New predatory interaction of Trichonephila clavipes (Araneae: Nephilidae) on Fidicinini (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in a forest fragment of the Neotropical region

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  New predatory interaction of Trichonephila clavipes (Araneae: Nephilidae) on Fidicinini (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in a forest fragment of the Neotropical region Abstract Trichonephila clavipes (Araneae: Nephilidae) is an orb web-building spider whose diet is primarily based on flying insects. This note aims to report the first predatory interaction of T. clavipes on a cicada of the genus Fidicina (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The predation event was observed (ad libitum) in the Benjamin Maranhão Botanical Garden situated in the Mata do Buraquinho Wildlife Refuge, northeastern Brazil. A specimen of Fidicina sp. was found freshly dead and trapped in the web of T. clavipes. The nephilid was observed moving slowly between the ventral and dorsal regions of the Fidicina sp. without weaving a web around the cicadid. Then, T. clavipes was observed perched on the left side of the Fidicina sp., with its pedipalps and chelicerae manipulating the thorax ...

Scorpions from the province of Misiones, Argentina: An assemblage of medical interest

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ESCORPIONES DE LA PROVINCIA DE MISIONES, ARGENTINA: UN ELENCO DE INTERÉS MÉDICO Scorpions from the province of Misiones, Argentina: An assemblage of medical interest SALA DE SITUACIÓN

ABSTRACT

Scorpion poisoning is a growing public health problem in Argentina and around the world. For various reasons, the poisonous animal assemblages in a region vary over time. The aim of this work was to present recent information and update the assemblage of scorpions in the province of Misiones. METHODS: An observational descriptive study was carried out by reviewing the specimens deposited in the Collection of Herpetology and Arachnids of the National Institute of Tropical Medicine. RESULTS: The first records of Tityus confluens were obtained for the province, while new records of accidents with Tityus trivittatus extended the area of presence of the species in the province. The scorpion assemblage of Misiones gathers all the four species of medical interest in the country. DISCUSSION: The detection of the most important assemblage of scorpions of medical interest in the country arose from the joint work between specialists in the different groups of poisonous animals and health professionals. It is important to generate and deepen the spaces of knowledge interaction, with the objective of improving Health Surveillance.