Ocorrência estacional e caracterização de Oxymerus basalis (Dalman, 1823) em mangabeiras no Amazonas

Abstract

The Cerambycidae family is of great importance to the forestry sector due to its ability to girdle branches and trunks of many plant species. However, despite the services provided by these insects, many abiotic and biotic factors can affect their population dynamics. This study aimed to identify and record the presence of the species Oxymerus basalis - Cerambycidae, in mangabeira trees Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae). The survey of the Cerambycidae family species was conducted in the municipality of Humaitá – Amazonas. Colored traps were used, placed every 10 meters and suspended 1.5 meters above the ground. The collection took place in two periods in 2024: at the end of the rainy season (March/April) and the beginning of the dry season (May/June). Climatic data, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation, were obtained from the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet). The morphological evaluation of the specimens collected in the traps confirmed the species Oxymerus basalis. This is the first record of this species in the South of Amazonas. The highest number of specimens was collected at the end of the rainy season. A population decline was observed as the dry season approached. The ambient temperature was positively correlated with the insect population, highlighting the sensitivity of the Cerambycidae population to temperature variations. The association of the species, whose population peak coincided with the flowering of the mangabeira trees, reveals the ecological importance that this species may have in the native field environment in the South of Amazonas. Monitoring is essential for identifying species of ecological and agricultural importance in the region.