RCAAP Repository

Five new species of Portanus Ball, 1932, are described: P. telmae n. sp., P. mariae n. sp., P. pictus n. sp., P. lineatus n. sp., P. xavantes n. sp. from Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul e São Paulo, Brazil.

Six new species of Xestocephalus Van Duzee, 1892 are described: X. crocatus sp. n., X. punctulatus sp. n., X. concolor sp. n., X. coloreus sp. n., X. tripartitus sp. n, and X. stellatus sp. n., the former two from Rondônia and others from Paraná, Brasil.

Data on the life cycle and morphology of immature stages of Actinote carycina Jordan, 1913 are presented. The larvae feed on leaves of Eupatorium inulaefolium H.B.K. (Asteraceae).

A cladistic study of the four monophyletic tribes of Pyrrhopyginae is presented. Passovini, Oxynetrini, and Zoniini are new tribes.

A survey of batflies (Diptera, Streblidae) was done in Paraná State, Brazil during 1998 and 1999. Twenty-tree species in 10 genera were recorded. Two species of streblid batflies, Paraeuctenodes longipes Pessôa & Guimarães, 1936 and Metelasmus pseudopterus Coquillett, 1907, that have not been found in Paraná State were included, because they have been recorded in Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo States. One species is new a record for Brazil: Trichobius jubatus Wenzel, 1976. In addition, twenty more species are new records for Paraná State: Trichobius joblingi Wenzel, 1966; T. tiptoni Wenzel, 1976; T. furmani Wenzel, 1966; T. longipes (Rudow, 1871); Paratrichobius longicrus (Ribeiro, 1907); Megistopada aranea (Coquillett, 1899); M. proxima (Séguy, 1926); Aspidoptera falcata Wenzel, 1976; A. phyllostomatis (Perty, 1833); Exastinion clovisi (Pessôa & Guimarães, 1936); Noctiliostrebla aitkeni Wenzel, 1966; Paradyschiria fusca Speiser; 1900; P. parvula Falcoz, 1931; Strebla chrotopteri Wenzel, 1976; S. diaemi Wenzel, 1966; S. guajiro (Garcia & Casal, 1965); S. mirabilis (Waterhouse, 1879), Paraeuctenodes similis Wenzel, 1976; Anastrebla caudiferae Wenzel, 1976; A. modestini Wenzel, 1966. The occurence of Paralrichabius longicrus on Pygoderma bilabiatum (Wagner, 1843), and Trichobius dugesioides dugesioides and Strebla mirabilis on Mimon bennettii (Gray, 1838) is reported for first time. Pictorial keys to species are presented and the gonopods of streblid batflies are illustrated.

Epidromia lienaris (Hübner, 1823) comb. n. is the oldest name for the species later described as E. pannosa Guenée, 1852, syn. n., E. zetophora Guenée, 1852 syn. n., Thermesia glaucescens Walker, 1858 syn. n., T. suffusa Walker, 1858 syn. n., T. tinclifera Walker, 1858, syn. n., T. lenis Walker, 1858 syn. n., T. valida (Walker, 1865) syn. n., Ophisma anlica Walker, 1865 syn. n., E. xanthogramma Wallengren, 1860 syn. n. and E. rotundata Herrich-Schaffer, 1869 syn. n.; E. poaphiloides (Guenée, 1852), is regarded the senior name for Ophiusa profana Walker, 1858 syn. n. and Remigia saluratior Walker, 1858 syn. n. Manbuta pyraliformis (Walker, 1858), comb. n. and M. nigrisparsa (Dognin, 1914), comb. n., are removed from Epidromia Guenée, 1852 and Iluza Walker, 1865 respectively.

A survey of streblid batflies on phyllostomid bats was carried out from caves in Distrito Federal, Brazil during 1997 and 1998. Thirteen species were found on eight species of bats. Two species of batflies, Trichobius lonchophyllae Wenzel, 1966 and T. propinquus Wenzel, 1976, are new records for Brazil.

Mating couples of two species of the genus Chimarra Stephens, C. (Curgia) brasiliana (Ulmer, 1905) and C. (Curgia) ypsilon Flint, 1983, were collected with light trap at Paraná State, Brazil. The females are described and illustrations of the genitalia are presented.

Assycuera gen. n. (type species: Anyclocera macroteta Bates, 1880) is proposed to accomodate four species formerly placed in Ancylocera Audinet-Serville, 1834: Assycuera waterhousei (White, 1855) comb, n., Assycuera macrotela (Bates, 1880) comb, n., Assycuera rubella (Bates, 1892), comb. n. and Assycuera scabricollis (Chemsak, 1963) comb. n. The characters used to assemble these species into the new genus were mainly the gradually clavate femora and the antennae of the male with the 11th segment elongate, filiform, the scape not enlarged at base and the pedicel not projected outerly. All the species are redescribed, illustrated and keyed. The males of Assycuera scabricollis and A. rubella are described for the first time. The key presented by Monné & Napp (2000b) for the Neotropical genera of Ancylocerina is modified in order to include the new genus.

A synopsis of the genus Ancylocera Audinet-Serville, 1834 is presented. The genus is redescribed, with description of two new species, Ancylocera. sergioi sp. n., from Brazil and A. spinula sp. n., from Colômbia, and a key to the species is provided. All the species (except A. cardinalis) are illustrated and comments on their hosts and distribution are given.

A study of the annual abundance fluctuation, temporal distribution and size composition of Aegla castro Schmitt, 1942 was carried out at the Buraco do Padre, Quebra-Perna River, Tibagi River Basin, in the municipality of Ponta Grossa, Paraná State. The samplings were done monthly, from February/97 to January/98 with the aid of a hand net and screens at three stations, under an effort of 120 minutes. The average air temperature ranged from 15.0ºC (May, July, September and October) to 24.3ºC (December and January), and the water temperature from 15.8ºC (July) to 22.3ºC (December). The dissolved oxygen oscillated from 95.7% (March) to 100. 2% (August) saturation, and the pH from 6.1 (July) to 7.2 (September). The water flow speed varied from 0.2 m/s to 1.2 m/s. Sulfates and phosphates had values less than 0.2 ppm and the ammonia values alternated from 0.1 to 0.6 ppm. A total of 827 specimens were obtained, among which 384 males, 311 females and 132 juveniles. The abundance of Aegla castro varied from 27 (July/97) to 204 (September/97). In the Station 1 higher number and larger specimens were obtained with predominance of males. Juveniles and adults of both sexes occurred in all three sites, but the proportion between juveniles and adults was different. So, these habitats are appropriate to the development of these animals. Males grow up larger than females, due to the reproductive effort of the last ones.

The reproductive biology of Aegla caslro Schmitt, 1942 from Buraco do Padre, Ponta Grossa, Paraná State, was analyzed. The sampling was done monthly, from February/97 to January/98 with aid of hand net and screens at three stations, under an effort of 120 minutes. The mean air temperature ranged from 15.0ºC (May, July, September and October) to 24.3ºC (December and January), and the water temperature from 15.8ºC (July) to 22.3ºC (December). The dissolved oxygen oscillated from 95.7% (March) to 100.2% saturation (August) and the pH from 6.1 (July) to 7.2 (September). A total of 827 specimens were obtained among which 384 males, 311 females and 132 juveniles. Males predominated over females, but the sex ratio followed the standard model of 1:1. Juveniles were found during all the study period, except in May and September. The peaks of their frequency curve occurred in April and December. The reproduction is discontinuous type with greater intensity in the colder months, from May to October. The females take part of the reproduction for two consecutive years and the species longevity was estimated in two years. The carapace length of the various development stages ranged as following: juveniles < 6.4 mm, immature females and males = from 6.5 to 12.2 mm and mature females and males = from 12.3 to 29.5 mm.

Poecilia vivipara (Bloch &amp; Schneider. 1801) is a species that lives in the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, a coastal lagoon in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The objective of this study was to increase the knowledge about reproductive aspects of P. vivipara population including: the female size when it begins reproduction, the number of offsprings per gestation, embrionary development stages and the number of pregnant females. The results show that P. vivipara reproduces throughout the whole year with its first maturation occurring at 29 mm. The proportion found of females to males was 3:1. Embryos showed four developmental stages until birth with sexual differentiation occurring after 15mm.

Thirty shells of Tamayoa (Tamayops) banghaasi (Thiele, 1927) from Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, were analyzed with a stereomicroscop showing the following characteristics: discoid shell, without macrosculptures; ovate-lunate aperture without teeth. Thin, sharp and not-reflected lip; umbilicus with 1/5 of the shell's diameter; impressed suture, total whorls from 4 to 5.5; protoconch with 1.5 to 2 whorls; yellowish-amber, translucent and glossy periostracum. The morphology of the shells were discussed, as well as the shell's dimensions. The conchomorphological patterns are important for systematic studies of mollusks and this work presents data that can be used in future studies about the family.

Oogenesis involves a set of transformations which are undergone by female germ cells These cells change into oogonias and then into mature oocytes. Sexually mature female fish were collected monthly, during one year, from the Sapucaí River, a tributary of the Rio Grande, which is part of the Furnas Reservoir in the state of Minas Gerais. During the several stages of maturation, we observed small round oogonias with a large nucleus, a single nucleolus, and weakly stained cytoplasm with eosinophilic granules. The primary oocytes showed a large basophilic nucleus, with a developed peripheral nucleolus and a reduced cytoplasm. The previtellogenic oocytes presented voluminous cytoplasm and nucleus with several small peripheral nucleoli. The oocytes underwent vitellogenesis with the development of the zona radiata and the follicle cells. Their cytochemical reactions indicated that the two layers of the zona radiata of A. fasciatus contained proteins and polysaccharides. The initially squamous follicle cells, became cuboidal. In mature oocytes, the nucleus moved toward the periphery, next to the micropyle, and the yolk granules formed by proteins, fulfilled the cytoplasm. The clear unstained vesicles are likely to be the cortical alveoli in the perivitelline region.

Oogenesis involves a sequense of transformations which are undergone by female germ cells. These cells change into oogonias and then into mature oocytes. Sexually mature females were collected monthly, during one year, from the Rio Sapucaí, tributary of the Rio Grande, which is part of the Furnas Reservoir system in the state of Minas Gerais. The observed material showed that oogonias were small spherical cells, had a big spherical nucleus, with a single nucleolus, and weakly stained cytoplasm with eosinophilic granules (FG stained), which indicate their protein content. The primary oocytes showed a big basophilic nucleus, with a large peripheral nucleolus, and several smaller nucleoli. They show a reduced cytoplasmic content. The previtellogenic oocytes presented voluminous cytoplasm and nucleus with several small peripheral nucleoli. The oocytes underwent vitellogenesis with the development of the zona radiata and the follicle cells. The zona radiata had two layers, the outer and the inner, which showed its protein content when stained with CM and FG techniques. TB pH 2.5 and pH 4.0 staining showed that oocytes undergoing vitellogenesis presented weakly stained cytoplasm and peripheral cytoplasmic vesicles. The follicle cells that were squamous became cuboidal. In mature oocytes, the yolk granules that filled the cytoplasm became green and blue when stained with FG and CM techniques, indicating their protein content. The perivitclline region showed rosy stained vesicles (TB pH 2.5 and pH 4.0) spread among the weakly stained peripheral vesicles, which seemed to be the cortical alveoli. The zona radiata cells, CM and FG stained, still showed two layers like the oocytes from the previous stage, but thicker.

The diet of P. leucoptera (Vieillot, 1818) was studied using the emetic tartar which induces birds' regurgitation. Birds were captured and treated between May 1996 and June 1997 in the Atlantic Forest at the city of Guapimirim, State of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. The study area is a secondary forest continuous to the Serra dos Órgãos forest. Insect fragments of Coleoptera and Hymenoptera were the items most frequently found in the regurgitate samples. Besides contributing to the knowledge of the species diet, pictures of identified Arthropoda fragments are presented in order to aid future works on avian feeding.

The architecture and biology of Euplusia mussitans (Fabricius, 1787) nests were investigated, using trap nests made by wood, which were randomly distributed in a fragment of a coastal sand dunes, in Salvador, Bahia. Brazil (12º56'S and 38º21'W). 10 nests were found in cavities with 1.5 cm in diameter. From them emerged 10 females and 16 males (Sex ratio = 0,38). The nest cells were made of small pieces of bark cemented together with resin. The number of cells in the nests varied from 2 to 4, with females cells at the inner end and males cells towards the entrance. No significant difference was observed (t= 0.7274, P > 0.05) between the medium size for males (6.3 mm ± 0.16) and for females (6.4 mm ± 0.29). The development time of females was longer than males.

The histological study of the exocrine glands in the swarming females showed the presence of tergal glands, mandibular glands, salivary glands and sternal glands. Tergal and sternal glands are not developed in the physogastric queens, probably, because of a regression process. The development of mandibular glands is similar in swarming females and physogastric queens.

Larvae of Hemiargus hanno (Stoll, 1790) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae) are for the first time reported to be attended under field conditions by ants of the formicine genus Brachymyrmex Mayr, 1868 (Myrmelachistini). Structural features of the last instar larva and pupa of H. hanno are described and illustrated with the aid of scanning electron microscopy (SEM).