important than congeners such as S. frugiperda (fall armyworm) or S. eridania (southern armyworm). The MONA or Hodges number for this species is 9671.1.
Lepidoptera Noctuidae Spodoptera armyworm North-America South-America Brazil soybean-pest-complex cutworm agricultural-pest
Stactobiinae
microcaddisflies
Stactobiinae is a subfamily of microcaddisflies within the family Hydroptilidae, comprising 479 species worldwide. The subfamily is taxonomically diverse, with species distinguished primarily by detailed morphological features of adult male genitalia, including the structure of inferior appendages and phallic apex. In Brazil, 15 species have been documented, most of which are endemic to the Amazon rainforest and Atlantic Forest biomes. Recent taxonomic work has expanded knowledge of the subfamily in South America through the description of new species and documentation of new distribution records.
Trichoptera Hydroptilidae microcaddisflies Neotropical Brazil taxonomy genitalic-morphology new-species endemism Amazon Atlantic-Forest
Stenophrixothrix
railroad-worm
Stenophrixothrix is a genus of railroad-worms (Phengodidae) established by Wittmer in 1963. Species in this genus exhibit distinctive bioluminescence: adult males produce yellow light, while larvae possess multiple photophores including lateral lanterns emitting yellow light and a cephalic lantern producing yellow to orange light. The genus has been documented in secondary growth forests in São Paulo, Brazil, where molecular analysis has confirmed the association between larval and adult stages.
bioluminescence railroad-worm Coleoptera Phengodidae Neotropical Brazil
Stilobezzia coquilletti
Stilobezzia coquilletti is a species of predaceous biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Jean-Jacques Kieffer in 1917. The species is known from Brazil, with records from Amazonas and São Paulo states. As a member of the genus Stilobezzia, it belongs to a group of ceratopogonids characterized by predatory larval and adult stages. The specific epithet honors the American entomologist Daniel William Coquillett.
Ceratopogonidae biting-midges predatory-midges Neotropical Brazil aquatic-insects
Stromatium unicolor
Stromatium unicolor is a species of longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, currently treated as a synonym of Stromatium auratum. The species was described by Olivier in 1800. Records indicate occurrence in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Amazonas) and Albania, though the taxonomic status and distribution require verification given its synonymy with S. auratum.
Cerambycidae longhorn-beetle synonym Stromatium-auratum Hesperophanini Cerambycinae Coleoptera Brazil Albania Olivier-1800
Styloniscidae
Styloniscidae is a family of terrestrial isopods (woodlice) within the suborder Oniscidea. The family comprises at least twelve genera distributed across tropical and subtropical regions, with exceptional diversity documented in Brazilian karst systems. Multiple genera contain troglobitic (exclusively cave-dwelling) species, including Xangoniscus, Cylindroniscus, Pectenoniscus, and Chaimowiczia. These cave-dwelling representatives exhibit classic troglomorphic traits: anophthalmy (eye loss), depigmentation, and elongated appendages.
woodlice terrestrial-isopods troglobitic cave-dwelling karst Brazil amphibious troglobite endemic conservation
Tachytes amazonus
Tachytes amazonus is a solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, tribe Larrini, described by F. Smith in 1856. The species is distributed across the Americas from the Caribbean through Central and South America, with records in Brazil across multiple states including Amazonas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Roraima, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo. Like other members of the genus Tachytes, it is a ground-nesting wasp that provisions its burrows with paralyzed orthopteran prey.
solitary-wasp ground-nesting Larrini Crabronidae Hymenoptera Americas Brazil
Tagosodes wallacei
Tagosodes wallacei is a species of planthopper in the family Delphacidae, described by Muir and Giffard in 1924. It belongs to the large group of true bugs known as planthoppers, which are characterized by their jumping hind legs and association with grasses and other monocot plants. The genus Tagosodes is part of the diverse planthopper fauna of the Americas, with this species recorded from regions including Florida, Mexico, and Brazil.
planthopper Delphacidae Auchenorrhyncha Neotropical Florida Mexico Brazil Caribbean
Tanaostigmodes
Tanaostigmodes is a genus of chalcid wasps in the family Tanaostigmatidae, established by Ashmead in 1896. Species in this genus exhibit diverse host associations with Fabaceae, including fruit-feeding and gall-inducing behaviors. Some species have reached pest status on cultivated legumes, while others induce distinct gall morphotypes on native plants. The genus is distributed across multiple continents including Asia and the Americas.
Tanaostigmatidae Chalcidoidea Fabaceae gall-inducer agricultural-pest fruit-feeder India Brazil legume-pest
Tanytarsus
non-biting midge
Tanytarsus is a large genus of non-biting midges comprising over 480 described species. The genus belongs to the tribe Tanytarsini within the subfamily Chironominae. Larvae occur in diverse freshwater habitats, with some species inhabiting marine environments. Species-level studies reveal complex life cycles with photoperiod and temperature as key determinants of seasonal patterns.
chironomid non-biting-midge freshwater marine model-organism parthenogenesis diapause toxicology Belgium Colombia Ecuador Brazil Finland Neotropical Palearctic Nearctic trivoltine COI-barcode hypopygium species-groups aquatic-macrophytes trout-ponds pH-sensitivity
Telenomus podisi
Telenomus podisi is an egg parasitoid wasp first described by William Harris Ashmead in 1893. It is a primary natural enemy of stink bugs (Pentatomidae), with Euschistus heros documented as its principal host. The species has been extensively studied for biological control applications in soybean and other agricultural systems, particularly in Brazil. Laboratory studies demonstrate that females can form olfactory memories during immature development, with learned preferences persisting up to 72 hours post-emergence. The species is susceptible to several insecticides including imidacloprid, which is lethal, while some organic products show greater selectivity.
egg-parasitoid biological-control Pentatomidae soybean-pest-management integrated-pest-management olfactory-learning Brazil Scelionidae stink-bug-parasitoid augmentative-biological-control
Thambemyia
Thambemyia is a genus of long-legged flies in the family Dolichopodidae, characterized by its exclusive association with rocky intertidal habitats. The genus is distributed across the Oriental and Neotropical realms, with a single Palearctic species from Japan. Taxonomic relationships with the genus Conchopus remain unresolved, with some authors treating the latter as a synonym while others recognize it as distinct. The genus currently comprises five described species plus a new subgenus established for the Japanese species.
Dolichopodidae intertidal marine rocky-shore Oriental Neotropical Palearctic Japan China Brazil taxonomy-disputed Conchopus-synonymy non-native-introduction North-America-invasion
Thyrinteina arnobia
eucalyptus brown looper, brown looper caterpillar
Thyrinteina arnobia is a geometrid moth native to the Americas and a major pest of Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. The species occurs throughout South America and parts of Central and North America, where it feeds primarily on Myrtaceae, with Eucalyptus serving as a vulnerable host in commercial plantations. Larval infestations can reduce annual Eucalyptus biomass production by up to 40%, making it the primary defoliator of subtropical and tropical Brazilian eucalyptus farms. Population genetic studies indicate low genetic diversity in Brazil with three regional mitochondrial haplogroups, suggesting outbreaks arise from local populations rather than long-distance dispersal.
pest defoliator Eucalyptus Myrtaceae Geometridae Brazil plantation transgenic-control population-genetics
Tomoplagia
Tomoplagia is a genus of tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) comprising approximately 60 described species. The genus is primarily Neotropical in distribution, with species recorded from Brazil and other South American regions. Larvae develop within plant tissues of Asteraceae, with documented associations including flower heads and stem galls on members of the tribe Vernonieae. Host specialization varies among species, ranging from monophagy to oligophagy on related host plants.
fruit-flies tephritid Asteraceae Vernonieae gall-former Neotropical Brazil host-specialization flower-head-inhabitant
Toxomerus dispar
Dark-sided Calligrapher
Toxomerus dispar is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae, commonly known as the Dark-sided Calligrapher. The species was described by Fabricius in 1794. It belongs to the diverse genus Toxomerus, which includes numerous small to medium-sized hoverflies often recognized by their distinctive abdominal patterning. As a member of Syrphidae, this species is likely involved in pollination and may exhibit larval predation on small arthropods, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Diptera Syrphidae hoverfly Neotropical Brazil
Triraphis
Needlegrass, Triraphis grasses
Triraphis is a genus of grasses (Poaceae: Triraphideae) native to Africa, Arabia, Australia, and Brazil. Commonly called needlegrass, species in this genus inhabit diverse environments from tropical to arid regions. The genus serves as host for specialized smut fungi in the genera Tilletia and Ustilago.
grass needlegrass smut-fungus-host Poaceae Triraphideae Africa Arabia Australia Brazil naturalized-species
Tylos niveus
Snowy Calloused Beach Pillbug
Tylos niveus is a coastal isopod in the family Tylidae, first described by Budde-Lund in 1885. A 2000 redescription provided a new diagnosis for the species and documented its expanded latitudinal distribution. The species has been recorded from sandy beach habitats in Brazil, with a new occurrence reported from Taquaras, Santa Catarina, extending its known range to 27°S.
isopod beach coastal Brazil Tylidae Oniscidea
Ucides cordatus
swamp ghost crab, caranguejo-uçá, Atlantic mangrove ghost crab
Ucides cordatus is a large mangrove crab endemic to the Atlantic coast of the Americas, ranging from Florida to Uruguay. It is one of two species in the genus Ucides and holds substantial economic and ecological importance, particularly in Brazil where it supports artisanal fisheries. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with females typically larger than males and differing in carapace coloration. Population declines have been documented since 1988 due to overharvesting, habitat loss, and disease.
crustacean decapod brachyura mangrove terrestrial-crab ecosystem-engineer fisheries-species bioindicator sexual-dimorphism herbivore burrowing Atlantic-distribution Brazil conservation-concern
Ufa rubedinella
Red-Washed Ufa
Ufa rubedinella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. It was described by Zeller in 1848. The species is known from Brazil, specifically recorded from Rio de Janeiro state. It is commonly referred to as the Red-Washed Ufa. The genus Ufa contains relatively few described species, and most are poorly known biologically.
Pyralidae Phycitinae Brazil Neotropical Zeller-1848
Xenochaetina muscaria
Xenochaetina muscaria is a species of small fly in the family Lauxaniidae, originally described by Loew in 1861. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Xenochaetina flavipennis. Records in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) indicate this taxon has been documented from multiple localities in Brazil, including the states of Bahia, Roraima, and São Paulo. As a member of Lauxaniidae, it belongs to a family of acalyptrate flies commonly known as lauxaniid flies, though specific biological details for this particular species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Diptera Lauxaniidae Neotropical Brazil synonym
Xeropigo
Xeropigo is a genus of sac spiders in the family Corinnidae, first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1882. The genus comprises 17 described species distributed across South America and the Caribbean, with the majority of species occurring in Brazil. Recent taxonomic revisions have significantly expanded the known diversity, with seven new species described from Brazil in 2016. The genus shows notable species richness in northeastern Brazilian states, particularly Piauí, Ceará, and Maranhão.
spiders Araneae Corinnidae Neotropical Brazil sac-spiders ground-dwelling taxonomic-revision-2016
Xeropigo tridentiger
Xeropigo tridentiger is a corinnid spider species first described from Colombia in 1870. It is one of the most widespread species in the genus, with records spanning northern South America including Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. The species name refers to the three-toothed (trident) structure of the male pedipalp, a diagnostic feature. Recent taxonomic work has updated its known distribution, confirming its presence across multiple Brazilian states.
spider arachnid Corinnidae South-America Colombia Brazil taxonomic-revision ground-spider
Zethus miscogaster
Zethus miscogaster is a species of potter wasp in the family Eumenidae, first described by de Saussure in 1852. The genus Zethus comprises primarily Neotropical wasps, many of which construct mud or plant-fiber nests. This species has been documented in central-western Brazil. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a solitary nesting wasp that provisions its cells with paralyzed caterpillars.
potter-wasp solitary-wasp Neotropical Brazil Eumenidae
Zuphiini
Zuphiini is a tribe of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, established by Bonelli in 1810. The tribe contains at least 23 genera and more than 120 described species with a worldwide distribution. Members of the genus Coarazuphium within this tribe include obligate cave-dwelling (troglobitic) species found in iron ore caves in Brazil's Carajás region, which harbors the highest diversity of obligatory cave-dwelling beetles in the country.
cave-dwelling troglobitic ground-beetles subterranean Brazil Carajás endemic biodiversity-indicator