First record of Anastrepha pseudoparallela Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae) infesting passion flowers in Peru

Several species of the genus Anastrepha Schiner are associated to different hosts and have a great economic importance in fruit crops of the Neotropical region. Ripe and unripe fruits of six passion flowers species were sampled in Oxapampa during 2016 and 2018. Larvae of Anastrepha pseudoparallela Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae) were detected infesting fruits of Passiflora ambigua Hemsl and Passiflora quadrangularis L. For the first time, this fruit fly species is recorded attacking fruits of passion flowers in Peru.

Floral association of adult Cyclocephala tucumana Brethes and Cyclocephala melanocephala (Fabricius) with passion flowers (Passiflora edulis Sims)

Adults of Cyclocephala tucumana Brethes and Cyclocephala melanocephala (Fabricius) were sampled in yellow passionflower flowers, being the first record of C. tucumana associated with flowers of this plant.Associação floral de adultos de Cyclocephala tucumana Brethes e Cyclocephala melanocephala (Fabricius) com flores de maracujá (Passiflora edulis Sims)Resumo. Adultos de Cyclocephala tucumana Brethes e Cyclocephala melanocephala (Fabricius) foram amostrados em flores de maracujá amarelo, sendo o primeiro registro de C. tucumana associada com flores dessa planta.

The Free Base Extraction of Harmaline from Penganum harmala

Highly fluorescent and pharmaceutically significant Harmala alkaloids occur in several plants including Syrian Rue (Penganum harmala) and several species of passion flowers. We identified a relatively nontoxic and efficient method for extraction of the major harmala alkaloid components from Syrian Rue seeds using ethyl acetate and sodium bicarbonate. This produced free base harmala alkaloids. Verification was performed qualitatively by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography and NMR analysis.