RCAAP Repository

Chrisanthidium gen.n. is here proposed (Type spe-cies: Anthidium bidentatum Friese, 1908). Chrisanthidium nigritum sp.n. and Chrisanthidium adornatum sp.n. both from Argentina, are described, as well as Chrisanthidium bidentatum (Friese, 1908), comb.n..

This research was developed in green house of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil and the objective was to evaluate oviposition patterns of Ascia monuste orseis (Godart, 1819) (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) in the canopy of Brassica oleracea Linnaeus plants. Ascia monuste orseis eggs were laid preferable during the morning period, in higher numbers in the stem of these plants and in the leaves of the lower part of the plants. Higher number of eggs was found in the lower parts of leaves of plants with no previous oviposition.

Micoureus cinereus paraguayanus (Tate, 1931) is cited to Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil for the first time. There is a description of the marsupial, measures of body and skull, drawings of skull and teeth and geographic distribution maps.

A survey of the tidal pool fish community was carried out between february/1987 and january/1988, at Cabo Branco Beach, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Specimens were collected monthly at low tide, using rotenone. A total of 3143 specimens was obtained. The most speciose families were Ophichthidae (14% of the total number of species), Mugilidae (11%) and Muraenidae (9%), and the most representative ones in number of individuais were Gobiidae (48%), Pomacentridae (13%) and Labrisomidae (10%). The main resident species were Bathygobius soporator (Valenciennes, 1837) and Abudefduf saxalilis (Linnaeus, 1758). The presence of a large number of juveniles in the pools indicated the importance of the studied sites as nursery áreas for several fish species.

Numida meleagris (Linné, 1758) is an african bird that was brought to Brazil. As the bird adapted to the climate of this new habitat and spread ali around the country, it is nowadays part of our avifauna. The present study continues topographic and morphofunctional researches on the female genital apparatus of this species, since it describes histological and histochemical aspects of magnum, a segment of oviduct. Magnum was dissected and processed according to routine and histochemical staining procedures to detect glycogen and mucous substances in the epithelial tissue and mucous glands. Besides focusing morphological aspects, the study compares the data obtained with those of other species aiming to contribute to the enlargement of the knowledge on reproductive biology of brazilian birds what may be important to make their biological control easier.

The behavioural patterns and their cireadian rhythms may be adaptive to the peculiar environmental conditions of subtropical brackish waters where Ba-thygobius soporator Valenciennes, 1837 live. Adult fish were caught at the southern Brazilian coast from mangrove rivers and rocky shores in a bay, where temperature and water salinity vary during the day and through the year. Observation on the behaviour of the animals was undertaken in salinity 8.5ppt, 17.0ppt, 25.5ppt and 34.0ppt, each one in temperatures of 18ºC and 28ºC. Temperature and salinity affect the frequency and intensity of some of the behavioural events, more than its pattern or rhythm. Swimming is rare, decreasing along the day and with temperature increase, being even lower at low salinity; aggressiveness is the highest in the morning being not affected by temperature, but by salinity, being higher the higher it is; territory defence decreases along the day and is lower at high temperature and extreme salinities; fish hide more at high temperature and with the decrease of salinity, but this is not rhythmical; a higher proportion of fish rest in vertical position when salinity and temperature are high, increasing slightly at the beginning of the afternoon; respiratory frequency increases with temperature, salinity and in the afternoon; the colour of the fish is mainly light with spots in all hours of the day and in all temperatures and different levels of salinity, but with a tendency of the presence of some dark fish during the morning and some light ones in the afternoon, showing a higher variability of colours at low temperature and extreme salinities. Besides temperature, salinity and light, feeding seems to be one of the determinant factors for the performance of the typical behaviour of B. soporator.

A study comparing the morphology of the proboscis of the following muscoid species is presented: Scatophaga stercoraria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Scatophagidae), Fannia canicularis (Linnaeus, 1761) (Fanniidae), Taenomyia auricollis Stein, 1918 (Anthomyiidae) and Phaonia valida (Harris, 1780) (Muscidae). Comparisons were made with Archiborborus sp. (Acalyptratae, Sphaeroceridae), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Oestroidea, Calliphoridae) and other muscids.

Polietina Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911 has been placed in different subfamilies mainly based on chaetotaxy and general morphology of adults. This genus has most recently been placed in Reinwardtiinae on the basis of larval characters. The male terminalia, however, indicates that Polietina is phylogenetically close to the basal group of Muscinae. By the analysis of all available type material, the genus and nine species are redescribed: P. bicolor Albuquerque; P. distincta Couri & Lopes; P. flavithorax (Stein); P. major Albuquerque; P. minor Albuquerque; P. orbitalis (Stein); P. rubella (Wulp); P. steini (Enderlein) and P. concinna (Wulp) which is revalided and lectotype designated. Neotypes are proposed to Polietina flavithorax and to Polietina orbitalis. Polietina wulpi is proposed as a new species. A key is also presented.

Euplychia paeon (Godart, 1824) (=Euptychia marmorata Butler, 1866) and Euptychia griseldis Weymer, 1911 are placed under Carminda gen.n. Carminda umuarama sp.n. is described. The studied specimens are from southem Brazil and adjacent areas of Paraguay and Argentina.

Larocanthidium gen.n. is proposed to include ten new species of Anthidiinae from Brazil characterized by the mandibles of the females with four little teeth, two apical and two basal connected by a large smooth area and by the bissinuate or straight lamela projected only dorsally on the sixth tergum and the two apical carinate lobes on the seventh tergum of the male.

Cataulax varicornis (Walker, 1867) is transferred to the genus Ablaplus Stål, 1864. Ablaplus lopesi Becker & Grazia, 1989 is considered as a new synonym. The female genitalia is described and illustrated.

This Work was conducted in Eucalyptus stands at the Itapoã farm of the Mannesmann Fi-El Florestal Ltda. in Paraopeba, MG. The species of fungus growing-ants and leaf-cutting ants found in regrowth areas and in harvesting phase plantings were: Acromyrmex balzani Emery, 1890; Acromyrmex laticeps nigrosetosus Forel 1908; Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus Forel, 1893; Atta laevigala (F. Smith, 1858); Alta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908; Mycocepurus goeldii Forel, 1893; Sericomyrmex sp.; Trachymyrmex fuscus Emery, 1894 and three morphospecies of Trachymyrmex Forel, 1893. Taxa belonging to the genus Atta Fabricius, 1804 represented 39.14 and 41.22% of the total number of nests found in the regrowth area and in the harvesting phase plantings, respectively. For Acromyrmex Mayr, 1865 these values were 14.34 and 13.16%; for Trachymyrmex, 40.59 and 30.89%; for Mycocepurus Forel, 1893, 5.34 and 12.50% and Sericomyrmex Mayr, 1865, 0.59 and 2.23% in the regrowth area and in the harvesting phase plantations, respectively.

This study involved 344 Mullets, Mugil platanus Günther, 1880, captured in the estuarine region of Cananeia, São Paulo, Brazil (25º00'S, 47º55'W). The following data were recorded for each fish: total weight, total length, haemoglobin ratio (Hb), haematocrit (Ht), erythrocyte count (Er), differential leucocyte count (lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils and "other cells") and haematometric indices; MCV, MCH, and MCHC. The sex and stage of gonadal maturity (undifferentiated, juvenile, resting, maturing, mature, and spent) were determined by macroscopical inspection of the gonads. Parasitological inspections revealed the following infestations: Gills - Trichodinidae, Monogenea, Copepoda, and Hirudinea. Liver: cysts of Digenea. Intestine: Nematoda, Digenea and Acanthocephala. Blood: Trypanosoma sp. and Haemogregarina sp. Analysis of variance was done to evaluate how far blood and gill parasitism had any effect on total length, total weight, the biological condition factor or the measured blood parameters. Significant differences were found for the haematocrit (infested versus noninfested by Trichodinidae) and for MCHC (infested versus noninfested by Trichodinidae and Copepoda). No differences were found with regard to leucocytes.

It was sampled the litter frogs at altitudinal sites of a semideciduous mesophytic forest located at Sena do Japi (Jundiaí, São Paulo, 23º17'S, 47º00'W, 800-1300m altitude, 1500mm rain/year). Forty two plots of 8x8m were sampled in the dry/cold season of 1995: 21 at a Higher Site (HS) (1000m) and 21 at a Lower Site (LS) (850m). The plots were evenly located near, mid-distance, and far from the stream-bed. It was found a total of five species, three at each site. Eleutherodactylus guentheri comprised 83% of the individuals at HS and E. juipoca 67% at LS. The density of individuals was higher at HS and near the stream. The greater density at HS may be due to greater humidity there, provided by mist. The frogs may aggregate in wetter places (stream edges) in the dry/cold season. The studied sites represent harsh and early successional environments and both these factors may be acting together to produce the low observed diversity.

A comparative study on the pre-branchial cranial anatomy of the scalloped hammerhead sharks [Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834)] and the Brazilian sharpnose shark [Rhizoprionodon lalandii (Valenciennes, 1839)] was carried out to check the modification in the musculature, inervation and optic stalk related to the appearance of the cephalofoil in Sphyrna Rafinesque, 1810. A total of seven adults and one juvenile of R. lalandii and eight juveniles of S. lewini were examined. In S. lewini the levator palaliquadrati and the levator labii superioris were the most modified cephalic muscles, as they became dorsalventrally attached and laterally developed. Among the oculomotor muscles, the recti followed the lateral expansion of the head constituting the rectal stalk associated with the nerves II, III, IV and VI and the optic stalk. It was observed that the oculomolorius branch "a" does not inervate the adductor mandibulae as it was mentioned in a previous paper. The myological structures and the inervation pattern presented diagnostic characters. Despite the shared characters between Carcharhinidae and the Sphyrnidae, the cephalofoil represents an autapomorphy which includes all the hammerhead sharks in the family Sphyrnidae.

The niche breadth of the Portunidae and their overlap on the subtidal sediments of Fortaleza bay, Ubatuba (São Paulo) was analyzed. Samples were made monthly from November/1988 to October/1989, inseven areas of the bay using a shrimp fishery boat equipped with two otter-trawls. Each area was characterized based on environmental factors such as depth, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, organic matter and granulometric composition of the sediment. The number of individuais of each species was registered to each area (resource). Levins's standardized measure (BA) and niche percentage were calculated. Five species of swimming crabs were recorded in this study: Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863, Arenaeus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818), Portunus spinimanus Latreille, 1819, Callinectes danae Smith, 1869 and Portunus spinicarpus (Stimpson, 1871). The widest ecological niche occurred to C. ornatus, present in all sampled areas (generalist species). Such fact can be related to high sediment tolerance when it is compared to P. spinimanus (especialist species) which was limited to the areas with coarse granulometric fractions. Highest niche overlap was verified between C. danae and A. cribrarius may be due to greater salinity tolerance of these species. The low occurrence of P. spinicarpus and its reduced niche size in Fortaleza Bay are due to association of this species to cold water currents (ACAS) more evidente in smaler depths during summer months. One future evaluation of the portunid diet can be useful to complement informations about this important aspect of the marine ecology.

Studies on the occurrence, temporal distribution and nychthemeral variation of Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller, 1862) were undertaken in Leopoldo's Inlet, upper Paraná River, Porto Rico, Paraná, Brazil. Seventeen thousand and sixty specimens (11,786 larvae and 5,274 juveniles) were captured with a conicalcylindrical plankton net of mesh 0.5mm in monthly samples between February 1991 and February 1992. Results show that the greatest densities of larvae (301.83 larvae/10m³) and juveniles (168.8/10m³) of this species were caught in December 1991. Largest captures were made during the night. With regard to abiotic factors water temperature ranged from 20º to 30ºC, pH ranged from 5.66 to 7.37 and electric conductivity ranged from 51.83 to 65.33µS/cm. Relationship between the density of larvae and juveniles and abiotic factors was calculated by the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) which revealed the influence of some limnological variables especially on the distribution of larvae.

Some species of Cyra are described and illustrations of pertinent characters are provided. New combinations of species is done. A key to four species of Cyra are added.

The purpose of this paper is to present a prototype, which was developed using an ARC/INFO software, for the informatization of Butterflies' Collection of the "Departamento de Zoologia da Universidade Federal do Paraná".

Two new genera - Potnioides gen.n. and Sakakibarella gen.n. - and five new species are proposed: Potnioides corniculatus sp.n. (Peru, Cuzco), Sakakibarella seminigra sp.n. (Costa Rica, Turrialba), S. costaricensis sp.n. (Costa Rica, Heredia), S. elongaia sp.n. (Costa Rica, Alajuela) and S. maculata sp.n. (Colombia, Huila).