RESUMO
Eusociality in its various degrees represents an animal social system characterised by cooperative brood care, differentiation into castes and generational overlap. The fossil record indicates that eusociality is likely to have originated in hymenopterans and blattodeans during the Cretaceous. In this study, we present findings from surveys in Peruvian (Villa Carmen) and Ecuadorian (Rio Bigal, El Reventador) cloud forests revealing the first extant cockroach species living in complex, structured groups (n = 90-200 individuals, Ë 20 adults). We observed and described behaviours that suggest the existence of cooperative care, nest guarding, nest chamber preparation within hardwood Casearia sp. (Salicaceae) and bamboo (Bambusoideae), multiple overlapping generations ('different stages of' instars), colony translocation, possibly a sole reproductive female (1.25 times larger white 'queen', but no potential 'king' observed), and morphologically diversified immature stages. In order to define the lineage where this type of sociality originated and occurs, the forms of Melyroidea magnifica Shelford, 1912, M. ecuadoriana sp. n., M. mimetica Shelford, 1912 and an undescribed species from Peru are also described in a separate section of this study. Blattoid morphological characteristics such as typical styli suggest categorisation within distinct Oulopterygidae (Rehn, 1951), outside Corydiidae Saussure 1864. Transitional advanced sociality or semisociality in related Aclavoidea socialis gen. et sp. n. is documented in a rotting stump (n = 80 individuals, few adults). Close phylogenetic relation between the genera, conserved morphology of numerous characters and their diverse feeding strategies generally lacking specialisation suggests a rather recent origin of a social way of life in this group. Eusociality in invertebrates and vertebrates can thus originate in various phylogenetical and ecological trajectories including predation, parasitism, care for herbs and the new one, documented through diet shift from detritivory to fungivory and algaevory. Interdisciplinary approaches reveal the low degree of knowledge of rainforest ecosystems, with fundamental groups remaining still systematically and also behaviourally undescribed.
Assuntos
Baratas/fisiologia , Comportamento Social , Animais , Equador , Feminino , Peru , Filogenia , Clima TropicalRESUMO
From the tribe Brachycolini Beier, 1961 new genus with one species Quadrihormetica onorei Vidlicka, gen. et sp. n. and species Lucihormetica yasuniana Vidlicka, sp. n. from the region Oriente (Amazon), Ecuador are described. The new genus is clearly distinguished from all other genera by specific shape of pronotum. The male of Hormetica strumosa is redescribed and illustrated; his female is the first time described.
Assuntos
Baratas , Gastrópodes , Animais , Equador , Feminino , MasculinoRESUMO
The genus Panchlora includes 49 species, but only 45 are widely distributed in Central and South America. Most of them are green. The new species herein described presents an ornamental coloration markedly different of all until now described species. Panchlora kozaneki sp. n. is similar to Panchlora pulchella Burmeister, 1838. The number of species known from Ecuador is increased to eight.
Assuntos
Baratas/classificação , Distribuição Animal , Estruturas Animais/anatomia & histologia , Estruturas Animais/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , Tamanho Corporal , Baratas/anatomia & histologia , Baratas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Equador , Masculino , Tamanho do ÓrgãoRESUMO
Representatives of the cockroach genus Macrophyllodromia are widely distributed in Central and South Americas. The genus involves 10 species, including one new species described here, that are divided into 3 species groups--splendida, amabile and maximiliani. Macrophyllodromia onorei sp. n. is described as the fourth species of this genus from Ecuador. A key is provided for males of all known species of Macrophyllodromia and a species distribution map is presented.
Assuntos
Baratas/anatomia & histologia , Baratas/classificação , Distribuição Animal , Animais , Baratas/fisiologia , Equador , Masculino , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
Cockroaches are an understudied group and the total number of described taxa increases every year. The last checklist of Ecuador species was published in 1926. The main aim of this study was to complete a new checklist of cockroach species recorded in Ecuador supplemented with a research history of cockroaches (Blattaria) on the territory of continental Ecuador. In addition, the checklist contains comments on Ecuadorian faunistic records, including the Galápagos Islands. A total of 114 species (105 in continental Ecuador and 18 in Galápagos Islands) belonging to 6 families and 44 genera are listed. Forty species (38.1 %) occur solely in continental Ecuador and five (27.8 %) are endemic on Galápagos Islands. The results indicate that further research on the cockroach fauna of Ecuador as well as determination of museum collections from this territory is needed.