RCAAP Repository

The venom apparatus morphology of Braconidae can be useful in systematic and phylogenetical studies. This work shows a morphological analysis of the venom apparatus of the following cyclostome Braconidae subfamilies: Alysiinae, Aphidiinae, Braconinae, Doryctinae, Opiinae and Rogadtnae. The characters studied are muscle, form and constrictions of the reservoir, and also number, form and branching of the glands.

The species of Citharichthys Bleeker, 1862, C. arenaceus Evermann & Marsh, 1900 and C. spilopterus Günther, 1862, are the most common flatfishes found in Guaratuba Bay, south Brazil. Different size categories of these flatfish occur in the mangrove area throughout the year. The Gonadosomatic Index, the Condition Factor, and the morphological analyses of the gonads from samples obtained between 1994 and 1996 reveals a spawning activity during late Spring and early Summer. This period coincides with the increase in temperature and decrease in salinity. Spawning evidence and the presence of ali size categories throughout the year indicate that Citharichthys spp. are permanent inhabitants of the mangrove in Guaratuba Bay, where they complete their life cycle.

A total of 1312 individuais of S. rastrifer were sampled from March 1994 to September 1996 at the Guaratuba Bay, Southern Brazilian coast. This species is a permanently inhabitant of the mangrove area throughout the year. The weight/length relationship of the species in the region is "In TW =-12,35 + 3,22 In TL", and the individuais may reach 172mm of total length. The analyses of gonadal morphology and gonadossomatic index indicate that S. rastrifer is a multiple spawner species, that reproduces at the mangrove area during a long period of the year. The reproductive activity is more intense during the winter and mainly the spring, when the value of Condition Factor declines and empty folheies are found in the ovaries.

Nests of orchid bee Euplusia violacea (Blanchard, 1840) colleted in trap-nests and in the wood of a construction in Viçosa, Minas Gerais (20º45'30"S, 42º52'05"W), Brazil, were studied under laboratory condictions. Some aspects of the biology of these bees were observed, such as sex-ratio, development time, Iongevity and others. Some aspects of the behavior of E. violada were also studied.

The genera Pseudestola, Estolomimus and Euestola are revised and keyed. Neoestola Breuning, 1940 is considered a synonym oi Estolomimus Breuning, 1940. Estola curta Breuning, 1940 is transferred to Estolomimus and redescribed. New species described from Brazil: Estolomimus apicale sp.n. (Espírito Santo), E. distinctus sp.n. (Espírito Santo), E. pulvereus sp.n. (Santa Catarina); Euestolafasciata sp.n. (São Paulo to Santa Catariana), E. basalis sp.n. (Minas Gerais), E. lineata sp.n. (Espírito Santo). Redescriptions and additional records are provided for: Pseudestola densepunclata Breuning, 1940, Estolomimus solidus (Breuning, 1940), E. marmoralus Breuning, 1940 and Euestola basidensepunctata Breuning, 1943.

Bahita maracana sp.n., from Brazil, is described.

Scaphoidula webbi sp.n., from Brazil, is described.

From the results obtained in four years of monthly fish sampling and salinity and temperature verification of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, an analysis of the monthly capture distribution of the nine most representative species, Brevoortia áurea (Spix, 1829), B. pectinata (Jenyns, 1842), Genidens genidens (Valenciennes, 1839), Geophagus brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824), Cerres aprion Cuvier, 1829, Jenynsia lineaía (Jenyns, 1842), Mugil liza (Valenciennes, 1836), Poecilia vivipara (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) and Xenomelani-ris brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) was performed. The results show that Lagoa waters have an average salinity of 11.06% during the sampling period. Temperature showed its highest values from November to February and lowest values from June to August. G. brasiliensis, G. aprion, J. lineata,M. liza,P. viviparaeX. brasiliensis were constant during the 4 years. B. áurea showed highest frequency in year IV. B. pectinata was constant in years I and II and G. genidens showed only sparse captures.

Perna perna (Linné, 1758) occurs on the Atlantic littoral from Venezuela to Uruguay. The main organ systems were studied in the living animais, particular attention being paid to the ciliary feeding and cleansing mechanisms in the mantle cavity. The anatomy, functioning of the stomach and the ciliary sorting mechanisms are described. The siphons belong to type A (Yongf. 1948b), the ctenidia to type B( 1) (Atkins 1936c) and the stomach is of type III (Purchon 1957) or Section I (Dinamani 1967) with sorting mecanisms of type A and B (Reid 1965). A general comparison was made between the genera of the Mytilidae known and some features of Mytella Soot-Ryen, 1955.

Some aspects of the feeding habits and the morphology of the digestive tracts of Prochilodus lineatus (Osteichthyes, Prochilo-dontidae) are investigated in Lagoa Dourada, Ponta Grossa, Paraná. A total of 102 specimens were caprured between April 1993 and April 1994. From each specimen, the following measurements were determined: total and standard length, weight, sex, length of abdominal cavity. Histological and anatomical analyses were performed on the buccal cavity, pharynx, stomach, and intestine. P. lineatus is a ilyophagous species with short and numerous incisiform teeth attached to the lips and no pharyngeal teeth. The gill rakers are thick, oblique, and laminate. This species has a "U" - ceacal -type of muscular stomach, with well developed mucosal folds. The submucosa of the pyloric region is composed of dense connective tissue and the muscular layer is well developed which characterize a gizzard-type. The intestine is greatly coiled occupying nearly al I the abdominal cavity. The folds of the anterior region are circular and vai var lobulated in the médium and posterior regions.

Chrisanthidium gen.n. is here proposed (Type spe-cies: Anthidium bidentatum Friese, 1908). Chrisanthidium nigritum sp.n. and Chrisanthidium adornatum sp.n. both from Argentina, are described, as well as Chrisanthidium bidentatum (Friese, 1908), comb.n..

This research was developed in green house of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil and the objective was to evaluate oviposition patterns of Ascia monuste orseis (Godart, 1819) (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) in the canopy of Brassica oleracea Linnaeus plants. Ascia monuste orseis eggs were laid preferable during the morning period, in higher numbers in the stem of these plants and in the leaves of the lower part of the plants. Higher number of eggs was found in the lower parts of leaves of plants with no previous oviposition.

Micoureus cinereus paraguayanus (Tate, 1931) is cited to Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil for the first time. There is a description of the marsupial, measures of body and skull, drawings of skull and teeth and geographic distribution maps.

A survey of the tidal pool fish community was carried out between february/1987 and january/1988, at Cabo Branco Beach, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Specimens were collected monthly at low tide, using rotenone. A total of 3143 specimens was obtained. The most speciose families were Ophichthidae (14% of the total number of species), Mugilidae (11%) and Muraenidae (9%), and the most representative ones in number of individuais were Gobiidae (48%), Pomacentridae (13%) and Labrisomidae (10%). The main resident species were Bathygobius soporator (Valenciennes, 1837) and Abudefduf saxalilis (Linnaeus, 1758). The presence of a large number of juveniles in the pools indicated the importance of the studied sites as nursery áreas for several fish species.

Numida meleagris (Linné, 1758) is an african bird that was brought to Brazil. As the bird adapted to the climate of this new habitat and spread ali around the country, it is nowadays part of our avifauna. The present study continues topographic and morphofunctional researches on the female genital apparatus of this species, since it describes histological and histochemical aspects of magnum, a segment of oviduct. Magnum was dissected and processed according to routine and histochemical staining procedures to detect glycogen and mucous substances in the epithelial tissue and mucous glands. Besides focusing morphological aspects, the study compares the data obtained with those of other species aiming to contribute to the enlargement of the knowledge on reproductive biology of brazilian birds what may be important to make their biological control easier.

The behavioural patterns and their cireadian rhythms may be adaptive to the peculiar environmental conditions of subtropical brackish waters where Ba-thygobius soporator Valenciennes, 1837 live. Adult fish were caught at the southern Brazilian coast from mangrove rivers and rocky shores in a bay, where temperature and water salinity vary during the day and through the year. Observation on the behaviour of the animals was undertaken in salinity 8.5ppt, 17.0ppt, 25.5ppt and 34.0ppt, each one in temperatures of 18ºC and 28ºC. Temperature and salinity affect the frequency and intensity of some of the behavioural events, more than its pattern or rhythm. Swimming is rare, decreasing along the day and with temperature increase, being even lower at low salinity; aggressiveness is the highest in the morning being not affected by temperature, but by salinity, being higher the higher it is; territory defence decreases along the day and is lower at high temperature and extreme salinities; fish hide more at high temperature and with the decrease of salinity, but this is not rhythmical; a higher proportion of fish rest in vertical position when salinity and temperature are high, increasing slightly at the beginning of the afternoon; respiratory frequency increases with temperature, salinity and in the afternoon; the colour of the fish is mainly light with spots in all hours of the day and in all temperatures and different levels of salinity, but with a tendency of the presence of some dark fish during the morning and some light ones in the afternoon, showing a higher variability of colours at low temperature and extreme salinities. Besides temperature, salinity and light, feeding seems to be one of the determinant factors for the performance of the typical behaviour of B. soporator.

A study comparing the morphology of the proboscis of the following muscoid species is presented: Scatophaga stercoraria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Scatophagidae), Fannia canicularis (Linnaeus, 1761) (Fanniidae), Taenomyia auricollis Stein, 1918 (Anthomyiidae) and Phaonia valida (Harris, 1780) (Muscidae). Comparisons were made with Archiborborus sp. (Acalyptratae, Sphaeroceridae), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Oestroidea, Calliphoridae) and other muscids.

Polietina Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911 has been placed in different subfamilies mainly based on chaetotaxy and general morphology of adults. This genus has most recently been placed in Reinwardtiinae on the basis of larval characters. The male terminalia, however, indicates that Polietina is phylogenetically close to the basal group of Muscinae. By the analysis of all available type material, the genus and nine species are redescribed: P. bicolor Albuquerque; P. distincta Couri & Lopes; P. flavithorax (Stein); P. major Albuquerque; P. minor Albuquerque; P. orbitalis (Stein); P. rubella (Wulp); P. steini (Enderlein) and P. concinna (Wulp) which is revalided and lectotype designated. Neotypes are proposed to Polietina flavithorax and to Polietina orbitalis. Polietina wulpi is proposed as a new species. A key is also presented.

Euplychia paeon (Godart, 1824) (=Euptychia marmorata Butler, 1866) and Euptychia griseldis Weymer, 1911 are placed under Carminda gen.n. Carminda umuarama sp.n. is described. The studied specimens are from southem Brazil and adjacent areas of Paraguay and Argentina.

Larocanthidium gen.n. is proposed to include ten new species of Anthidiinae from Brazil characterized by the mandibles of the females with four little teeth, two apical and two basal connected by a large smooth area and by the bissinuate or straight lamela projected only dorsally on the sixth tergum and the two apical carinate lobes on the seventh tergum of the male.