Mesoamericana

Editorial

Alonso Santos Murgas — 2024-10-18

DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF ORCHID BEES (APIDAE: EUGLOSSINI) IN THREE SITES ON THE PACIFIC COAST OF THE PROVINCES OF VERAGUAS AND LOS SANTOS, PANAMA

Julio Gutiérrez Lanzas — 2024-10-18

In order to determine the diversity and abundance of orchid bees on the Pacific coast of the provinces of Veraguas and Los Santos, three sites were sampled, two of them in the province of Veraguas and one in the province of Los Santos. The bees were captured with McPhail traps, which were placed in the undergrowth using eucalyptus oil as an attractant; the traps were placed at 7:00 am and removed at 5:00 pm for a period of two continuous days. A total of 169 specimens belonging to 3 genera, Eulaema, Euglossa and Exaerete, were obtained. The genus that dominated the most in terms of richness was the genus Euglossa with 7 species followed by the genus Eulaema with 2 species and finally the genus Exaerete with 1 species; for the genus Eufriesea, no collections were possible. The sampling completeness curve reveals 97.26% for Playa Malena, 98.18% for Playa Cambutal and 83.64% for Playa Santa Catalina based on representativeness. In conclusion, we can infer that despite the anthropic influence that exists in these sites there are populations of orchid bees that remain stable in the face of different environmental changes that alter the composition of ecosystems.

EXTRACTION OF THE BLACK SHELL Anadara tuberculosa IN THE MANGROVES OF PANAMÁ

Ediniel Trejos Pimentel — 2024-10-18

The Black Shell (Anadara Tuberculosa) lives in the mesolitoral zones associated with the roots of the red mangrove (Rhizophora spp). In the Panamanian Pacific these bivalves are the basis of an exclusively artisanal subsistence fishery, developed by the communities located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, where these bivalves are the basis of an exclusively artisanal subsistence fishery. The studies carried out between 2015-2023 in the mangroves in the Bay of Chame have the primary objective of recommending conservation strategies to shell extractors. Do not catch catches smaller than 5 cm in size, establish a voluntary closed period, extract the resource three times a week, reduce wastewater discharges to the mangrove, establish a reforestation program and reduce logging to guarantee the activity at current and future generations.

HAMMERHEAD SHARK (Sphyrna lewini) IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION

Ediniel Trejos Pimentel — 2024-10-18

The hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) is in danger of extinction globally according to the IUCN. Their main conservation challenge is the decline of their populations due to overfishing. The species has been subject to intensive fishing at all stages of its life cycle, due to the high economic value of its fins and the demand for its meat. Sphyrna lewini is a migratory shark found in warm, temperate and tropical coastal waters. Its growth is slow, its size at birth is 42-55 cm, sexual maturity for males ranges from 1.5 m to 2.25 m, for females it is 2 meters or more, it reaches a maximum size in adults close to 4.00m in length, With a weight very close to 400 Kg, approximately 880 pounds, its number of embryos per birth is 14-35 offspring. On the coasts, wetlands and river mouths, spawning occurs. Its long gestation period and extensive migrations make it vulnerable to bycatch in the high seas, oceanic congregation areas, and coastal breeding grounds. The lack of management strategies by regional fishing organizations and high catch rates represents a serious threat to their survival. The difficulty in distinguishing between species of the genus has led to grouping estimates of abundance trends into a complex. Analyzes of catch data have shown large declines in the hammerhead complex, including Sphyrna mokarran and Sphyrna zygaena, with reductions of up to 60% to 99% in recent years. Due to the current situation of S. lewini, overexploitation, lack of effective regulation and other natural or man-made threats, it is necessary to include this species in CITES to begin its recovery.

NEW RECORD OF Misumena vatia (Clerck, 1757) (ARANEAE: THOMISIDAE) IN CERRO PUNTA – CHIRIQUÍ, PANAMÁ

Rubén Collantes — 2024-10-18

Crab spiders (Araneae: Thomisidae) are natural predators of insects in areas close to crops, with thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) being important pests for several vegetables. Between September and November 2022, it was observed in both onion plots and daisy flowers in Cerro Punta, Tierras Altas – Chiriquí, Panama (8°51'13” N 82°34'16” W, 1949 m asl), the presence of yellow and white crab spiders; Therefore, the objective was to identify said species. A specimen was collected, which was preserved in 70% ethanol to be checked in the laboratory of the Cerro Punta Experimental Station – Instituto de Innovación Agropecuaria de Panamá and in the G. B. Fairchild Invertebrate Museum – Universidad de Panamá, also consulting literature specialized. The morphological characters observed, mainly the epigynum, are close to the species Misumena vatia (Clerck, 1757), this being, as far as is known, a new record for Panama.

CANNIBALISM IN WHIP SPIDERS OF THE GENUS PHRYNUS SP. (ARACHNIDA: AMBLYPYGI) IN PANAMA

Rogemif Fuentes — 2024-10-18

Intraguild predator-prey relationships have been widely documented in amblypygids except for cannibalism. This behavior, despite its few records, may be more frequent than known. We present the first case for Panama.

NEW RECORD OF Terastia meticulosalis (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE) AFFECTING Erythrina poeppigiana (FABALES: FABACEAE) IN RENACIMIENTO – CHIRIQUÍ, PANAMA

Esteban Sánchez-González — 2024-10-18

Erythrina trees (Erythrina spp. [Fabales: Fabaceae]), are appreciated as ornamental and shade species in coffee and cocoa agroecosystems; However, Terastia meticulosalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is one of the main pests that affects these plants. In August 2023, damage was observed in E. poeppigiana stems installed in coffee plantations in Piedra Candela, Renacimiento – Chiriquí, Panama (8°52'07” N 82°47'09” W), therefore the aim of the study was to identify the pest. Samples of affected shoots were taken for analysis in the laboratory, comparing the material with specialized literature. According to the results, the stem borer of E. poeppigiana is T. meticulosalis; insect with wide distribution, from the south of the United States of America, the Caribbean and part of South America. Only one official record was found in Panama Oeste (8°56'27" N 79°39'25.2" W), so this discovery represents a new record for the Chiriquí province.

NOTABLE RECORD OF THE NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758), IN THE PRIVATE BIOLOGICAL RESERVE CERRO HERMOSO, OAXACA, MEXICO

Miguel Ángel De Labra-Hernández — 2024-10-18

The presence of the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is reported in the Cerro Hermoso private Biological Reserve, withing Lagunas de Chacahua National Park area of influence in Oaxaca Mexico. In November 2023, an adult of M. polyglottos was captured using mist nets. The capture habitat consisted of secondary vegetation comprising shrubs and natural grassland. Despite the area of the record being in the process of regeneration and being surrounded by agricultural plots, the presence of M. polyglottos may be associated with the availability of key resources, such as small insects and fruits of native plants. Areas under habitat restoration play a crucial role in the conservation of biodiversity and species survival.

UPDATED DISTRIBUTION FOR PANAMA OF Thasopsis formidabilis (Distant, 1893) (HEMIPTERA: COREIDAE: COREINAE)

Rubén Collantes — 2024-10-18

The subfamily Coreinae (Hemiptera: Coreidae) includes species of large stink bugs that, in addition to causing discomfort to people by releasing irritating substances to the skin and eyes, can be pests of ornamental plants and agricultural crops. Recently, in areas close to plantain crops in Finca 65 – Changuinola, Bocas del Toro (9°25'50” N 82°31'01” W, 11 m asl), a black and orange bug was found, so the objective was to identify the species. Specialized literature was reviewed, and a specialist was consulted to confirm the identification. The results reflected that the insect in question corresponds to Thasopsis formidabilis (Distant, 1893) (Hemiptera: Coreidae: Coreinae), a species reported for the province of Chiriquí and other countries like Costa Rica and Honduras, so this finding expands the known distribution. of the species for Panama, specifically in the western region of the country.