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Cryptic taxa have often been observed in the form of host‐associated species that diverged as the result of adaptation to alternate host plants. Untangling cryptic diversity in species complexes that encompass invasive species is a mandatory task for pest management. Moreover, investigating the evolutionary history of a species complex may help to understand the drivers of their diversification. The mealybug Hypogeococcus pungens was believed to be a polyphagous species from South America and has been reported as a pest devastating native cacti in Puerto Rico, also threatening cactus diversity in the Caribbean and North America. There is neither certainty about the identity of the pest nor the source population from South America. Recent studies pointed to substantial genetic differentiation among local populations, suggesting that H. pungens is a species complex. In this study, we used a combination of genome‐wide SNPs and mtDNA variation to investigate species diversity within H. pungens sensu lato to establish host plant ranges of each one of the putative members of the complex, to evaluate whether the pattern of host plant association drove diversification in the species complex, and to determine the source population of the Puerto Rican cactus pest. Our results suggested that H. pungens comprises at least five different species, each one strongly associated with specific host plants. We also established that the Puerto Rican cactus pest derives from southeastern Brazilian mealybugs. This is an important achievement because it will help to design reliable strategies for biological control using natural enemies of the pest from its native range. Hypogeococcus pungens is a species complex native to South America. Some of its members are cactophilic, and one of them has been reported as a pest threatening cactus diversity in the Caribbean and North America. Using a combination of genome‐wide SNPs and mtDNA, we found that the complex comprises at least five different species, each strongly associated with specific host plants. Our study also shows that the Puerto Rican cactus pest derives from southeastern Brazilian mealybugs. These results will help to design reliable strategies for biological control using natural enemies of the pest from its native range.

The global population is estimated to reach 9 billion at 2050; thus, there will be an increase of food demand. In this scenario, edible insects can be considered as an option for both food and supplements source. In this work was evaluated the nutritional aspects of Cladomorphus phyllinum, also known as stick insect. Protein, carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, fatty acids, minerals and ecotoxicity were analyzed. The raw sample had protein, carbohydrate, ester and lipid content of 17.96%, 8.33%, 15.23% and 1.85%, respectively, while the dry sample presented 64.6% protein content. It has been found that the dry stick insect presented the essential amino acids, leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine and histidine. Oleic acid (57.03%), palmitic acid (15.94%), linoleic acid (13.76%) and stearic acid (10.67%) were also found in dry samples. The micronutrients calcium, magnesium and zinc were the minerals with expressive concentrations. Besides, acute ecotoxicity tests performed with extremely sensitive species, Daphnia magna, Vibrio fischeri and Artemia Salina, revealed no toxicity associated with the Cladomorphus phyllinum. These results obtained in this work indicate that the stick insect can be used as an alternative insect-based protein, minerals, fatty acids and amino source.

The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) was implemented to further develop the third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Interpretation of this agreement is wide-ranging and there is concern that if ABS measures are poorly implemented biological control and the resultant public good will be greatly impeded. The ethos of multilateral use and exchange of genetic resources used in classical biological control will be particularly affected. In the spirit of the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, we propose a simple practical solution in the form of an international agreement on the use and exchange of classical biological control genetic resources.

Habitat heterogeneity, ecological interactions, and abiotic characteristics are the factors that structure ant assemblages in terrestrial ecosystems. The anthropogenic actions of degradation and restoration have increased the scenarios and possibilities of response patterns in the face of environmental changes. This study aimed to analyze the community structure of leaf litter ant fauna in areas of the Atlantic rainforest and pasture undergoing the process of ecological restoration in two sampling periods. Data were collected bi-monthly from the installation of pitfall traps, installed from April 2015 to August 2016 and April 2017 to August 2018. The analyses were carried out based on the parameters of community structure and relationships with the microclimate. A total of 2,998 specimens were distributed across seven subfamilies, 26 genera, and 125 species/morphospecies. No differences were observed in species richness between native forest and pasture with nucleation techniques. Significant differences in species composition were observed between native forests and pastures with nucleation techniques. Microclimate was an essential determinant for structuring ant assemblages, discriminating regions where the arboreal component was present and absent. The number of unique species in the native forest area demonstrates the need for fragments in sound conservation stages. Our results support leaf litter ant fauna as a bioindicator for monitoring the restoration of areas degraded by pastures in the Atlantic Forest in Southern Brazil.

Model organisms are powerful research tools for exploring fundamental biological questions, but no one model can encompass the full diversity of plant life.

The Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol establish that genetic resources shall be accessed only upon the existence of prior informed consent of the country that provides those resources and that benefits arising from their utilization shall be shared. Pursuant to both agreements several countries have adopted regulations on access and benefit-sharing. These regulations have created a challenging obstacle to classical biological control of weeds. This paper reviews the experiences of Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, the USA, Canada and CABI in implementing access and benefit-sharing regulations and the implications these measures have on the effective and efficient access, exchange and utilization of biological control agents. We conclude that policy makers should be made aware of the key role biological control plays for agriculture and the environment and they are encouraged to develop tailored access and benefit-sharing legal frameworks that facilitate biological control research and implementation.

The third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources was further developed when the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing came into effect in 2014. Interpretation of how this agreement is being implemented is wide-ranging and there are implications for biological control. A survey of biological control workers indicated that while some countries have facilitated access to biological control genetic resources, requirements in other countries have impeded biological control implementation. There was consensus that benefits to provider countries should be in the form of supporting local research communities. There was also agreement that the free use and exchange of biological control genetic resources has provided benefits to the global community, including to both providers and recipients of the agents. It is recommended that consideration of the free use and exchange principal should be a key element of Access and Benefit Sharing measures for the future.

Atualmente uma das principais ameaças à biodiversidade é a invasão biológica. Poucas são as ferramentas para o controle e monitoramento. Neste sentido este trabalho estruturou e testou procedimentos de modelagem de nicho potencial a partir de dados de ocorrência de Hovenia dulcis Thunberg, e Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray, utilizando os algoritmos GARP e MaxEnt, associados a pacotes de variáveis ambientais, no intuito de desenvolver ferramentas para prever risco de invasão biológica. Os algoritmos mostraram-se eficientes para gerar modelos de nicho potencial para as espécies citadas para o Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil. Observou-se que a modelagem de nicho para espécies invasoras representa uma ferramenta importante para o mapeamento de invasões estabelecidas, bem como para a predição de nicho para espécies invasoras. Os resultados apontam que os modelos de nicho potencial gerados podem fornecer informações relevantes sobre áreas com risco de invasão para Tithonia diversifolia e Hovenia dulcis com potencial para se tornarem ferramenta de controle institucional na previsão de novas invasões e monitoramento da dispersão de espécies invasoras em Santa Catarina.

Atualmente uma das principais ameaças à biodiversidade é a invasão biológica. Poucas são as ferramentas para o controle e monitoramento. Neste sentido este trabalho estruturou e testou procedimentos de modelagem de nicho potencial a partir de dados de ocorrência de Hovenia dulcis Thunberg, e Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray, utilizando os algoritmos GARP e MaxEnt, associados a pacotes de variáveis ambientais, no intuito de desenvolver ferramentas para prever risco de invasão biológica. Os algoritmos mostraram-se eficientes para gerar modelos de nicho potencial para as espécies citadas para o Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil. Observouse que a modelagem de nicho para espécies invasoras representa uma ferramenta importante para o mapeamento de invasões estabelecidas, bem como para a predição de nicho para espécies invasoras. Os resultados apontam que os modelos de nicho potencial gerados podem fornecer informações relevantes sobre áreas com risco de invasão para Tithonia diversifolia e Hovenia dulcis com potencial para se tornarem ferramenta de controle institucional na previsão de novas invasões e monitoramento da dispersão de espécies invasoras em Santa Catarina.

Hyperaspis delicata, new species (Coccinellidae), from Brazil, is described and illustrated. Brief biological information on the species is provided.