RCAAP Repository

Some biological effects of feeding larvae of the armyworm Spodoptera latifascia with leaves of three plant species (cotton, soybean and lettuce) have been studied. Some indicative measurements were utilized to determine the host suitability of these three plant species. Cotton leaves (Gossypium hirsutum) were found to be better than soybean (Glycine max) for the development and growth of this insect. Lettuce leaves (Lactuca sativa) were incapable of sustaining this insect. Moreover, the stress of the latter diet was associated with a latent microbial disease, a mixed infection caused by Vairimorpha sp. and a nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV). Cotton leaves can be recommended as a suitable diet for mass rearing of this insect species. Due to recent outbreks of S. latifascia observed in the States of São Paulo, Santa Catarina and Paraná and because of the frequent applications of wide spectrum chemical insecticides, it can be expected that this insect will soon become one of the important pests threatening cotton and other economic plantations in Brazil.

Phoneutria fera Perty, 1833 is redescribed, based on 44 specimens (male and female) and Ctenus sus Strand, 1910 is synonymized, as it represents the male of fera. The synonymy of Phoneutria reidyi (Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) with Phoneutria rufibarbis Perty, 1833 is discussed and reidyi is revalidated.

Ectoparasitic mites on Brazilian non-poisonous snakes, collected from March 1976 to December 1979, are herein reported. A systematic study of the Ixodorhynchidae, which include exclusively parasites of snakes is given, including all immature forms. Two new genera are described: Ophiogongylus gen.n. with two species: Ophiogongylus rotundus sp.n. and Ophiogongylus breviscutum sp.n. and Chironobius gen.n. with two species: Chironobius alvus sp.n. and Chironobius nordestinus sp.n. Ixobioides brachispinosus sp.n. and the male of Ixobioides fonsecae (Fain) are also described. Immature forms, hosts relations and geographical distribution are given for the species.

The ectoparasitic mite fauna of non-poisonous snakes from the Estado de São Paulo was surveyed during the period of March, 1976 to September, 1979. Considerations are made about the systematics and ecology of the genera studied. A total of 1969 snakes belonging to 30 genera was examined. This study also includes data on multiple parasitism, diversity of the mite fauna, abundance of each genera of mite, for the 4 families and 7 genera of mites.

Trichogenes longipinnis, a new genus and species, is described from small litoranean rivers of Southeastern Brazil. The new genus was included in the Trichomycterinae, but when compared with two other genera of the subfamily (Trichomycterus and Hatcheria) revealed significant differences. Trichogenes can be characterized as follows: (1) opercle with two patches of spines; spines present on the interopercle also; (2) nasal barbel present; two barbels at the angle of the mouth; no mental barbels; (3) orbit with a free margin; (4) gill-membranes free from the isthmus; (5) first ray of the pectoral fin not pungent; (6) dorsal fin short (9 rays), nearer the caudal fin base than the tip of the snout; (7) origin of the ventral in front of the middle of the body; (8) anal long (more than 30 rays), its origin before the dorsal fin base; (9) infraorbital canal complete, formed by the lacrimal plus 6 tube-shaped infraorbitals and (11) gas-bladder capsule separated from the posterior part of the skull.

The routine metabolism of Hoplias m. malabaricus in relation to weight, at 3 different experimental temperatures (15, 20, 30ºC), through oxygen consumption in confinement and in the absence of external stimuli was studied. The metabolic index (mg O2/g.h) and the intensity of metabolism (mg O2/g.h), for each temperature, were obtained. An oxycalorific coefficient to convert milligrams of oxygen consumed into calories of liberated energy was used.

No summary/description provided

The bird-banding technique has been used by different countries to study the bioecology of birds, specially their migration routes. Through contact with foreign people and Instituitions, we obtained some data about birds which were banded in other countries and recovered in Brazil. We present here these data, and catalogue all the recoveries obtained until 1980.

Data are given on the identification, biology, ecology, hosts, geographical distribution, control, and other aspects of the myiasis-producing flies in the Neotropical Region. The bibliography contains almost 2400 references, mainly related to Cochliomyia (ca. 1170 references), Cuterebridae (with the exception of Dematobia hominis (over 390 references), and to Dermatobia hominis (over 520 references). For Cuterebridae and Cochliomyia the bibliography covers the Américas; for ali other groups it is restricted to the Neotropics.

The horn fly, Haematobia irritans (L.) (Diptera, Muscidae), is reported as introduced into Boa Vista, Roraima, Brasil, possibly from Northern South America (Venezuela).

The Trichoprosopini (Tachinidae, Tachininae) from Southern Chile are considered in this paper a sister group tribe of the New Zealand Cccisorini, both tribes being parasitic on Scarabaeid larvae. This is a new evidence of transan-tarctic relationships in the Calyptrate Muscoidea.

Although mullets from the Brazilian coast have been commercially ex-ploited for a long time and used in fish culture experiments more recently, data for accurate identification of species are not available in the Brazilian literature. This guide was planned to provide Information for the identification of ali the species found along the Brazilian coast, based on inspection of easily recognizable morphological features. A key to species and data on their distribution, fishery, biology and fish culture in Brazil are presented.

To provide better cond’tions for fish culture, a study was undertaken to assess the best way of adapting mullet fingerlings (Mugil curema) to jreshwater. Mullets have been submitted to direct shock and gradual decrease of salinities of 12‰, 7‰, 3‰ and 2‰ (freshwater), with a survival varying from 65% to 100%. It was observed that weight varies in function of time, at salinities of 0,2‰, 3‰ and 7‰, and that of the fish médium with values of 14‰ and 30‰ (winter and summer) at Tamandaré, and 18‰ and 31‰ (winter and summer) at Itamarac‡, located res-pectively at the south and north of the state of Pernambuco coast.

No summary/description provided

Three species of the family Phyllodocidae and two of Hesionidae were found in colonies of the bryozoan Schizoporella unicornis (Johnston) on the beaches of Ubatuba and São Sebastião, São Paulo State, Brazil. Among these, Eumida sanguinea (Phyllodocidae) is registered for the first time on the Brazilian coast. Among the other species Ophiodromus pugettensis (Hesionidae) was one of the most abundant polychaetous annelids of the bryzoan fauna.

Natural occurrence of nuclear polyhedrosis viruses were detected in populations of some Heliconiini in the field as well as in the laboratory. The epizootics appeared under field conditions in populations of Dione juno juno, D. moneta and Agraulis vanillae maculosa. In the laboratory, however, larvae of Heliconius numata mirus, H. hecale vetustus and H. erato phyllis in addition to two hybrids and Eueides Isabella dianasa, all suffered the same disease. The effect of several factors which might contribute to the occurrence of the disease are discussed. Symptoms, histopathology and description of viral particles and polyhedra are given.

One new Brazilian species of Drosophila belonging to the nesiota subgroup of the flavopilosa group, which is recorded for the first time from the State of São Paulo, is illustrated and described as D. mariaehelenae, sp. nov. It has been found breeding on flowers of Cestrum intermedium Sendtn., together with D. cestri Brncic, D. cordeiroi Brncic, D. cordeiroi Brncic, D. flavopilosa Frey and D. incompta Wheeler & Takada, Zygothrica vittimaculosa Burla and one undetermined species of the Drosophila tripunctata species group. Photographs are provided of the male genitalia of the first four species.

Larvae of Stilpnonotus postsignatus Fairmaire, 1889 were collected inside a hard log in Peruíbe, São Paulo, Brazil; reared adults were identified. A description of the larva, pre-pupa and pupa are provided with ilustrations.

No summary/description provided

No summary/description provided