RCAAP Repository

Centris (Ptilotopus) are large bees and important pollinators in the Neotropical region. Its biology and behavior is still poorly known and only a few observations have been published. In this paper, observations on the biology of C. (Ptilotopus) scopipes Friese, 1899, a species that occurs in the "cerrados" of Brazil, are presented. The study was conducted in the Estação Ecológica de Jataí, in Luiz Antônio, São Paulo, during the active period of the adults (November through April). Females collected pollen from flowers of Solanaceae and Caesalpiniaceae, by vibration, and floral oils from Malpighiaceae belonging to the genera Byrsonima, Banisteriopsis, Stigmaphyllon and Peixotoa. Floral resources are carried in the hind leg scopae to the nests, which are excavated in the walls of epigeous nests of the termite Procornitermes araujoi Emerson, 1952 (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae). The main tunnel entered the termite nest at an ascending angle ending in a vestibulum. Two parallel, vertical burrows forming linear series of cells descended from the vestibulum. The upper cell (the nearest to the nest entrance) was filled with soil. This might represent a protection against parasites. During the study, one female of Acanthopus excellens Schrottky, 1902 (Apidae, Ericrocidini), a cleptoparasitic bee, was captured when leaving one of the nests. A male of C. scopipes emerged eleven months after cell closure, suggesting a univoltine cycle for this species.

The Dufour gland is found closely associated with the sting apparatus of all hymenopteran females, playing multiple roles among bees. In Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 the gland is connected to the dorsal vaginal wall and, in queens, it produces egg-marking pheromones. In workers the function of this gland is unknown, except by its capacity to mimic the queen secretion in egg-laying workers. In an attempt to understand the development and to substantiate the present knowledge about the Dufour gland in A. mellifera, a morphometric study of the gland between and within the female castes was made. Glands of workers and queens with different ages and life stages were dissected and measured with an ocular micrometer adapted to a stereoscope. The results showed that the Dufour gland is larger in queens than in workers, and that among workers, the gland is larger in egg-laying and foragers than it is in newly emerged and nurse workers. The larger size of the gland in egg-laying queens and workers is in accordance with its role in reproduction. In forager workers the larger size of the gland suggest that, as happens in some species of bees, the gland may participate in pheromone production for nest-mate or nest-entrance recognition.

The environmental transformations constitute the principal cause of changes in biodiversity. This make the comparative studies between natural and altered environments very important. This research compare the beetle fauna at the following areas: isolated forest fragment and pasture at the secondary stage of succession. Beetles were collected using four pitfall traps baited with cattle meat in each area, fortnightly from November 1998 to April 1999. A total of 17,721 individuals from 30 families of Coleóptera in forest and 6,597 individuals belanging to 32 families in pasture was collected. The Sorensen index was used to calculate similarity, and Shannon index to calculate diversity. The qualitative similarity found was 0.70 and the quantitative similarity was 0.48. The mean Shannon diversity index found was 1.90 for forest and 2.01 for pasture; these values were not significantly different by T test. It was concluded that the beetle decomposer fauna collected was representative in both environments, which also contributes in the decomposition process of organic matter, in soil fertilization and also in control ling egg and larvae populations of parasitic flies.

The environmental transformations constitute the principal cause of changes in biodiversity decrease. This make the comparative studies between natural and altered environments very important. This work compare the fauna of Scarabaeidae at the following areas: isolated forest fragment and pasture at the secondary stage of succession. Scarabs beetles were collected using four pitfall traps baited with cattle meat in each habitat, fortnightly from November 1998 to April 1999. It was collected a total of 3,113 individuals from 32 species in forest and 956 individuals from 27 species in pasture. The Sorensen index was used to calculate similarity, and Shannon index to calculate diversity. The qualitative similarity found was 0.64 and the quantitative similarity was 0.10. A relevant difference was found in the diversity of two localities, the value found in pasture was 1.75 and in forest was 2.44; these values were significantly different by T test (p<0.001). Our results suggest that the changes in forest area for pasture area caused losses concerning biodiversity of Scarabaeidae and the respective functions of these organisms in the ecosystem.

Two species of Aplysina Nardo, 1834 are described in this article, Aplysina caissara sp. n. and A. fulva (Pallas, 1766). Additionally, a possible third species was identified as A. aff. cauliformis. Collections were done in the São Sebastião Channel area as an ongoing effort to assess the poriferan biodiversity of the northern sector of the São Paulo State coastline. Specimens were collected by scuba diving, and descriptions of external morphology are based on the observation of populations alive, and on extensive underwater photography. A literature review of other brazilian records of Aplysina was undertaken, and an ammended species list is offered.

Over 70 species of Halichondria Fleming, 1828 are known world-wide, but only five from the Brazilian Coast. Brazilian records have their status re-evaluated here, and four new species are described for the São Sebastião Channel area, in the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic, viz. H. cebimarensis sp. n., H. sulfurea sp. n., H. migottea sp. n. and H. tenebrica sp. n.

A survey of the Ilha Grande land snails was carried out in order to compare the diversity and similarity among two regions of secondary Atlantic Rain Forest. The diversity was estimated using the richness and the equitatibility; the alpha diversity was calculated using the Simpson index (γ). The Sörensen and Jaccard indexes were used to calculate the similarity. A quantitative survey of two 600 m² area, one in each studied region, recorded 336 individuals snails distributed in 23 species and 13 families. The region with more altered secondary forest showed higher richness (17) and diversity (γ = 3,6) than the region more preserved (richness = 14; γ = 2,78), but, the same equitatibility (0,20). The similarity was medium by Jaccard index (IJ = 0,52) and low by Sorensen index (IS = 0,15). These differences could be explained by the dominance of Subulinidae (four species and 117 specimens) in the more altered region and Systrophiidae in the more preserved (four species and 97 specimens).

The diet of Cichla monoculus (Bloch &amp; Schneider, 1801) in Lajes's Reservoir, a major impoundment in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, was assessed, from fishes collected in 1994,1996 and 1999/2000. Gut contents in individuals was analyzed by the index of relative importance (IRI) which deals with numerical, gravimetrical and frequency of occurrence. Cichla monoculus showed a strong piscivorous habits feeding on Cichlidae, Characidae and Pimelodidae, in decreasing order of importance, with a remarkable cannibalism on young-of-the-year. Others minor items in the diet were Macrobrachium sp. and Odonata. Changes in feeding composition varied with reservoir's zones and seasons, with higher diversity in Autumn and peaks of cannibalism in lower zone during Spring/Summer. Overall, only one third of fish species composition in the reservoir are predated by C. monoculus. Condition factor (k) and fullness index varied closely with higher values in lower zone, and lower records in Winter.

A new species of Mycale Gray, 1867 bearing raphidotoxas is described from the Namibian coast (SE Atlantic). Mycale (Aegogropila) kolletae sp. n. is characterized by having raphidotoxas up to 590 µm long, three distinct categories of anisochelae, two categories of sigmas, very small raphides, and most of all, by toxas serrated in an unusual pattern (on the inner parts of all three bends). Mycale magnirhaphidifera Van Soest, 1984 is redescribed from the Brazilian coast, based on a population from the northern São Paulo State coastline. The remaining two species with raphidotoxas, viz. Mycale rhaphidotoxa Hentschel, 1912 and M. mannarensis Thomas, 1968 are revised. Levi's (1963) record of Carmia macilenta (Bowerbank, 1866) for the South African coast was reevaluated and found conspecific with M. kolletae sp. n. It has both raphidotoxas as well as toxas with bends which are serrated on their inner surfaces. An identification key for all the Mycale with raphidotoxas is given, and a discussion on possible phylogenetic interpretations for the occurrence of raphidotoxas is advanced.

A survey was conducted in three sites from northern and mid-eastern regions of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, to determine oribatid mite composition in patches of seasonal semideciduous forest and soybean crop plantation. A list of 52 taxa, 24 at the species level and 28 only at the genus level, is given, 27 of which are new records for the region.

One thousand two-hundred-four helminth samples recovered from Brazilian Ardeidae birds during 54 years were studied. Samples consisted of cestodes, trematodes, and nematodes, parasites of egrets and herons. Based on the present results 49 new host and three new geographical distribution records were established.

The authors observed the feeding and defecation times of the nymphs of T. melanosoma Martínez, Olmedo &amp; Carcavallo, 1987. Two groups were studied, one maintained under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity, and the other under ambient conditions. There was no significant difference in the number of bloodmeals accomplished by the nymphs of the two groups. Until the fourth instar the nymphs needed less than two bloodmeals to reach the subsequent instar, and only in the fifth instar did they require more than three bloodmeals to reach adulthood. This species demonstrated great avidity to feed; in about 70% of the observed cases the insects initiated feeding in less than one minute. Full engorgement was also reached quickly; more than 70% of the bloodmeals lasted for 5 to 15 minutes. In the first three instars more than 70% of defecation was observed immediately after feeding, demonstrating a good vectorial potential. The differences in the conditions under which the insects were maintained, were insufficient to cause a significant difference in the results observed between the two groups studied.

Centronodus bilobalus sp. n. (Ecuador), Centronodus bolivianus sp. n. (Bolivia) and Centronodus magnificus sp. n. (Brazil), are described and illustrated.

Postanomus maculatus sp. n., from Brazil, Paraná, is described and illustrated.

Seven new species of Paracentronodus Sakakibara, 1971 from Brazil, are described: P. canarinus sp. n. (type loc: Pedro Canário, Espírito Santo); P. cristatus sp. n. (type loc: Sinop, Mato Grosso); P. favisiae sp. n. (type loc: Encruzilhada, Bahia); P. nalalinae sp. n. (type loc: Caraça, Minas Gerais); P. nevesi sp. n. (type loc: Caruaru, Pernambuco); P. nigrostriatus sp. n. (type loc: Sinop, Mato Grosso), and P. urbanae sp. n. (type loc: Encruzilhada, Bahia). Hemiptycha viridistriga Walker, 1858, considered by Metcalf &amp; Wade (1965) in Hypheodana Metcalf, 1952, as Darninae genus, is transferred to Centronodinae, as Paracentronodus viridistriga (Walker, 1858) comb. n. Illustrations and a key for the species are also given.

Anilocra montti sp. n. (Isopoda, Cymothoidae) is described from the mouths and branchial chambers of caged salmon and trout from Puerto Montt, Chile. The description is based on a detailed study of 30 male specimens. No females were found, indicating that salminoids are not the normal hosts of the parasite. The new species differs from others in the genus by having carinae on pereopods 4-7, a pleon that is abruptly narrower than the pereon, second pleopods without appendices masculina, a pleotelson that is wider than long and uropods with subequal rami.

Thirty stray dogs Canis familiaris Linnaeus, 1758 were collected in San Juan de Lurigancho, Lima, Peru, between January and March 1997 and necropsied for helminths. Three species were collected: the cestodes Dipylidium caninum (Linnaeus, 1758) Railliet, 1892 and Taenia pisiformis (Bloch, 1780) and the nematode Toxocara canis (Werner, 1782) Stiles, 1905. Fifty per cent of the examined dogs showed one or two parasites. A total of 303 (0-116) helminths were recovered and the intensity of infection was 30,3. The Simpson index (C) for all parasite species was 0,414, indicating a dominance by one species in the parasite community. The mean diversity in the infracommunities of C. familiaris was H' = 0,038 and uniformity index of Pielou J = 0,207. Dipylidium caninum, T. pisiformis, and T. canis presented a prevalence of infection of 33,30%, 10% and 16,6% respectively. Dipylidium caninum presented the highest frequency and mean intensity of infection. Dipylidium caninum was the helminth with the highest dominance (94%) whereas the lowest was due to T. pisiformis (4%) and T. canis (2%). Helminths were not related to the age of the hosts, prevalence and mean intensity of infection. Out of the 10 equally divided segments of the intestinal gut, D. caninum was found from the 6th to the 9th segment. T canis preferred almost exclusively the 1st segment while T. pisiformis was randomly distributed.

Studies on the communities of galling insects and their host plants were performed in three "cerrado" physiognomies that occur in Minas Gerais: "campo sujo", "cerrado" sensu strictu, and "cerradão". Galls and host plants were collected along transects in a total of 3,000 herbs, 300 shrubs and 135 trees in each physiognomy. Ninety two species of galling insects (morphotypes) on 62 host plant species of 28 families were found. The highest galling insect richness was observed in the "cerrado". Approximately 75.0% of galling insects belonged to the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera). The highest gall frequency was found on leaves (58.70%) of the host plants, and was glabrous (83.70%). Most gall shape were elliptic (30.43%). A low similarity in galling insect species was observed among the three sampled physiognomies - the highest similarity index was observed between "cerrado" and "campo sujo" (SΦrensen index = 0.20), indicating that the presence of rare species of galling insects might be common in these environments.

The list of the 49 American nicteribiid batflies species is presented, with informations about countries and hosts that were found in the literature.

The use of nectar and pollen of a bromeliad by two heliconiine butterflies, Heliconius ethilla narcaea Godart, 1819 and H. sara apseudes (Hübner, [1813]) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae), is herein reported. Observations were made during a pollination study of Aechmea gracilis Lindman (Bromeliaceae, Bromelioidea) in a second-growth forest of the village Vila Dois Rios, Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil. Field observations showed that H. ethilla can be more aggressive than H. sara in exploiting A. gracilis floral resources. Temporal differences in the use of these resources were also observed: H. sara remained comparatively less time on flowers than H. ethilla.