RCAAP Repository

Azya ilicis sp.n. from Brazil, is described. The new taxon is integrated into the most recent key to species.

The Brazilian fish fauna is still poorly known with respect to its diversity and conservation status, particularly of freshwater species. Human activities and population growth are rapidly impacting this fauna to an unchecked extent, so that many fish species are presently threatened. Also, some areas have been so critically altered that their fish fauna can no longer be properly inventoried. There is an urgent need to evaluate the conservation status of Brazilian fish species, since none are presently listed as endangered by federal legislation. Based on a literature search and a survey directed to the Neotropical ichthyologists, we present an unofficial list including a total of 78 threatened fish species (12 elasmobranchs and 66 actinopterygians). Of these, sixteen actinopterygian species are listed as endangered, three elasmobranchs and nine actinopterygians as vulnerable, and seven actinopterygians as rare; 40 species either have indeterminate status or are data deficient to yield an adequate assessment, and three species are listed as extinct or possibly extinct.

Seasonal variation of the food items of the "bagre-urutu", Genidens genidens is analysed based on monthly samples between September, 1993 and April, 1995 at the Guaratuba Bay, coast of Paraná. The stomach contents of 105 fish is analysed by the Occurrence Frequency Method and 41 of these have also been analysed by the Volumetric Method. Matching both methods using the Preponderance índices, a larger incidence of decapods is determined, followed by other crustaceans, molluscs, polychaets, fish, and plant material. The data show the existence of a strong seasonal variation in the diet.

The genus Alocha Melichar, 1926 (type species: Telligonia sórdida Signoret, 1855) is revalidated. The following new combinations are eslablished: Alocha lugubris (Young, 1977), A. própria (Young, i977)and A. rossi (Young, 1977), A. sórdida (Signoret, 1855) is a comb. rev. A new genus, Albiniana (type-species: Paromenia weyrauchi Young, i977), is described.

Bionomic characteristics of Sarconesia chloroüaster (Wiedemann, 1830) were obtained, rearing it with an artificial diet and a conlrolled temperature chamber set at 27±lºC, 70± 10% RH and 12 hours photophase. The duration of the wholeevolutive cycle ofS. cholorogaster was about 19.61 days. The incubation period was the shortest (14.30 hours), the pupal one (pre-pupal and pupal together) was the longest (9.57 days), followed by the larval period that had about 9.44 days. A life table for immature stages was done in order to obtain a survival curve. The average of the adults longevity was about 25.28 days. There is no statistical difference between the duration of male and female longevity. The duration of the periods of pre-posture and posture were almost the saine (8.41 and 10.96 days respectively), but the period of pos-posture was the shortest (5.15 days). The life tables for adults, males and females were also done and the survival curves were obtained. The results were similar for both sexes. Through the life table of fértil ity the number of generations of S. chlorogaster was estimated to be 9.81 generations/year. The females had a high fertility under the laboratory conditions used.

Morphological characteristics of the immature of Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann, 1830) were obtained rearing it on an artificial diet in a temperature controlled chamber set at 27±1ºC, 70±10% RH and 12 hours photophase. The egg, three larval instars and puparium were described and illustrated together with the lairval cephalopharyngeal skeleton. Some characters were studied, for the first time using the scanning electron microscopy.

Five new species of Bahita Oman, 1936, from Brazil, are described: Bahita fenica, B. anlonina, B. aguasina, B. variabilis and B. joseana.

The identification of insect fragments showed that the infestation was done, mainly, by Coleoptera of the genus Sitophilus Sch›nherr, 1838 (Curculionidae) and Rhizoperthadominica (Fabricius, 1792) (Bostrychidae), that are caracteristic of internai infestation, and in lesser percentage by insects charac-teristic of externai infestation, as Crylolestes spp. (Cucujidae), Tribolium spp. (Tene-brionidae), Oryzaephilussurinamensis(Linnacus, 1758) (Cucujidae) and Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius, 1792) (Anobiidae). From the total of recovered and identified insect fragments, 59% were fragments of elytra, 23% of mandibles, and in minor percentage by tarsal segments, claws, tibial spurs, legs, tarsus, eyes, antennae, exuviae and larvae urogomphi.

Dissection of 286 specimens of the "false" coral snake Erythrolamprus aesculapii Linnaeus, 1766, combined with data on captive individuais, provided information on the reproductive biology of this colubrid snake. Adult females (x snout-vent length = 74.5cm) attain larger body size than males (x SVL = 62.6). Clutch size ranged from one to eight eggs and was correlated with maternal body size. Neonates measured 20.2-22.5cm SVL and weighed 5.1-5.8g. Males attain sexual maturity earlier than females. Reproduction seems to be aseasonal, with vitellogenesis occurring throughout the year. Apparently the growth rate of folheies decreases in the dry season, possibly due to lower tempeiatures during this period. Multiple clutches were recorded in captive snakes. Foraging strategies and availability of prey may explain continuous reproduction in E. aesculapii. However, data for other related snakes suggest that continuous reproduction is conservative in the Xenodontini.

The faunal composition of the Hydropsychidae (Trichoptcra) of Pedregulho Stream is presented. Feeding habits of larvae and behavioural aspects of both larvae and adults are described.

A diversified Lepidoptera fauna is found associated with Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. From October 1990 to September 1991 twelve light traps were used in three regions of the Cerrado area with Eucalyptus plantations (Bom Despacho - BD, Três Marias - TM and Montes Claros - MC), in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Twenty three Lepidoptera defoliator species were found in those regions. These species were affected by many factors, specially the plantation stage, the neighboring plant species, the type of brush vegetation and the species of Eucalyptus planted in a specific area. The saniples were not significantly different between regions in species richness (12 to 17 species; p=0.065) or eveness (0.53 to 0.70; p=0.779) in a randomized ANOVA test. Assuming a relation between the diversity and the vulnerability to pest outbreaks, it is sugested that the sampling points are equally vunerable. A cluster analysis revealed a clear separation between regions based in their species abundance and composition. In each region it is possible to show subsets of saniples fornied by the Eucalyptus species (MC) or the effect ofthe nearby regeneration áreas (TM). These differences suggest a species substitution process that do not alter the fixed community strueture shared by each region.

Epelaspis renatoi sp.n. and E. ketiae sp.n. (Phygadeuontinae, Hemitelini) from Jundiaí do Sul, Fênix, Telêmaco Borba, Ponta Grossa, Colombo, Curitiba, São José dos Pinhais, Morretes (Paraná), Tenente Portela and Quaraí (Rio Grande do Sul) are described.

The subespecie Lutreolina crassicaudata paranalis Thomas, 1923 is validated through analysis of variance of 13 craniometrical measurements. There is significam separation for sex in 10 of 13 craniometrical measurements. The possibility of validation of subespecies L. c. bonaria Thomas, 1923 through coloration variation is discussed.

For the first time the pollination of a poorly known, terrestrial orchid, Habenaria pleiophylla Hoehne & Schlechter, 1921 (Orchidaceae) by a passion vine butterfly, Heliconius erato phyllis (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) is reported. Number of pollinia-carrying individuals was determined on a population of H. erato phyllis in Horto Florestal Barba Negra, Barra do Ribeiro County, Rio Grande do Sul State. The pollination mechanism was described under laboratory conditions, in association with the butterfly feeding habit and the orchid flower morphology. Habenaria pleiophylla pollinia are cemented during nectar feeding on the ventral portion of the compound eyes near H. erato phyllis proboscis base. The pollinia are transferred to the stigma of other flowers during subsequent visits. Both males and females of H. eralo phyllis frequently visit H. pleiophylla flowers in the Barba Negra Forest. About forty percent of field collected adults had attached pollinia, ranging in number from one to 19 per individual. Thus, H. eralo phyllis may play an important role in the reproductive biology of this H. pleiophylla population.

From material collected in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul States (Brazil) two new records of Trichorhina are presented (T. argentina Vandel, 1963 and T. tomentosa (Budde-Lund, 1893) as well as a description of a new species bicolor sp.n.). Lectotypes and paralectotypes of T. argentina are designated. A key for the species in the study area is also included.

A new name, Tiphiallen nom.n. is proposed for Allenella Genise, 1992 (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae), preoccupied by Iredale, 1944 (Mollusca, Gastropoda).

Frequenamia delongi nom.n., is proposed for Frequenamia alrala DeLong, 1982, preoccupied by Frequenamia atrata Linnavuori & DeLong, 1978.

Five hundred and eigh body masses of 74 forest birds, and measurements of wing, tail, tarsus and beak of 14 poorly known species mist-netted at two sites in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Paraná State, southern Brazil, are presented.

In this work was identifyed the diferents opening forms of the palm nuts Syagrus romanzoffiana by brazilian squirrel Sciurus ingrami in four diferents points of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Was caracterized tive basic forms of opening, in acording with the number of incisions and opening aspects. The form with lower number of incisions (two) was also the greather frequently in the four points sampled (66,25%; N = 5194) well as registred the lower opening time (7,2 ± 1,7 min) in relationship with other forms (9,2 ± 2,3 min). To explicate the diferences in the frequences of forms discovered, is proposed "apprenticeship's hypothesis" which the young squirrels of the population, along the opening nuts apprenticeship, to passing of the forms with larger number of incisions to forms with lower number of incisions, ending in the form of more frequence, which is maintained by adult squirrels.

A new genus and species of Cecidomyiidi (Cecidomyiidae, Diptera) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are described and illustrated (exuvia, male, female and gall). The species was found in association with Clusia lanceolata (Clusiaceae).