RCAAP Repository

The study of 41 individually specimes of Subulina octona (Bruguiére. 1789) during 182 days indicated that oviposition occur between 10pm and 10am. The interval between ovipositions was from seven to 31 days. In the eggs, the greatest axis was 1.5-2.0mm while the smallest was 1.2-1.6mm. The lenght of shell of recently ecloded snails was 1.3-1.8mm. The growth rale of adult snails was measured and they grew more in the first 45 days than in the last 75 days subsequent of the study.

The ocurrence of males, gamic and ambiohasic females of the greenbug Schizaphis graminum (Rondani, 1852) among parthenogenetics reared on Sorghum bicolor (Linnaeus) Moench, in Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo, Brazil), from 1980 through 1983, follows an annual cycle. They appear from April through June, when the photoperiod has about 11 hours of daily photophase. Despite the low number these findings support the potential for holocycle, triggered by variable abiotic factors in this region with mild winters.

The total level of mercury detected in the sediment and in the tissues of molluscs from the Bento Gomes basin, although low, have shown that the mercury used in the gold mining activities in the Poconé wetlands has contaminated those aquatic habitats in Pantanal. From 69 sediment samples analyzed, 26 % (N = 18) have shown levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.25µg.g-1 of mercury (moist weight). Mercury levels analyzed in 54 samples of mollusc tissues (Ampullaria scalaris Orbigny, 1835; A. canaliculata Lamarck, 1819 and Marisa planogyra Pilsbry, 1933) have shown that 30% (N = 16) were contaminated with levels ranging from 0.02 to 1.16µg.g-1 moist weight. This study shows that the mercury used in digs for gold mining and released into the environment has reached the habitats of Pantanal spread from the sediment into the molluscs living in the region.

A revised classification for the Neotropical subfamily Brassolinae based on the morphological study of seventy six of the eighty one know species (Stichel, 1932), divided the subfamily in two tribos, according to the following list: Brassolini Boisduval, 1836 including forteen genera: Brassolis Fabricius, 1807 (type genus): Caligo Hübner, 1819. Penetes Doubleday. 1849; Dynastor Doubleday, 1849; Opsiphanes Doubleday. 1849; Dasyophthalma Westwood. 1851; Eryphanis Boisduval. 1870; Opoptera Aurivillius, 1882; Selenophanes Staudinger. 1887; Catoblepia Stichel, 1902; Caligopsis Seydel, 1924; Mielkella Casagrande, 1982; Orobrassolis Casagrande, 1982, and Mimoblepia Casagrande, 1982, Naropini Stichel, 1925 including two genera: Narope Doubleday, 1849 (type genus) and Aponarope Casagrande, 1982.

The Genus Oryssomus is revised and illustrations of pertinent characters are provided. A key to the genera of Oryssomini and to the species of Oryssomus and Gordonoryssomus are added. Gordonoryssomus. gen.n. is described: type species: Oryssomus deyrollei Crotch, 1874. A new species of Oryssomus, O. unimaculatus, sp.n.. from Amazonas, Brazil and three of Gordonoryssomus, G. nigrus, sp.n.. from Santa Cruz, Bolívia, G. nigripilosus. sp.n., from Espirito Santo, Brazil and G. delicatus, sp.n.. from Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, are described.

Self-fertilization in Subulina octona (Bruguiére, 1789) was observed among 32 snails. Individually isolated for 154 days. Eggs were dctected in 38 to 50 days old snails; total number of ovipositions per snail varied from six-nine; number of eggs per cluster, one-nine and total number of eggs per snail, 16-56 during the period of study. A period of incubation of one to 15 days and a viability of 94.8% were observed for eggs layed by these isolated snails.

Egg viability and nymphal development of the predatory bug Supputius cincticeps (Stål, 1860) were evaluated during two generations in the Biological Control Laboratory of the Núcleo de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Agropecuária (Bioagro/UFV) in Viçosa (Minas Gerais, Brazil) at 24.72±1.10ºC and photophase of 12 hours. Three treatments were represented by S. cincticeps fed with Zophobas confusa Gebien, 1906, Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, 1758 and Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 larvae. Higher egg viability of this predator was found when the preys were Z. confusa and T. molitor, 74.46% and 80.91 %, than in M. domestica, 57.02%, but incubation period showed no differences between preys. Shorter nymphal development and higher nymphal viability were found with Z. confusa and T. molitor than with M. domestica. Higher weight increase was found for nymphs which originated males and females in the second generation specialy with the first two preys.

Caterpillars of Cerconota achatina (Zeller, 1855) feed on lhe leaves of Byrsonima Rich in cerrado (savanna) of Brasília (Distrito Federal). They build shelters by tying leaves together with silk and frass. Within the leaf shelters the caterpillars form a tube of silk in which they feed. develop and pupate. In the laboratory the pupal stage is 14,4 days (sd=8,6: n=46). It was not possible to determine the age or numbers of instars of caterpillars in the wild. Of 93 caterpillars collected. 60% were feeding on B. cocclohifolia (Spr.) Kunth, 25% on B. crassa Nied. and 15% on B. verbascifolia [Rich. ex] Adr. & Juss. These numbers suggest a preference for B. coccolobifolia. Caterpillars of all size were found in every month of the year which suggest ovelapping generations and multivoltinism. They did not show a preference for new foliage and 75% of them were found on host-plants on wich less than 25% of leaves were young.

A new occurrence for Jacamaralcyon tridactyla (Vieillot, 1817) for the state of Minas Gerais is registered here. Some remarks about the species behavior are also included and compared with the syntpatric species Galbula ruficauda Curvier, 1816.

Paracaphylla setifemorata, sp.n., the second species for the genus, an Eriophyidae - Phyllocoptinae acarina from Hydrangea sp. (Saxifragaceae) in Brazil, is described and figured.

The ultrastructural observation of the hemocytes of D. saccharalis larvae showed different hemocyte tvpes in various stage of interaction with microorganisms, which were interpreted as bacteria. The microorganisms were observed either free in the hemolymph or into the insect hemocytes. The bacteria were detected mostly into lhe granulocytes and plasmatocytes: the spherule cells and the oenocytoids also presented intracytoplasmic microorganisms, but less frequently. The fagocytic capacity of the different hemocyte tvpes is discussed.

Bairdiella ronchus is one of the most common species of demersal ichthyofauna in Guaratuba Bay, south Brazil. However, this study reveals that is does not inhabits permanently the mangroove area. Individuals with more than 94mm total lenght leave mangroove area in late summer and early auntumn and returming in the spring. when they start ovarian veitellogenesis. During late spring and early summer, the oocytes are hydrated, and empty follicles can be found in the ovaries, indicating that this is the reproductive time for this species As other Sciaenidae. B. ronchus is a multiple spawner species.

Lanthanomelissa pampicola, sp.n., Lanthanomelissa magaliae, sp.n., Lanthanomelissa betinae. sp.n., and Lanthanomelissa clementis, sp.n. from southern Brazil, and Lanthanella luciane, sp.n. from Argentina are described.

Biological aspects of Chelonus insularis (Cresson, 1865) an egg-larval parasitoid reared on Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797) eggs Chelonus insularis (Cresson. 1865) has been cited in the international literature as a promissing biological control agent against the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797). Its field occurrence in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais (Brasil) has been increasing in the last years. For these reasons this experiment was conducted in the laboratory, at the National Corn and Sorghum Research Center, of EMBRAPA, under temperature of 25ºC. RH of 73% and photophase of 12 hours. Ten couples of the parasitoid were individually placed in a glass jar (5 liters capacity). They were fed on a 10% sugar solution. Each couple received one fall armyworm egg mass to oviposit during a 24-hour period. After hatching, the larvae were fed on artificial bean diet, up to the death caused by the parasitoid larvae. The total biological life cycle was 26.61 days on the average (larval period of 20.42 and pupal period of 6.19 days). The average weight of two days - old pupae was 0.02g. The adult longevity was on average. 10 days (8.4 days for males and 11.6 days for females). The greatest rate of parasitism occurred when the female was three days old, with a maximum of 92 eggs parasitized in that day.

Balloniscus glaber sp.n., is described from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

The morphology, ontogeny, life-cycles and distribution of species of the Order Proteocephalidea (Cestoda), is discussed. A brief historic of the classifications is presented. The actual scheme of taxonomy of WOODLAND (1924-1935) is criticicized and a new classification for the group is proposed. The phylogenetic uniformity of Proteocephalideans is reestablished with this classification. The genera of Monticelliidae (sensu Woodland) are transferred to the subfamilies Proteocephalinae and Corallobothriinae. Only one family is accepted in the Proteocephalidea. Proteocephalidae La Rue. 1911: with five subfamilies: Proteocephalinae. Corallobothriinae. Sandonelliinae. Gangesiinae and Acanthotaeniinae.

Redescriptions of Rhabdotoptera Stein and of R. striatipennis Siein, with discussion of the systematic position of the genus and description of the morphology of male terminalia, are given.

Redescription of Schoenomyza Haliday, 1833 and the description of S. napensis, sp.n. from Napo Province. Ecuador are presented. Morphology of the terminalia are described and illustrated.

Polietina nigra, sp.n. from Una, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro and Polietina univittata. sp.n. from Curitiba, Paraná and Rio de Janeiro are described from adults and P. nigra also from the mature third instar larvae.

The occurence of Decapoda crustaceans in the diet of Dasyatis guttata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Elasmobranchii. Dasyatididae) is reported. Inferences are also made about some aspects of the predator - prey relationship in the area around the Ecological Station.