Semi-evergreen Forest Research Articles

Effects of thinning and tree enrichment on carbon stocks and tree species diversity in a secondary semi-evergreen tropical forest in Yucatan Peninsula

Effects of thinning and tree enrichment on carbon stocks and tree species diversity in a secondary semi-evergreen tropical forest in Yucatan Peninsula

PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANT ZIZIPHUS RUGOSA LAM.

Ziziphus rugosa Lam. a member of the Rhamnaceae family, is found in the semi-evergreen forests of the Western Ghat region, India. This plant is used in many traditional formulations owing to its benefits in miscarriage, misconception, syphilis, tachycardia, diarrhea, flatulence, dropsy, skin diseases, boils, mouth ulcer and hysteria. Successive extracts of Z. rugosa Lam. leaves were prepared using solvents of increasing polarity ranging from petroleum ether (60-80 °C) to water using the Soxhlet extraction method. The methanol extract of the leaves was used to prepare alkaloid rich fraction as per reported method and the total alkaloid content determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The extracts and the ARF were screened for antibacterial activity using selected Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains and ciprofloxacin as the reference standard. HR-LCMS was performed to identify the phytoconstituents present in the alkaloid rich fraction. Phytochemical studies of the extracts indicated the presence of tannins, phenolics, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and glycosides. The antimicrobial screening data indicated the extracts to exhibit concentration dependent inhibition of the test bacteria. The alkaloid rich fraction exhibited the best activity, significantly better than the solvent extracts across the selected panel of bacteria. The methanol and aqueous extracts showed moderate activity while the dichloromethane, pet ether and the ethyl acetate extracts were weakly active. HR-LCMS studies of the alkaloid rich fraction indicated the presence of several alkaloids detected for the first time in this plant. The observed bioactivity and traditional use warrants more investigations on this plant that would result in isolation and identification of new actives from this plant of immense traditional utility and maximizing its spectrum of utility.

New species of Plateremaeoidea (Acari, Oribatida) from Mexico

Two new species of plateremaeoid oribatid mites from the genera Jacotella and Plateremaeus, J. alexandrovskiyi n. sp. and P. sedovi n. sp., are described from leaf litter of secondary semi-evergreen tropical forest in Mexico. The description of J. alexandrovskiyi is based on adult and tritonymphal instars, P. sedovi on adult and larval instars. Identification keys to known species of Jacotella and Plateremaeus are provided.

Breaking Dawn: Factors influencing mammalian habitat usage in western Assam following socio-political instability

The impacts of conflict on nature are devastatingly adverse but differ widely in different socio-economic-political regimes. Armed conflict often facilitates illegal plunder and unsustainable use of natural resources. We studied the response of mammals in Ripu (605.27 sq.km, westernmost part of Manas Tiger Reserve) Reserved Forest (RF) in Assam, India that suffers prolonged anthropogenic pressures due to armed conflict instigated by social unrest. We used standard single-season occupancy models using sign survey to assess factors affecting the space use of mammals. Our study revealed that Ripu RF has a high proportion of area occupied by prey species of large carnivores. Asian elephant, barking deer, and wild pig occupied most of the habitat, whereas gaur, sambar and spotted deer restricted themselves to selected patches. The probability of a site being occupied by the majority of ungulates declines with an increase in anthropogenic activities, including distance to human settlement (measure of prolonged disturbance) and an increase in the proportion of secondary degraded forest. Common leopard was found to be positively associated with prey occupancy and increase in semievergreen and moist-mixed deciduous forest. Our ground efforts to strengthen community patrolling and operational execution of various alternative livelihoods has helped to improve the economic condition of patrolling staff. Strategic implementation of law enforcement could support dispersal of tigers from Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary (Bhutan), potentially linked to the larger tiger and elephant landscape far west (Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal) in the Terai region of India. Various community-based conservation initiatives and strategies with sustained support from various agencies, including national, international, and local bodies, is required to restore this critical habitat.

Distribution of foliicolous fungi in diverse forest types of Maharashtra State of India

Foliicolous fungal diversity studies were conducted to document the distribution of various foliicolous fungi in different forest types of Maharashtra and the garden areas of Pune city. A total of 1801 foliicolous samples were collected, from which a total of 589 fungal isolates belonging 360 fungal species under 197 genera were recorded. Various measures of diversity, such as species richness, indices of diversity and evenness and true diversity were calculated. Maximum and minimum fungal diversity was observed for Southern Indian Moist Deciduous Forests (3B) and West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests (1A/C4), respectively, in terms of the number of isolates (294 vs 31), observed species richness (194 vs 26), diversity indices (Shannon’s = 5.0421 vs 3.2104; Gini-Simpson’s = 0.9911 vs 0.9573) and true diversity (Shannon’s effective number of species = 154 vs 24). Different forest types greatly differed in terms of species composition as well, as maximum similarity (Jaccard Similarity Index = 10.66%) was observed between Western Subtropical Hill (8A/C2) Forests and West Coast Semi-Evergreen (2A/C2) Forests, with only one species (<1% of total) viz., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides common in all forests.

Common Faunal Diversity on Forest Floor and Their Importance in Forest Ecosystem: Bonai Forest Division, Odisha, India

Bonai Forest Division (BFD) is enjoying the tropical moist deciduous, tropical dry deciduous, and tropical semi-evergreen forest. Among the biotic and abiotic factors, faunal species that are found on the forest floor are very important. They are important members of the forest food chain, feed upon the dead and decaying matter, and after death, add organic matter to the soil as a source of nutrients for the floral communities but there is a lack in documentation. For a better understanding of the role and functions of these faunal species, there is a need for study and documentation. Keeping the importance of faunal species of forest floor, we made an attempt to document common faunal species of BFD, Odisha during June 2021- August 2022. From the study, authors observed 54 common faunal species found on the forest floor. It was noticed that the forest floor of BFD is dominated by class Insecta, Reptilia, and Arachnida which helps to maintain a well-balanced food chain and allows the floral and faunal diversity to flourish.

Dung beetles prefer used land over natural greenspace in urban landscape

Urbanization drives land-use and patterns of biodiversity. Yet, very little is known about how biodiversity of structurally different habitats is responded to urbanization. We surveyed coprophagous dung beetles and their ecological functional groups—tunnellers, dwellers, and rollers—in shaded natural semi-evergreen forests of sacred groves and the neighbouring relatively open home gardens of sites that represent three levels of urbanization to address the following questions: (1) Do sacred groves have higher abundance, richness, and diversity of dung beetles than home gardens? (2) Is urbanization a key driver of dung beetle abundance, richness, diversity, and community? (3) Is dung beetle assemblage of sacred groves immune to urbanization? and (4) Which ecological functional groups of dung beetles are affected by urbanization? We hypothesized that the sacred groves have a distinct community, resulting in higher abundance, richness, and diversity of dung beetles than home gardens, and the dung beetle assemblage of sacred groves may be immune to urbanization. We sampled the beetles during wet and dry periods using cow dung as a bait. Against our predictions, dung beetle abundance, richness, and diversity were higher in used lands than sacred groves, particularly in urban landscapes. The two habitats had distinct compositions of dung beetles. Tunnellers and rollers were affected by urbanization, but not dwellers. Heliophilic and synanthropic species characterized by smaller species dominated overall catches in the used lands of urban areas. Results downplay sacred grove as a potential refuge for dung beetles and suggest that the biodiversity of native forests may be affected more by urbanization than the manipulated anthropogenic habitats.

Palynoflora and palaeoenvironment of the early Miocene palaeolake from the Bełchatów mine, central Poland

The Bełchatów lignite deposits are a rich archive allowing palaeoenvironmental, palaeoecological and palaeoclimatic reconstructions from the Neogene and Quaternary periods. We describe the results of palynological studies (including non-pollen palynomorphs) of eight samples from the lower Miocene KRAM-P 211/214 collection of plant macroremains. The results of this palynological analysis are consistent with the results of previous studies of plant macroremains and significantly enrich our knowledge of vegetation and palaeoenvironment. Both studies indicate the presence of a freshwater body (a moderately large and deep lake) surrounded by wetland vegetation (including swamp forests with Glyptostrobus , Taxodium , Nyssa and Osmunda ) and upland mesophytic forests. Evergreen or at least semi-evergreen forest communities grew along the ancient shores of the lake and on the slopes of the Mesozoic calcareus rocks surrounding the lake. In the lake, green algae ( Pediastrum , Tetraedron and some Botryococcus ) and freshwater peridinoid dinoflagellates were major components of the algal community. The same lake was the source of previously identified animal remains: freshwater fishes, molluscs, and mammals, including Megachiroptera bats. Our analysis shows that the climate was subtropical and humid, with an estimated mean annual temperature of 16.8–17.8°C.

Fluxes of energy, water and CO2 above a tropical monsoon forest in Dong Nai: results of 10 years of measurements

This paper explores more than 10-year continuous measurements of energy, water and carbon dioxide fluxes on a first-established eddy covariance site in Vietnam above a mature semi-evergreen tropical seasonal forest. Daily, seasonal and interannual variations of turbulent fluxes and meteorological parameters were studied. Evapotranspiration decreased in the second half of a dry season and net ecosystem exchange of CO2 increased to positive values (the tropical forest becomes a source of CO2 instead of a sink) in a hot-dry period of a year (March-May). Net radiation was the parameter with minor interannual and seasonal variation. Precipitation varied significantly from year to year and the variation was great between dry seasons. Variations of precipitation affected the annual rate of evapotranspiration but had no proven effect on the annual net ecosystem exchange of CO2. The ecosystem of tropical forest was the considerable net sink of CO2 from the atmosphere.

Modelling Species Richness and Functional Diversity in Tropical Dry Forests Using Multispectral Remotely Sensed and Topographic Data

Efforts to assess and understand changes in plant diversity and ecosystem functioning focus on the analysis of taxonomic diversity. However, the resilience of ecosystems depends not only on species richness but also on the functions (responses and effects) of species within communities and ecosystems. Therefore, a functional approach is required to estimate functional diversity through functional traits and to model its changes in space and time. This study aims to: (i) assess the accuracy of estimates of species richness and tree functional richness obtained from field data and Sentinel-2 imagery in tropical dry forests of the Yucatan Peninsula; (ii) map and analyze the relationships between these two variables. We calculated species richness and functional richness (from six functional traits) of trees from 87 plots of the National Forest Inventory in a semi-deciduous tropical forest and 107 in a semi-evergreen tropical forest. Species richness and functional richness were mapped using reflectance values, vegetation indices, and texture measurements from Sentinel-2 imagery as explanatory variables. Validation of the models to map these two variables yielded a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.43 and 0.50, and a mean squared relative error of 25.4% and 48.8%, for tree species richness and functional richness, respectively. For both response variables, the most important explanatory variables were Sentinel-2 texture measurements and spectral bands. Tree species richness and functional richness were positively correlated in both forest types. Bivariate maps showed that 44.9% and 26.5% of the forests studied had high species richness and functional richness values. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating field data and remotely sensed variables for estimating tree species richness and functional richness. In addition, the combination of species richness and functional richness maps presented here is potentially valuable for planning, conservation, and restoration strategies by identifying areas that maximize ecosystem service provisioning, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation.

Ecological legacies of past fire and human activity in a Panamanian forest

Societal Impact StatementTropical forests provide global ecosystem services and harbor much of Earth's terrestrial biodiversity, but the mechanisms driving the patterns of biodiversity remain uncertain. Palms are one of the most abundant and most widely used plant groups, particularly in the Neotropics. Our data highlight how both direct and indirect human influence that occurred decades to hundreds of years ago can affect the abundances of palm species in modern tropical forests. Our results highlight that biodiversity is dynamic, and changes through time, and that human activities can affect species composition for centuries in tropical forests.Summary Human activities over the past decades and centuries, including fire, cultivation, and forest opening, may have left ecological legacies that persist in modern tropical forests, particularly among palms. We investigated whether past human activities affected modern palm abundances in a well‐studied plot located in a tropical semievergreen forest of Panama. We analyzed soil cores for charcoal to reconstruct past fire events and phytoliths to reconstruct past vegetation changes. We dated as many charcoal fragments as possible to place a temporal framework on past fire events. Our analysis documented widespread fires that occurred 600–900 years ago across the plot. Oenocarpus mapora increased in abundance as a result of these fires, though other palms did not. A subsequent increase in O. mapora occurred later in the relative absence of fire and was likely due to game hunting during the construction of the Panama Canal. Our results showed that the enrichment of O. mapora was determined by disturbance characteristics (e.g., timing, type, and intensity), but the persistence of increased abundances was likely determined by traits (life history characteristics). These data highlight the complexity of human–environment interactions and how they can persist for centuries in settings with long‐lived trees such as tropical forests. These data highlight the importance of adding a historical context to further understand modern ecological patterns and processes.

Tree Diversity and Timber Resources Richness of Reserve Forests under Pasighat Forest Division, Arunachal Pradesh, India

A combined study on the tree diversity and timber resources richness was carried out in five reserve forestsof tropical moist and tropical semi evergreen forests under Pasighat forest division, Arunachal Pradesh.Total tree species richness was 92 and varied from 44 to 55. The total stem density ranged from 282.50 to426.25 individuals per ha and basal area from 18.23 to 58.56 m2 ha-1. The Shannon Index of diversity waslow in all reserves ranging from 1.24 to 1.46. Terminalia myriocarpa is a dominant species in three reserveforests while Gmelina arborea in the other two. Based on the Arunachal Pradesh Gazette notification numberNo. FOR.220/IND/2005/ Royalty/4391-4591 dated 8th March 2018 trees were categorised in one of the 7royalty classes or designated unclassed. The highest number of species was found under B2 category in allreserves. Tree density of timber species ranged from 178.33 to 316.25 individuals ha-1 and basal area from14.10 to 55.72 m2 ha-1. Among different timber classes, tree density and basal area per ha were the highestfor A4 timber class in four reserves contributing 33% to 66.49% in terms of basal area. The species includedin the A4 class are Teminalia myriocarpa, Phoebe goalparensis, Gmelina arborea and Mesua ferrea. The studyexhibits that reserve forests of Pasighat division are rich in terms of tree composition and wealth of timberresources. The study is first of a kind to include both ecological information as well as economic wealth offorest communities that can be applied in forest management and conservation.

Population density and nesting behaviour of Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica (Erxlebeln, 1777) in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

The Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica (Erxlebeln, 1777) has been officially designated as Maharashtra’s state animal. It is restricted to the eco-sensitive Western Ghats region and is currently classified as Least Concern species on the IUCN Red List. However, the species is dependent on intact habitat and is negatively impacted by habitat fragmentation. Population density and nesting behavior were studied in a major habitat in the tropical semi-evergreen and evergreen forest of India’s Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. Two-hundred-and-twenty-three direct sighting along 60 km line transects were used to estimate squirrel density. It averaged 13.9±0.18 squirrels/km2. Nesting characteristics were evaluated using 4,224 nests. The squirrel uses 52 different tree species for nesting, with Mangifera indica (15.57%), Olea dioica (14.65%), and Mallotus phillippensis (9.78%) being the most popular. The drays were found on trees that are taller than average, have a massive girth at the breast height, and have continuous closed canopies. To avoid predators, Indian Giant Squirrels usually flee to the nearest adjacent tree.

Glimpse of Herbaceous and Woody Climbers of Hassan District, Karnataka

The study was carried out to document the species of herbaceous and woody climbers in the Western Ghats region of the Hassan district. A total of 170 species of climbers were documented belonging to 126 genera under 46 families. The dominant climber families are Leguminosae (26 spp.), Convolvulaceae (18 spp.), followed by Cucurbitaceae (17 spp.). Of the total climbers documented, 76 species belongs to herbaceous climbers and 94 species belongs to woody climbers. Of the six climbing mechanisms, twiners (54 %) are most predominant, followed by tendril climbers (21 %), stragglers-armed (13 %), stragglers-unarmed (8 %), root climbers (3 %), and hook climbers (1 %). Distribution among the vegetation revealed that a maximum number of species inhabit tropical dry deciduous forest (52 spp.), scrub forest (39 spp.), and wasteland (33 spp.) have the most species, followed by home garden (28 spp.), tropical semi-evergreen forest, (21 spp.), tropical moist deciduous forest (16 spp.), and other vegetation types. The study also documented the various uses of climbers for human consumption (42 spp.), medicinal purpose (98 spp.), ornamental purpose (26 spp.), and other uses (4 spp.).

Birds and habitats recorded in the lower Mai Valley Important Bird and Biodiversity Area

A bird survey was carried out in the lower Mai Valley Forests (MVF) Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) in far eastern Nepal, between 180 m and 2200 m from 01 to 10 March 2022. An assessment was also made of the environmental conditions of forest and river habitats, and type and extent of agriculture. A comparison was made with a March 1981 visit. Observations were noted during a ten-day trek from Ilam (1205 m) up to Hangetham (2200 m) and down to Sukhani (180 m). The large number of 256 bird species was recorded, including one globally threatened and five globally near-threatened species, five restricted-range species, 20 nationally threatened and eight nationally near-threatened species. One new species for Nepal, black-breasted thrush Turdus dissimilis and three rare Nepal species not found in the IBA for at least 20 years, were also recorded. Extensive intact areas of semi-evergreen subtropical and lower temperate mixed broadleaved forests valuable for birds still remain. Tropical forests have been fragmented and mainly replaced by tea and rubber plantations, and also by the spread of agriculture. However, Sukhani still comprises a substantial semi-evergreen broadleaved forest important for birds, although it is highly threatened. Hunting is probably a significant threat to bird species in MVF. Despite loss and degradation of some forests, especially in the tropical zone, MVF still qualify as an IBA. The Mai Khola habitat has been severely damaged by the Mai Khola Hydroelectric Project, which became operational in 2015, resulting in serious declines in river birds. MVF remain outside the existing protected area network. Including MVF in Nepal’s protected area system would ensure conservation of the species-rich semi-evergreen mixed broadleaved tropical and subtropical forests that are currently an important omission. Further bird surveys are recommended at all elevations and in tropical and subtropical forests that have so far not been covered.

Plant species diversity in a tropical semi-evergreen forest in Mizoram (northeastern India): assessing the effectiveness of community conservation

Community conservation of forest as a means of biodiversity conservation has gained broad acceptance in recent years. However, there are not many studies in India on how effective they really are for conservation of plants and how they compare to formal protected areas. This study was carried out in Reiek forest, a community conserved forest protected for more than a century, initially by the village Chiefs and after the abolishment of chieftainship, by the community of the nearby villages. An attempt was made to study the plant species diversity of this forest which falls under the Indo-Myanmar diversity hotspot and it was compared to two ecologically similar formal protected areas within Mizoram. A total of 265 species belonging to 213 genera and 89 families were recorded. Two vulnerable species Eleocarpus rogusus and Saraca asocas were identified. It was found that this community conserved forest contained more plant species than the two protected areas. But endemic and threatened species were found to decline in the community conserved forest.

Variation of fatty oil content in different populations of <em>Mallotus nudiflorus </em>(L.) Kulju & Welzen occurring in diverse agro climatic zones of Assam

Mallotus nudiflorus (L.) Kulju & Welzen is a medium sized deciduous tree under the family Euphorbiaceae with Nativity from the Himalaya to Hainan Island. In India it is distribution throughout the hotter parts, moist semi-evergreen tropical forests along river and water courses. The plant is traditionally used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Lipid classes and fatty acid compositions of seed oil considered a cheap raw material in surface coating industry. The present study investigated the variation of fatty oil content of M. nudiflora from populations of different agro climatic zone of Assam. Five Agro climatic zone of Assam were selected, extensive field surveys were done for authentication of extent of population and distribution maps were prepared accordingly. Twenty (20) populations were studied; fruits were de pulped and pale yellow coloured oil was extracted with Soxhlet apparatus using hexane as solvent. The highest percentage of oil found in Bilasipara population (25.12±0.17%) of Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone, and lowest in Kolajan of North Bank Zone (1.51±0.52%). Diversity in specific climato-ecological characteristics of agro climatic zones influenced the variation in oil content of studied populations. Present results facilitated a great opportunity intended for selection of superior population in favour of obtaining high fatty oil yield from seeds M. nudiflorus at commercial scale.

Vegetation Classification and Distribution Patterns in the South Slope of Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Nature Reserve, Eastern Himalayas

Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Nature Reserve has the most complete vertical vegetation belts in China. However, identification and distribution of vertical vegetation belts is still uncertain and in debate. To explore the above issues, 190 plots were surveyed within the reserve from 2019 to 2021. Based on the vegetation plot data, cluster analysis, ordination analysis, and biodiversity statistics were performed to reveal the structure of vertical vegetation belts–the driving factors of vegetation distribution–to describe the main biodiversity patterns. Five vertical vegetation belts were identified by clustering. NMDS ordination showed that the main factor of vegetation distribution is elevation. Based on the results of the analysis and previous literature, a new scheme of vertical vegetation belts in the south slope of the reserve was proposed. There was a lower montane seasonal rainforest belt (600–1100 m), a lower montane evergreen broadleaf forest belt (1100–1800 m), a middle montane semi-evergreen broadleaf forest belt (1800–2400 m), a subalpine evergreen needleleaf forest belt (2400–3800 m), a alpine shrubland and meadow belt (3800–4400 m), an alpine sparse vegetation belt (4400–4800 m), and a nival belt (4800–7782 m). Among them, the seasonal rainforest belts are the northernmost distribution of this type, and the semi-evergreen broadleaf forest belts exist only in the Eastern Himalayas. The study showed a unimodal pattern in plant species diversity, the peak of which is about 1900 m. The middle montane semi-evergreen broadleaf forest belt had the highest species diversity in the reserve. This study settled the issues regarding the vertical vegetation belts, the main drivers of vegetation and assessment of plant species diversity in the south slope of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Nature Reserve. It provides essential support for the management and conservation of these ecosystems in the reserve.

Determinants of habitat occupancy and spatial segregation of primates in the central Western Ghats, India.

Primates are among the globally imperiled fauna requiring urgent conservation interventions to protect their habitat. Information on species distribution and factors influencing it are vital to species management and habitat protection. In this study, we assessed habitat occupancy of the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), bonnet macaque (M. radiata), and black-footed gray langur (Semnopithecus hypoleucos) that occur in the Kudremukh Wildlife Division, a large protected area network in the central Western Ghats. We examined the influence of habitat variables on the occupancy probability of these primates. We carried out four temporally replicated detection/non-detection surveys to assess detection probability and site occupancy of the primate species. We surveyed 244 sites of 5 Km2, with each site surveyed for 4 days, to assess detection probability and site occupancy. Among the three species, the langur had the highest habitat occupancy estimate (0.66 ± 0.05SE) and the lion-tailed macaque had the lowest estimate (0.28 ± 0.08SE). The habitat occupancy estimate for the bonnet macaque was (0.56 ± 0.05SE). Wet and semi-evergreen forest cover and mean elevation positively influenced the lion-tailed macaque's occurrence. Covariates influencing bonnet macaque's occurrence were plantations, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, and non-forest areas. Mean elevation negatively affected its occurrence. Wet evergreen forests and plantations positively influenced the occurrence of the langur. We examined spatial segregation between the species based on their site occupancy. Pairwise comparisons revealed a significant negative association between the bonnet macaque and the other two primates. However, we found a significant positive association between the lion-tailed macaque and the langur. We discuss these results and their implications for conservation of primates in the region. Given the cost-effectiveness of carrying out surveys at large spatial scales, we recommend occupancy surveys for future surveys of forest primates.

Aximopsis gabrielae sp. nov.: a gregarious parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) of the skipper Quadrus cerialis (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) feeding on Piper amalago in southern Mexico

ABSTRACT Aximopsis gabrielae Zhang, Gates and Campos sp. nov. is described from southern Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. This species is a koinobiont gregarious larval-pupal endoparasitoid of the caterpillar of Quadrus cerialis (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) feeding on the shrub Piper amalago L. (Piperaceae) in the semi-evergreen forest. This is the first record of Aximopsis parasitoids on Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera). Morphological, biological, ecological and geographical data are integrated to delineate the new species. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3226C193-88FB-45EA-BFCB-5C752B3C5E46