Folivorous insects in the rainforests of the Guianas.

Abstract

A brief outline of entomological activities in the rain forests of French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname, is presented. The information available on the main groups of sap-sucking (Thysanoptera and Heteroptera) and leaf-chewing (Phasmids, Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera) insects is discussed. Leaf damage (herbivory) and leaf-cutting ants are described.

Response to Comment on "Why Are There So Many Species of Herbivorous Insects in Tropical Rainforests?"

“…However, these forests exist only in low-nutrient environments, such as sandy or swampy soils, which can also influence the quality of plant resources for herbivores. This is probably why the diversity of insect herbivores in these forests is low (8) and why they are not exceptionally host specific, contrary to expectations for an abundant resource (9).…”

A comparison of two common flight interception traps to survey tropical arthropods

“…Tropical forests likely support most of the insect diversity on earth, but only a few studies have attempted to broadly sample insect communities in tropical forests. One reason that there remains little consensus regarding the total number of insect species is because there has been so little sampling in the Neotropics ( Basset et al 2005 ). Large scale and multi-protocol projects including IBISCA ( Basset et al 2007 ) and the ALAS project ( Longino and Colwell 1997 ) have produced different sampling methodologies in different regions, including Central America ( Basset et al 2007 ), Australia (Stork et al 1997; Kitching et al 2001 ), and Africa ( Missa et al 2009 ).…”

First Record of Trophobiotic Interaction between a Ponerine Ant and a Cicadelid Bug

“…This was the first time that X. tuberculata was found on Sipanea aff. (Rubiaceae) although [31] reported this species as a generalist, found on plants of the families Lauraceae, Leguminosae, Caesalpiniaceae, and Bombacaceae.…”