RCAAP Repository

The feeding behavior and constriction pattern of adults and juveniles Oxyrhopus guibei Hoge & Romano, 1978 preying on rodents and lizards are described. An analysis of stomach contents of snakes preserved in collections was made to study its diet. The results indicate that this snake constricts prey with right to left side movements, horizontal position and with the dorsal portion of its body. Rodents were constricted by adult snakes whereas lizard were swallowed alive. The diet is composed of lizards and rodents, with an ontogenetic shift from lizards to rodents.

Some biological, morphological and behavioral aspects of adults Podisus sculptus Distant, 1889 (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) fed with Bombyx mori Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae) (fourth and fifth instar caterpillars) and Tenebrio molilor Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) (third and fourth instar caterpillars) were studied and no differences were found between these two preys. Average values for the parameters studied were: period of pre-oviposition (6.14 days), oviposition (8.57 days) and pos-oviposition (3.57 days); number of eggs/female (97.71); number of postures/female (3.96); female weight (68.90mg) and male weight (47.43mg). Podisus sculptus has brownish color, and four yellow spots in the scutelum: one close to the head and three across the elitra near the pronotum. Matings were more frequent between 15 and 19 hours and the male search for the female which showed movements of antennae. This insect showed cannibalism only in high population density and shortage of food.

Nymphs of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas, 1851) were fed with Zophobas confusa Gebien, 1906, Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) and Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera, Muscidae) under 25±0.5ºC, 60±10% of RH and photophase of 12h. Nymphal viability of P. nigrispinus were 64.0%, 80.0% and 92.0% with Z. confusa, M. domestica and T. molitor, respectively. No differences were found for pre-oviposition period, number of egg masses, number of eggs, egg viability, and longevity for females of this predator fed with any of these preys.

The specimens of Arenaeus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) used in this study were collected in the locality of Barra da Lagoa beach, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, in the period of April/1991 to March/1992. In this area temperature and salinity values were observed. A total of 341 samples, that 184 were male and 157 were female were collectted. The maturacion sexual stadium were measured (cm) and weightied (g). Expression of relation among weight of body (wt) and width of carapace (wid) was Wt=0,0567 Wid3,0494 on males and wt=0,074 Wid2,8795 on females. The relation length (Lt) width (wid) of carapace was Lt=0,4322. wid on males and Lt=0,4578. wid on females.

The family Ancylidae is represented in South America by the genera: Gundlachia Pfeiffer, 1849, Ferrissia Walker, 1903, Burnupia Walker, 1912 and Laevapex Walker, 1903. The species are caracterized using the combination of shell features and radula by scanning electron microscope, shell muscle and mantle pigmentation. The conchometry is also presented, but it does not help to species identification. The distribution of G. crequi (Bavay, 1904), G. foncki (Philippi, 1866), G. philippiana (Biese, 1948), G. obliqua (Broderip & Sowerby, 1832), G. moricandi (Orbigny, 1837), G. concentrica (Orbigny, 1835), G. radiata (Guilding, 1828), G bakeri Pilsbry, 1913, G ticaga (Marcus & Marcus, 1962), F. gentilis Lanzer, 1991, B. ingae Lanzer, 1991, L. vazi Santos, 1989 and Laevapex sp. in the Neotropical region is based on the bibliography, examination of the material deposited in scientific institutions and in the author's collection.

Eotetranychus tremae De Leon, 1957 is reported for the second time from Brazil; additional descriptive characters and figures are given.

Eggs, fifth instar larvae and pupae of A. dubia (Boheman, 1854), A. fuscata (Klug, 1829), A. languida (Boheman, 1854), A. phaeopoda Buzzi, 1976 and A. punctulata (Klug, 1829) are described. Imatures stages were reared in a stove Biometron under temperature of 25±2ºC, photophase of 12 hours and relative humidity of 80±5%. The larvae of A. dubia and A. languida were fed with leaves of Baccharis relusa DC; A. fuscata with leaves of Baccharidastrum argutum (Less) Cabrera; A. phaeopoda with leaves of Baccharis gaudichaudiana DC. and larvae of A. punctulata with leaves of Baccharis trimera (Less) A. DC.. All plants belonging to the Asteraceae. Two forms of A. fuscata were studied: A. fuscata (Klug, 1829) and A. fuscata form=unicolor (Burmeister, 1870) n.syn. and no significant differences were found.

New taxa described: Cerambycinae, Achrysonini-Ectenessa andrei, sp.n. (Brazil: Rio Grande do Sul); Lamiinae, Lamiini - Neoptychodes cosmeticus, sp.n. (Equador); Onciderini - Charoides pepoata, sp.n. (Bolívia); Venustus analogus, sp.n. (Colombia); Oncideres mirim, sp.n. (Brazil: Pará); Compsosomatini - Compsosoma monnei, sp.n. (Bolivia); Desmiphorini - Desmiphora auatinga, sp.n. (Ecuador); Iurubanga, gen.n., I. arixi, sp.n. (Brazil: Paraná, Santa Catarina); Acanthoderini -Acakyra, gen.n., A. iaguara, sp.n. (Colombia); Anisocerini - Phacellocera susua, sp.n. (Equador); Falsamblesthiini - Camixaima, gen.n., C. beraba, sp.n. (Equador); Calliini - Callisema iucaua, sp.n. (Peru); Lustrocomus, gen.n., L. paraensis, sp.n. (Brazil: Pará). Fredlanella, nom.n. is given to Taperinha Lane. 1964 non Linnavuori, 1959 (Homoptera). Neomoema, nom. n. is proposed for Moema Martins & Galileo, 1992 non Costa, 1989 (Pisces). Anisocerus palliatus White, 1855 is transterred to the genus Phacellocera Laporte, 1840. Notes are presented on Calocomus kreuchelyi Buquet, 1840 (Prioninae, Calocomini) and Venustus zeteki Dillon & Dillon, 1945 (Lamiinae. Onciderini). A key to the species of Callisema Martins & Galileo, 1990 (Lamiinae, Calliini) is added.

The feeding ecology and the sazonal variation in capture frequencies of anurans in two localities of Central Brazil was studied. The anuran capture frequencies were analysed counting specimen numbers collected in pitfall traps during the dry and rainy seasons. Anurans were caught more frequently during the rainy season. The diet of adults Proceratophrys sp., Eleutherodactylus sp., Bufo paracnemis Lutz, 1925, and Physalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger, 1826 were studied through the analysis of individual stomach contents. Results showed that the type of diet varied among the species studied.

Heads of soldier termites belonging to the species Embiratermes festivellus (Silvestri, 1901) (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) and Spinitermes brevicornutus (Desneux, 1904) (Termitidae, Termitinae) were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Individual glandular openings are present in the upper part of E. festivellus head and correspond to class 3 glandular cells. Campaniform sensillae occur in both termite heads, but this sensorial structure was not observed in the nasus extremity of E. festivellus soldier.

Acampsis brasiliensis, sp.n. is described from Brazil. This is the first report of this genus to New World.

Fannia parafemoralis, sp.n. and F. paraisensis, sp.n. from Rio de Janeiro, are described. Both species belong to the cannicularis group.

Twenty three species of Thelaziinae Skrjabin, 1915 were referred in Brazil. Hempelia hempeli Vaz, 1936, Thelazia anolabiata (Molin, 1860), T. aquilina Baylis, 1934, T. campanulata (Molin, 1858), T. iheringi Travassos, 1918 and T. travassosfreitasi Cristofaro & Rodrigues, 1979. That included in the Oswaldo Cruz Helminthological Collection were reviewed. Dryocopus lineatus lineatus (Linnaeus), Pipile cumanensis nattereri Reich and Ramphastus dicolorus Linnaeus are new host records for Thelazia anolabiata (Molin, 1860) and Rostrhamus sociabilis (Vieill.) is a new host record for Thelazia campanulata (Molin, 1858).

Caterpillars of Siderone marthesia nemesis (Illiger, 1802) (Nymphalidae, Charaxinae) have been found on Casearia sylvestris Sw. (Flacourtiaceae), during the second half of the rainy season in an area of cerrado near Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil. They occurred at very low density and are cryptic at all instars. The pupal stage does not occur on the host plant. Average duration of the pupa under laboratory conditions is 14.4 days.

This paper includes a revision of the species considered up to now in the genus Lasiodera Gray, 1832 with a detailed study of external morphology as well as males external genitalia which made to propose the separation into two genera, Lasiodera Gray, 1832 and Philyra Laporte, 1836, beeing the second one revalidated, which is now constituted by the following species: Philyra basalis (Racca Filho & Santos, 1988) comb.n., P. helopioides Laporte, 1836 comb.n., P. jucunda (Schenkling, 1900) comb.n., P. quadrivittata (Peracchi, 1960) comb.n., P. stenochioides (Chevrolat, 1874) comb.n. and P. viridis (Pic, 1936) comb.n.. The male genital structures, showing specific differences, are illustrated and discussed. Lasiodera malleri (Pic, 1933) is considered a synonym of L. ruficollis (Gorham, 1877). Lasiodera ornata (Klug, 1842) and L. voluptuosa (Thomson, 1860) had not their external genitalia examinated because they are not represented in the collections studied. To identify the species of the genera, systematic keys are also presented.

A different approach was used for the key-factor method in a population study of the tropical butterfly Fountainea ryphea (Cramer, [1776]) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae), marking 20 artificial cohorts to identify the mortality levels and associated instars responsible for the variation in numbers within the season of occurrence, when generations overlap broadly. Highest mortality was detected during first instar in 13 cohorts; during second instar in three cohorts; third and fourth instars suffered highest mortality twice. Results showed that first instar mortality due to rainfall and predation, and parasitism on fourth instar could be the main factors promoting differences in number between cohorts throughout the season, although no density-dependent processes could be identified.

This work describes some interactions between lepidopteran larvae and braconid parasitoids on a group of plants at two sites. There was no significant difference in parasitoid diversity between the sites (Shannon index, p<0.05), and similarity was 62.5%, estimated through Sorensen's index. The diversity of hosts was also not different (p<0.05), but the similarity of host diversity was only 28.5%. This suggests that the parasitoids have strategies for maintaining similar reproduction rates, population densities and communities in areas with different potential hosts.

The influence of the parasitism by the digenetic trematode Eurytrema coelomaticum (Giard &amp; Billet, 1892) over the calcium mobilization and the reproductive function of its first intermediate host, the snail Bradybaena similaris (Férussac, 1821) was experimentally studied in infected and uninfected snails maintained in laboratory under controlled conditions of nutrition, humidity and temperature. The calcium of the shells of infected and uninfected snails was quantified by using a technique of volumetric complexation. The amount of calcium present in the tissue was evaluated by using the histochemistry techniques of Dahl and von Kossa. The alteration in the reproductive function was evaluated through the egg production, and by histological follow up of the snails gametogenesis, in the infected and uninfected snails. The Student's test "t" showed that there was no significant difference in relation to size, weight and calcium concentration in the shells of infected and uninfected snails. The analysis of nonlinear regression, polynomial of 4th order, showed an highly positive relation to weight and size of shell to infected and uninfected snails, and an weakly significant relation to calcium concentration in the shells and shells size of infected snails. The histochemistry techniques demonstrated a large calcium deposition in the cells of the digestive glands of the infected snails when compared to the uninfected ones. The histological study of the ovotestis of the infected snails demonstrated that the gametogenesis of these snails was abnormal. The ovulogenesis was the most alterated and at 45 days post-infection the histological sections showed no ovocytes present in the ovotestis.

Pseudonannolene tocaiensis, sp.n. is described from Brazil, São Paulo, Itirapina. The karyotypes of P. tocaiensis, sp.n. and P. strinatti Mauriès, 1974 are also presented, both species are found in cave environments. P. tocaiensis has 2n=20, XY and P. strinatti, 2n=16; it was not possible to observe the sex determination mechanism in the latter.

Three new species of Pseudonannolene Silvestri, 1895 diplopods are described: P. anapophysis (type locality, "Caverna Lapão", Bahia), P. imbirensis (type locality, "Caverna São Mateus", Imbira III, Goiás), and P. chaimowiczi (Minas Gerais, Bahia)