RCAAP Repository

In the collection of Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, there are specimens from Schrottky's collection which constitute the sintypes of some of the species of Anthidium that he described in 1910. Studying this genus, it is pertinent to designate the Lectotypes of these species, as follows: Anthidium cuzcoense Schrottky, 1910; Anthidium garleppi Schrottky, 1910; Anthidium nigerrimum Schrottky, 1910; Anthidium patagonicum Schrottky, 1910, and Anthidium peruvianum Schrottky, 1910. The lectotype of Anthidium kuscheli Moure, 1957, deposited in the collection of Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, is also here designated.

An illustrated key to identify nine families of Coleoptera commonly found in stored products is presented. Keys for the identification of Anobiidae [Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius, 1792), Stegobium paniceum (Linnaeus, 1761)], Bruchidae [Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say, 1831), Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman, 1833)], Curculionidae [Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus, 1763), S. zeamais Motschulsky, 1885], Silvanidae [Ahasverus advena (Waltl, 1832), Cathartus quadricollis (Guérin, 1892), Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauvel, 1889), O. surinamensis (Linnaeus, 1758)] and Tenebrionidae [Gnathocerus cornutus (Fabricius, 1798), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797), T. confusum du Val, 1868] are also provided. These keys cover the most frequent Coleoptera found in stored products, specially grains, and are to the adult stage only. Illustrations of external morphology and general characteristics are provided for each species reported.

Three new species of Ladoffa Young, 1977 are described: L. rubronigra sp. n. (North Brazil and Guyana), L. isabellina sp. n. (North Brazil), and L. trifasciata sp. n. (Panama). They are similar to the other species of the genus in the general aspect, mainly with regards to the coloration. However, they can be distinguished by the aspect of the male genitalia.

From July 1996 to June 1997, in Armação do Itapocoroy, Penha, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, monthly census were done in three areas of traditional fishery and Itacolomis islands. A total of 10021 seabirds were registered, belonging to eight species, five genus and four families. The average number of seabirds per dragging varied between 80,2 and 113,6. Sterna spp, appeared at first in 43,3% of the released by-catch, followed by Larus dominicanus Lichtenstein, 1823, Fregata magnificens Matheus, 1914, Phalacrocorax brasilianus (Humboldt, 1805) and Sula leucogaster Boddaert, 1783. The average size of the fish consumed by the seabirds oscillated from 8,3 cm (Sterna spp.) to 18,5 cm (F. magnificens), with an average time from 6,12 to 7,55 minutes per by-catch released. In general, seabirds use 84,0% of the by-catch fish as a feeding source.

Data on body mass and measurements of external characteristics (length, width and height of bill; tarsus, tail, wing and total lengths) for live birds from eastern Mato Grosso do Sul State, Central Brazil are reported. Mean, standard deviation and minimum and maximum values are show for 95 species.

A comparative analysis of the scapulocoracoid and cervico-thoracic synarcual cartilage of juvenile specimens of Rhinoptera brasiliensis Müller & Henle, 1841 and R. bonasus (Mitchill, 1815) was accomplished, in order to identify specific, individual and ontogenetic differences. In the scapulocoracoid, the scapular foramen and the posterodorsal fenestra is larger in R. brasiliensis. The anterior fenestra bridge is thicker and the metacondyle is thinner and longer in R. bonasus. This species also possesses a larger re-entrance between the mesocondyle and the metacondyle, as well as in the fitting region of'the synarcual cartilage, placed close to the scapular process. The individual differences are: posteroventral fenestra with variable diameter independent of the size of the specimens; scapulocoracoids, in some specimens, are more fragile even if they have been kept in the same conservation conditions. In the cervico-thoracic synarcual cartilage, the lateral stay in R. brasiliensis encloses completely the superior portion of the anteroscapular bridge. There are three more prominent condyles beside the suprascapula in R. brasiliensis, R. bonasus, however, shows a protuberance close to the suprascapula, inconspicuous and more distant from the scapular lamina. Several specimens of different size of R. bonasus show a synarcual cartilage wider in ventral view and higher in lateral view. In the majority of specimens, the number of ventral spinal foramina is higher than the dorsal ones in both species. R. bonasus has only one pair of asymmetric basal foramina, whereas R. brasiliensis possesses three or four foramina. Regarding individual differences, at least one specimen of R. bonasus exhibits a single basal foramen.

Material collected with a 2-meter wide beam trawl during eight surveys conducted from December 1995 to February 1997 was used for a first preliminary description of the reproduction and population dynamics of the edible venerid bivalve Chione pubera (Bory Saint-Vicent, 1827). Greatest catches were found between 30 to 35 meters depth, on fine sandy bottoms with a mud content lower than 10%. Dry weight meat condition index showed highest values during autumn and lowest values from winter to summer months. Histological analysis of gonadal tissue showed a continuous reproduction, with peaks of maturation on autumn and spring, Spawning was related with the increase of water temperature, that occurs twice a year in the region as a consequence of a particular hydrological characteristic of the inner continental shelf. Size frequency distribution showed a unique principal mode with slow if any displacement through time, indicating a long lived species.

A morphological study of adult and immature stages of the Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) is presented with descriptions and original data. The insects were dissected and studied under compound and scanning electron microscope. The structures described were: sensorial pores on the antennae; asymmetrical mandibles of adults and larvae; sexual dimorphism of tibial spurs and terminal segments of pupae, and short setae on the urogornphi of the last larval instar.

From October 1995 to January 1996 a survey of the culicid species mentioned above was carried out in a restrict Atlantic Forest area, located in the Marumbi mountain (approximately 6,5 km from the town of Morretes). Shannon light trap was used during 48 nights, in the four lunar phases: full moon, first quarter, new moon and last quarter between evening and morning twilights. A total of 594 Coquillettidia (Rhynchotaenia) venezuelensis (Theobald, 1912) specimens were collected and the different night flight activity in the four moon phases was observed. Regarding the hourly activity, the peak higher numbers of Coquillettidia venezuelensis were collected in the first three hours. Concerning the environmental factors, temperature was found to be the more relevant one for the flight activity of Coquillettidia venezuelensis.

The occurrence of Crepidobothrium sp.(Cestoda, Proteocephalidae) in the intestine of Bothrops moojeni (Hoge,1965)(Serpentes, Viperidae) is reported. The host snake was rescued from the fauna in Porto Primavera dam, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. The snake died in captivity on July 13,1999. At necropsy, 28 tapeworms were found in the snake intestine. The analysis of specimens morphology allowed the conclusion that they belong to the Crepidobothrium (Monticelli, 1900) genus. It was not possible to determine the Crepidobothrium species due to the lack of the gravid proglottids. This is the first report of B. moojeni as a host of cestodes.

Simpsonichthys boitonei Carvalho, 1959 has an evident sexual dimorphism, easily observed in the color pattern and body proportions. In order to know the differences in the diet between males and females, the stomach contents of 28 individuals was examined. The Sorensen's index of similarity showed 90.9% of food items in common between sex. The main food in this species is Cladocera as evidenced in terms of average number, abundance and frequency of occurrence. The presence of vegetable is evidence of a high flexibility of this species in relation to the feeding behavior. Maybe the differences in the social behavior between sex are important in the total amount of ingested food.

Two new species are described: Chlorotettix essbejus sp. n. (Peru) and Chlorotettix dentatus sp, n. (Colombia).

Nesothamnus amazonicus sp. n., from Brazil, is described and illustrated.

A survey of Monomachidae species was carried out in anarea of Atlantic rain forest of the Biological Reserve of Duas Bocas, Espírito Santo State, Brazil between September, 1996 and August, 1997. Two species of Mollomachus Klug, 1841, M. fuscator Perty, 1833 and M. eurycephalus Schletterer, 1890 were collected from May to September. Both species are typical of winter time and showed the same parttern of seasonality.

Sixty specimens of Caranx hippos (Linnaeus, 1766) and fifty-five specimens of Caranx latus Agassiz, 1831 collected from the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro (21-23ºS, 41-45ºW), Brazil, from October 1998 to October 1999, were necropsied to study their metazoan parasites. All specimens of C. hippos were parasitized, and the majority of specimens of C latus (96.4%) were parasitized by one or more metazoan species. Nineteen species of parasites were collected in C. hippos: 5 digeneans, 5 monogeneans, 2 cestodes, 5 nematodes, and 2 copepods. Seventeen species of parasites were collected in C. latus: 6 digeneans, 2 monogeneans, 3 cestodes, 4 nematodes, and 2 copepods. The endoparasites (digeneans, cestodes, and nematodes) were the majoriry, 76.4% and 63.3%, of the total number of parasite specimens collected in C. hippos and C. latus, respectively. The monogeneans Allopyragraphorus hippos (Hargis, 1956) and Cemocotyle carangis (MacCallum, 1913) were the most dominant species with the highest parasitic prevalence in the parasite community of C. hippos and C. latus, respectively. The metazoan parasites of the two host species showed the typical overdispersed pattern of distribution. Bucephalus varicus Manter, 1940. A. hippos, Protomicrocotyle mirabilis (MacCallum, 1918), Cucullanus pulcherrimus Barreto, 1918, and Lemanthropus giganteus KrΦyer, 1863 had a positive correlation only between the host's total length and abundance andlor prevalence in C. hippos. Bucephalus varicus, Tergestia pectinata (Linton, 1905), C. carangis, and Pseudoterranovo sp. had a positive correlation between the host's total length and abundance and/or prevalence in C. latus. In C. hippos, the copepod Caligus robustus Bassett-Smith, 1898 had the highest values of prevalence and abundance in the female hosts. No parasite species showed influence of the host's sex on their prevalence and abundance in C. latus. The mean diversity and the parasite species richness of the parasite infracommunities of C. hippos and C. latus were not significantly different. Only the parasite species diversity of C. hippos was correlated with the host's total length; in both host species the parasite diversity did not showed differences in relation to the sex of the host. Only one pair of ectoparasite species, A. hippos - P. mirabilis, showed significant positive co-occurrence and covariation in the parasite infracommunities of C. hippos. Two endoparasite species, B. varicus - Parahemiurus merus (Linton, 1910), showed negative co-occurrence and positive covariation; and the pair B. varicus - Pseudoterranova sp. had positive co-occurrence and covariation in the infracommunities of C. latus. The values of qualitative and quantitative simila rity coefficients between the parasite communities of C. hippos and C. latus were 55.5 and 30.4, respectively. The parasite communities of C. hippos and C. latus were defined as closest to isolationist type because there are few evidences of interspecific associations or covariations. Additional parasitological studies on other species of carangid fishes from the South American Atlantic Ocean are needed to evaluate the structure of carangid parasite communities in the Neotropical region.

Frontal weapon is the term used to designate the apparatus consisting of frontal gland and associated structures that participate in the chemical defense of termite soldiers. The ultra structure of the frontal gland and the scanning microscopy of the soldier head was investigated in the termite Amiitermes euamignathus Silvestri, 1901.Campaniform sensilla was not observed but there were 80 to100 sensory bristles around the frontal pore. The glandular epithelium shows only class 1 cells according 10 the classification of NOIROT & QUENNEDEY (1974, 1991). The glandular cells are characterized by apical microvilli, a basal labyrinth and a large quantity of smooth endoplasmic reticulum which forms dense zones throughout the cytoplasm. The secretion is concentrated mainly in the basal pole of the cell and consists of large lipid droplets. The secretory epithelium is covered by a thick apical cuticle composed of a thin outer epicuticle, a layer of epicuticular filaments and a dense procuticle. The cytological results concerning the frontal pore showed a reduced cuticle and the presence of a subcuticular space where the lipid droplets are accumulated. The lack of class 3 cells and the presence of an intrinsic musculature are two anatomical features of the A. euamignathus frontal gland that will be important in the phylogenetic relationships of the Nasutitermitinae.

A survey performed in the Guaratuba Bay (25º52'S; 48º39'W) and the adjacent marine area has provided additional data about the habits of the croaker in the southern coast of Brazil. A dynamic pattern of movements along the marine and estuarine waters was observed, but it does not indicate spawning activity in the study area. During autumn/winter, pre-adults and adults use the marine waters. In spring/summer, following gonadal maturation,the individuals leave this area and probably move to deeper waters, where they spawn. Until the end of summer, the estuary is then occupied by juveniles coming from the marine spawning area. In autumn/winter, these juveniles and the new pre-adults move to the marine zone adjacent to the bay and begin gonadal maturation. It is suggested that the Guaratuba Bay and the adjacent marine area constitute an important site for growth and recruitment of the early lifestages of M. furnieri and initial stages of reproductive activity.

A fragment of a forest, located in the urban area of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, was chosen to represent the area for this study. Many Merostachys Spreng, 1824 bamboo, which were naturally perforated and, therefore, ready to retain water, were found in the interior of this forest. Bamboo were collected every fifteen days during field actions. They were then measured and cut meter by meter before their contents were analyzed in the laboratory. A total of 542 specimens from the following species were collected during one year: Sabethes aurescens (Lutz, 1905), Sabethes melanomymphe Dyar, 1924, Sabethes identicus Dyar & Knab, 1907, Wyeomyia rooti (Del Ponte, 1939), Wyeomyia limai Lane & Cerqueira, 1942, Wyeomyia sp., Trichoprosopon pallidiventer (Lutz, 1905), Trichoprosopon humboldti Lane & Cerqueira, 1942, Toxorhynchites sp. e Shannoniana schedocyclium (Dyar & Knab, 1908). Wyeomyia limai and Sabethes aurescens were the most frequently found species. The first specie had the highest population index in february whereas the Sabethes aurescens, had its highest index in july, february and november. The largest number of larvae were obtained in the months of february and march. As for stratification, the greatest quantity of larvae was found at two meters. The specie Wyeomyia limai predominated in all heights, being most abundant at three meters high whereas the Sabethes was most abundant at one meter high. The presence of bamboo in small forest spots in urban areas is enough to host a certain variety of Culicidae of the Sabethini tribe which are considered wild mosquito. These same mosquito, due to their hematophagus habitat, can be hazardous to public health.

The breadth and overlap of male call site were determined for 15 anuran species from a temporary pond in Northwestern São Paulo State, Brazil. Four measurements were made at the point of capture of each calling male and the frequency of mating call was determined. There was a high overlap along each variable of call site, but less than 28% of possible species pairs presented high overlap for all variables. Taxonomically related species pairs calling from grass presented spatial and acoustic segregation, while those calling from the graund presented only acoustic segregation. The similarity of call site seems to be not only related to the taxonomic relationships but also with the body size and spatial heterageneity.

Despite its enormous area, diversity of habitat, and bat species, studies in the Brazilian Amazon represent just a small portion of the bat research in the South América. Consequently, the distribution of the major part of the bat species in the Brazilian Amazon remains incompletely documented. Conservation strategies involving bat species in the Brazilian Amazon may be difficult without more information about geographic distribution, status, roost, food preferences, and reproduction of the species. Here is presented an updated list of species of bats of Alter do Chão, and complete this list with data from the nearby Amazon National Park, providing a list of bats in the Santarém area. This list includes at least 55 species of bats, representing 34 genera, and 7 families. The higher taxonomic composition of bat fauna of Santarérn area is similar to other areas sampled in the Brazilian Amazon, with a high proportion of frugivores, but the number of aerial insectivores is lower, probably due the use of mist nets as the principal sampling method.