Leaf-cutting ants, being the principal herbivores and ecosystem engineers in the Neotropics, have been considered to be a keystone species in natural ecosystems and agroecosystems, due to the direct and indirect effects of their plant defoliation activities. This review summarizes current concepts of the biological and ecological importance of leaf-cutting ants. The ants' pest status is briefly assessed from both ecological and evolutionary points of view. A general overview of control measures is provided. Leaf-cutting ants have evolved physical, symbiotic and behavioural mechanisms that allow them to overcome the chemical, biological, mechanical and cultural methods that have been used to manage their populations. Given the highly complex ecology of these ants, simple methods of control should not be expected. Sound management strategies must alternate between, and combine, different methods.

Here we present a comprehensive review of the literature on the vectorial importance of the major Anopheles malaria vectors in Colombia. We provide basic information on the geographical distribution, altitudinal range, immature habitats, adult behaviour, feeding preferences and anthropophily, endophily and infectivity rates. We additionally review information on the life cycle, longevity and population fluctuation of Colombian Anopheles species. Emphasis was placed on the primary vectors that have been epidemiologically incriminated in malaria transmission: Anopheles darlingi, Anopheles albimanus and Anopheles nuneztovari. The role of a selection of local, regional or secondary vectors (e.g., Anopheles pseudopunctipennis and Anopheles neivai) is also discussed. We highlight the importance of combining biological, morphological and molecular data for the correct taxonomical determination of a given species, particularly for members of the species complexes. We likewise emphasise the importance of studying the bionomics of primary and secondary vectors along with an examination of the local conditions affecting the transmission of malaria. The presence and spread of the major vectors and the emergence of secondary species capable of transmitting human Plasmodia are of great interest. When selecting control measures, the anopheline diversity in the region must be considered. Variation in macroclimate conditions over a species' geographical range must be well understood and targeted to plan effective control measures based on the population dynamics of the local Anopheles species.

The larvae of some species of Scarabaeidae, known locally as “chisas” (whitegrubs), are important pests in agricultural areas of the Cauca, Colombia. They form a complex consisting of many species belonging to several genera that affect the roots of commercial crops. The objective of the present study was to identify the members of the complex present in two localities (Caldono and Buenos Aires) and collect basic information on their biology, economic importance, and larval morphology. The first of two types of sampling involved sampling adults in light traps installed weekly throughout one year. The second method involved larval collections in plots of cassava, pasture, coffee, and woodland. Each locality was visited once per month and 10 samples per plot were collected on each occasion, with each sample from a quadrants 1 m² by 15 cm deep, during 1999-2000. Light traps collected 12,512 adults belonging to 45 species and 21 genera of Scarabaeidae within the subfamilies Dynastinae, Melolonthinae, and Rutelinae. Members of the subfamily Dynastinae predominated with 48% of the species (mostly Cyclocephala), followed in decreasing order by Melolonthinae (35%) and Rutelinae (15%, principally Anomala). Melolonthinae comprised 60% of the specimens (Plectris spp. 59.5% and Phyllophaga spp. 35.9%). A total of 10,261 larvae of 32 species was collected, including 12 species each of Melolonthinae (Phyllophaga, Plectris, Astaena, Macrodactylus, Ceraspis, Barybas, and Isonychus), Rutelinae (Anomala, Callistethus, Stigoderma, and Leucothyreus) and Dynastinae (principally Cyclocephala). At least a third of the species sampled as larvae are rhizophagous pests. Taken together, adult and larval sampling methods permitted a more precise definition of the whitegrub complex in Caldono and Buenos Aires. Las llamadas “chisas” son larvas de algunas especies de Scarabaeidae, consideradas plagas rizófagas, que actuan en complejos integrados por varias especies y géneros de difícl separación taxonómica. La presente investigación tuvo como objetivos dilucidar el complejo chisa en Caldono y Buenos Aires, dos localidades del Departamento del Cauca. Además se obtuvo información básica sobre su biología e importancia económica. Los adultos fueron colectados semanalmente con trampas de luz. Las larvas se obtuvieron a partir de parcelas de yuca, pastizal, café y bosque. Cada parcela se visitó una vez por mes, entre 1999 y 2000. Se realizaron 10 muestras por parcela en cada ocasión, cada muestra consistió en cuadrantes de 1 m² por 15 cm de profundidad. Las trampas de luz reunieron 12.512 adultos correspondientes a 45 especies y 21 géneros de Scarabaeidae, la mayor diversidad correspondió a la subfamilia Dynastinae (48%, mayoría Cyclocephala) seguida por Melolonthinae (35%) y Rutelinae (15%, principalmente Anomala). La mayor abundancia se observó en Melolonthinae (60%), con Plectris spp., representando el 59.48% y Phyllophaga spp. el 35.89%). Se colectó un total de 10.261 larvas distribuidas así: 12 especies de Melolonthinae (Phyllophaga, Plectris, Astaena, Macrodactylus, Ceraspis, Barybas e Isonychus), 12 de Rutelinae (Anomala, Callistethus, Stigoderma y Leucothyreus) y 5 Dynastinae (principalmente Cyclocephala). Se concluye que al menos la tercera parte de las especies muestreadas a nivel de larvas presentan hábitos rizófagos, además la conjugación de muestreo de larvas y adultos facilitó el reconocimiento del complejo chisa local lo cual se recomienda implementar en otras regiones agrícolas con similares problemas fitosanitarios. Translation provided by the authors.

Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of Leishmania that are acquired by the female sand fly during blood feeding on an infected mammal. Leishmania parasites develop exclusively in the gut lumen during their residence in the insect before transmission to a suitable host during the next blood feed. Female phlebotomine sand flies are blood feeding insects but their life style of visiting plants as well as animals, and the propensity for larvae to feed on detritus including animal faeces means that the insect host and parasite are exposed to a range of microorganisms. Thus, the sand fly microbiota may interact with the developing Leishmania population in the gut. The aim of the study was to investigate and identify the bacterial diversity associated with wild adult female Lutzomyia sand flies from different geographical locations in the New World. The bacterial phylotypes recovered from 16S rRNA gene clone libraries obtained from wild caught adult female Lutzomyia sand flies were estimated from direct band sequencing after denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of bacterial 16 rRNA gene fragments. These results confirm that the Lutzomyia sand flies contain a limited array of bacterial phylotypes across several divisions. Several potential plant-related bacterial sequences were detected including Erwinia sp. and putative Ralstonia sp. from two sand fly species sampled from 3 geographically separated regions in Brazil. Identification of putative human pathogens also demonstrated the potential for sand flies to act as vectors of bacterial pathogens of medical importance in addition to their role in Leishmania transmission.