Six species of insects were discovered in the mountainous region of Espírito Santo by researchers from the “Entomofauna of Espírito Santo” project, from the Capixaba Institute of Research, Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (Incaper). They were described in a scientific article published this month in the magazine “Zootaxa”, published in New Zealand.
Until then, unknown to science, the species of mirids (popularly known as bedbugs) were collected in an Atlantic Forest environment, in the municipalities of Venda Nova do Imigrante, Domingos Martins and Santa Maria de Jetibá.
Agricultural engineer David dos Santos Martins explains that the new species belong to three Subfamilies of the Miridae Family: Bryocorinae, Cylapinae and Deraeocorinae.
The Miridae family is the largest in Suborder Heteroptera (Hemiptera), with approximately 10 thousand species distributed in 1.383 genera around the world. In Brazil, around a thousand species are known.
“In our study, we identified 45 species of this family, 25 of which were new records for Espírito Santo. Of these, six are new to science”, highlights Martins.
Mirids play essential roles in ecosystems, acting as predators of insects, pests and vectors of viruses. The discovery of these new species can help to better understand ecological interactions and balances in the habitats where they were found. “Many mirids are phytophagous, feeding on living plants by sucking their sap, while others are insect predators, helping to control populations in the ecosystem”, explains Martins.
In the context of agriculture, predatory mirids have potential as biological pest control agents, while phytophages can cause damage to crops. Some species can even transmit viruses to other plants.
“Mirids that feed on aphids, for example, help protect cultivated plants. In-depth studies on these new species can lead to the development of more effective and sustainable agricultural strategies”, evaluates Martins.
Furthermore, several mirids are sensitive to environmental changes, serving as bioindicators. The presence or absence of these new species may reflect the quality of the environment and changes in local ecosystems.
The mirid species were named Eurychilella incaperanus, Knightocoris carlosleitei, Sinervus Vendanovensis, Sinervus venturai, Valdasoides marisae e Valdasus carpenteiroi.
Name Eurychilella incaperanus pays tribute to Incaper, for the logistical assistance to the study, which allowed the researchers participating in the study to register and produce the publication, and also for two of the authors responsible for the study being entomologists at the Institute.
Sinervus venturai pays homage to researcher José Aires Ventura, from Incaper, in recognition of his contributions to science in Brazil, especially agricultural research in Espírito Santo. Sinervus Vendanovensis refers to the municipality of Venda Nova do Imigrante, where the species was collected.
The article about the new species was published with the title “Synopsis of Miridae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in Atlantic Forest Dominion, Espírito Santo State, Brazil: keys, diagnoses, new species, plant associations, and geographic distribution. Part I: Bryocorinae, Cylapinae and Deraeocorinae”.
In the publication, the researchers report another important scientific finding for Espírito Santo. A mirid specimen of a species of the genus Clivinema was collected in Venda Nova do Imigrante, which represents the first record of this genre in South America.
“The majority of species in this genus occur in Canada and North America. Only one species of this genus is represented in the Neotropical Region, with distribution in southern Mexico. This is the first report of its kind Clivinema in the Southern Hemisphere. This shows the rich biodiversity of insects that Espírito Santo has”, points out David Martins.
The scientists' article received the following summary:
"This is the first article in a compilation of synoptic taxonomic treatments of Miridae subfamilies in Espírito Santo (ES), Brazil, based on extensive fieldwork and review of local collections. Starting with Bryocorinae, Cylapinae and Deraeocorinae. This manuscript recognizes three subfamilies, 8 tribes, 31 genera and 45 species from the region. Diagnostics, host/plant associations, and predator prey information, distribution data, and observations are provided. Illustrations of adults and, for most species, morphological characters of male genitalia are provided to aid in identification. Keys for identification were included, including other subfamilies, tribes and genera not yet found in the state of ES to increase comparative precision."
More information at doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5468.2.1
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