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Two new species of Macrochelid acari Macrocheles novaodessensis, sp.n. and M. roquensis, sp.n. are described. These species inhabit cattle manure and were collected in several ranches in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Nests of the "Scaly-headed parrot" and "Illiger's macaw" - Pionus maximiliani (Kuhl, 1820) and Ara maracana (Vieillot, 1816) - found at the Ecological Station in Gália, São Paulo with clutches in 26-VII-90 and 20-IX-90, both containing four white rounded and at one end slightly pointed eggs, measuring 33.4x30.0mm and 33.0x28.0mm each respectively, are being reported on. The incubation in the "Scaly-headed parrot" lasted for 26 days, the stay of the young in the nest cavity for about 50 days and only one adult was seen incubating, while in "Illiger's or Blue-winged macaw" both parents used to stay in the nest.

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A survey of nematode species parasizing Brazilian reptiles is presented, with data enough to provide their specific identification. The first section refers to the catalogation of the species, related to 127 superfamilies, 23 families, 55 genera and 121 species that are figured and included in measurement tables. The second section is concerned to the catalogue of host reptiles, with 16 families, and 90 species and their respective parasite nematodes. The identification of these helminths is achieved by means of keys to the superfamilies, families and genera. Specific determination is induced through the figures and tables as above mentioned.

Leidyula goodfriendi, sp.n. is described.

The species Phaleria testacea Say, 1824 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) varies a lot in size, and its populations along the coast of Brazil, where it lives buried in sandy beaches, have temporal and geographical variation in density. In order to find out which factors were contributing to these variations, we sampled populations from three different areas in Rio de Janeiro, during summer and winter. Simultaneously, we made an analysis of the different substracts where the individuals were found, including their total fresh weight. The results show a significant difference in size of individuals between and within populations, when summer and winter were compared. There is also a positive association between the population density of P. testacea and the amount of "garbage" found at the study areas.

Thirty-three species of anuran amphibians and 22 species of reptiles were found in 9 days and nights of sampling in an unexplored region of Central Amazon. The community is characterized by typical lowland Amazonian species. The relatively short sampling time and high number of species caught indicates that this region probably has very high species richness.

The occurrence of synanthropic muscoids associated with the urban garbage in the town of Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil was investigated from March, 1987 to February, 1988. Flies were captured by entomological nets in four different sites: periodical food markets, popular markets, garbage containers and the municipal refuse dump. The following species were founded: Phaenicia eximia, P. sericata, P. cuprina, Chrysomya putoria. C. albiceps, C. megacephala, Musca domestica, Ophyra sp., Fannia sp. and several species of Sarcophagidae.

The food cycle and geographical variation of Dysdercus diet were studied as strategy elements of trophic resources exploitation. The species used were D. fulvoniger, D. maurus, D. mendesi and D. ruficollis. A random sampling method was adopted at two regular sampling areas (Vassouras and Itaguaí, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The places sampled only once were selected based on the potential migration of Dydercus. Various transects were determined, with 99 places; these transects involved six morpho-climatic-phytogeographical domains: Atlantic Tropical, Cerrado, Caatinga, Amazonic Equatorial, Pantanal and "Planalto das Araucárias". The food cycle of Dysdercus at Vassouras is based on the exploitation of reproductive structures (flowerand fruit) of some Malvaceae, Boraginaceae, Compositae and Cucurbitaceae. The total diet includes other host plant structures. Fifty-three plant species (16 families) are explored as food by the insect along the 99 places of sampling. The habitats of Dysdercus are characterized by climatic variations, geographical distribution and phenology of host plants, and also by the dispersion of seeds.

Proasphondylia formosa, sp.n. and Proasphondylia guapirae, aredescribed. Abrief diagnosis of thegenus and anda key tosegregate males of the known species are also provided.

Sequential cytological modifications of Hoplosternum littorale (Hancock) spermatogenesis were studied with electron microscopy from the spermatocyte to the mature spermatozoon. Five stages of spermatical maturation were described. The spermatozoon is one of the primitive tupe, with head without acrosome and a tail with a type pattern.

From 1986 to 1992, I surveyed the invertebrate fauna of twelve limestone caves from South Ribeira Valley (State of Paraná, Brazil). Associated to walls in the entrace zone live Enoploctenus and Blechroscelis spiders, Goniosoma opilionids, Strinalia crickets, Latebraria amphipyroides moths, and Culicidae and Sciaridae dipterans. In aphotic zone, occur Plato spiders, Daguerreia inermis opilionids, Pseudonannolene strinatii diplopods, Smicridea caddisflies and the aquatic crustacean Aegla paulensis. I found in both zones Ctenus fasciatus spiders. Paronella collembolans, Zelurus travassosi heteropterans, Cholevidae and Anthribidae beetles, Phoridae dipterans and Braconidae wasps. One of the most important energy sources in these caves is the hematophagous bat guano. Associated to the guano piles there is a fauna composed by psedoscorpiones, acarians, Katantodesmus diplopods, Acherontides and Paronella collembolans, Dissochaetus beetles and Phoridae dipterans. The cave fauna studied is similar to that Ribeira Valley of the State of São Paulo. The most expressive difference is the absence of some taxa very common in São Paulo caves, such as the Oniscidae and Styloniscidae isopods, Cryptodesmidae and Chelodesmidae diplopods. Endecous crickets, Tricommatidae harvestmen, Calamoceratidae caddisflies and Neoditomyia Keroplatidae dipterans.

A new technique was develop to study the anomalous behavior of non parasitic phase of Anocentor nitens on horse host. From the total teleogines was still alive during all experimental period, 89.1% laided eggs on ear host. The eclosion index was 77.05% with 80.0% of eclodibility.The preoviposition period and oviposition period was 3 to 17 days (4.92±0.73 days) and 16 to 41 days (24.38±1.05 days), respectively. The incubation period was 26 to 48 days (34.94±2.92 days). It was confirmed that A. nilens teleogine could laid on ear of horse, when it was dettachment and a factor impossibilited it down on ground.

In this paper we are presenting the list of the specimens and the taxa obtained; there are 73 names of species belonging to 40 genera, of which 32 species and 13 genera are amphibians, and 42 species and 27 genera are reptiles. There are several field notes of Milstead and many data on the snakes studied by Lema with Milstead. The collection was widespread by Milstead to several institutions, but mainly to Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, and Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Six generic and 65 specific names are synonymized, 26 species are transferred to other genera, 30 removed from synonymy or from subspecific status. Blazia Schaus is transferred from Lymantriidae to Limacodidae, Laruma Walker and Renada Walker from Limacodidae to Lasiocampidae and Arctiidae, respectively. Renada is a junior synonym of Paracles Walker. Several previously unrecognized Brazilian taxa described by Walker, for which types are lost, have been identified.

This paper relates to the first case of Pinus patula defoliation by Fulgurodes sartinaria Guenée, 1857 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Fieldand laboratory studies showed that F. sartinaria is a voraceus species with high biotic potential. Avarage egg laying by female was 180.82 with 22.34±7.36% and 12.91±0.11 days of egg viability and incubation period, respectively. Larval period passed through five instars with a mean of 78.56±1.91 days. Pre-pupal and pupal stages had a mean period of 3.3±0.24 and 20.70±2.05 days, respectively. Males and females were very similar in appearance, with 12.88±0.92 and 12.00± 1.65 days of adult live, respectivelly. It were found an identified egg parasite and Brachymeria sp. pupal parasite.

Longevity and survival of the predator Podisus connexivus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) were studied in three alternative preys: T1 - Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae) catterpilars; T2 - Musca domestica (Diptera, Muscidae) larva and T3 - Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) larva. Longevity and survival were: 22,1±0,6 days and 54,3±5,3%; 25,2±1,3 days and 56,0±4,9% and 22,0±0,8 days and 34,6±8,6%, for treatments T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Comparing to other researches, a lower survival was found. This is probably because a F2 generation from field material, was used. Since the insect was not well adapted to the laboratory conditions this could have led to lower survival.

Six kinds of crucifer (broccoli, cabbage, califlower, kale, mustard and rugula) were tested, as food, for larvae od Ascia monuste. The best results were obtained eith califlower, broccoli, rugula and kale. Four sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose and maltose) were tested to know their influence on the number of oviposition in female of Ascia monuste. The best results were obtained with fructose, glucose and sucrose.

In nature, the Sciaridae live in moist and shady places, where exists vegetable material in decomposition. It is very dificult to determine the proper Sciaridae's alimentary habit and then, it is dificult, also, to rear Sciaridae species in laboratory. To improvement the Bradysia hygida rearing, the objectives of this research were to analyse the nutritive value of mucuna bean foliage for the larves, to verify the role of the ground (as larvae substrate and in diet composition) and also to verify the possibility of ground substituition by another kind of substrate. Two kinds of sand were employed in the place of the ground and three diets, free of ground, were prepared. The parameters analysed were: duration of the life cicle, porcentage of emergence, egg production by female and adult size. The results showed that the mucuna bean foliage have a good nutritive value for B. hygida rearing; the ground, as substrate, can be substituted by any of the sands and the ground, in the diet, is also dispensable. The alimentary habits of Sciaridae is discussed.