Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Acari: Acaridae) associated with Atta sexdens (Insecta: Formicidae) / Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Acari: Acaridae) associado a Atta sexdens (Insecta: Formicidae)

Four deutonymphs of bulb mites (hypopus) from Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze & Robin) (Acari: Acaridae) were found attached to the head of Atta sexdens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This mite species is commonly associated with ornamental plants and trees with bulbs, corms and tubers. The results of this study provided an insight into the phoretic relationship between mites and ants, indicating the role of the latter in the dispersion of the first. Despite the abundant and diverse mite fauna existing in ants, little is known about their diversity, biology, ecology and the nature of their associations.(AU)

Quatro deutoninfas de ácaros do bulbo (hipopus) da espécie Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze & Robin) (Acari: Acaridae) foram encontradas fixadas na cabeça de formigas da espécie Atta sexdens no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Essa espécie de ácaro está comumente associada a plantas ornamentais e plantas com bulbos e tubérculos. Os resultados desse estudo fornecem uma visão sobre a relação forética entre ácaros e formigas, indicando o papel destas últimas na dispersão dos primeiros. Apesar da abundância e da fauna diversa do ácaro em formigas, pouco se sabe sobre a diversidade, a biologia, a ecologia e a natureza dessa associação.(AU)

Ultrastructural Morphology and Molecular Analyses of Tropical and Temperate "Species" of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Acari: Ixodidae) in Brazil.

The Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) complex (Acari:Ixodidae) is composed of species with intra- and interspecific morphological variation that make their diagnosis difficult. In the present study, male specimens of the R. sanguineus complex were collected from dogs in six districts of three regions of Brazil and submitted to molecular and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Analysis of COX1 gene, 12S rDNA, and D-loop rDNA shows that ticks classified as R. sanguineus form two different clades. Morphological comparisons using SEM found adult males to exhibit morphological differences in Haller's organ, festoons, and adanal, spiracular, and genital plates, with the last having potential usefulness in distinguishing male specimens of the complex.

Ultrastructural studies of some character of Diptera (Muscidae) of forensically importance.

Insects are important in the decomposition of cadavers. In the field of forensic entomology, the taxonomic identification is essential to proceed to any procedure. The use of these insects in medico criminal investigation is the object of forensic entomological studies; the flies are generally attracted to cadavers and one of the most important contributions is to estimate the postmortem interval. The scanning electron microscopy, which allows rapid and accurate identification of character could be used to help identify different species of forensics flies, has been highlighted as it allows better visualization of the external morphology of immature and some adults. The aim of this study was to describe the katepisternals in females of Morellia humeralis and Biopyrellia bipuncta; the ommatidia of the compounds eyes of the male of B. bipuncta; the antennae of females of Ophyra aenescens and Ophyra albuquerquei and the ocellar triangle of the last two species and O. chalcogaster examined by scanning electron microscopy to help increase the anatomical database on flies for forensic importance. The katepisternals of M. humeralis and B. bipuncta were densely covered by different groups of sensilla. The surface of the ocellar region of O. aenescens was not covered by sensilla, but in O. albuquerquei and O. chalcogaster were densely covered by different types of sensilla. The coeloconic sensilla were only found in the flagellum of O. albuquerquei.

Biological activity of Pouteria sapota leaf extract on post-embryonic development of blowfly Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann, 1818) (Calliphoridae)

Chemical insecticides have been the main way to control synanthropic flies of medical and veterinary importance; however, residuals of these products have become a factor impacting on the environment, as well as the potential toxicological that they may cause damage to humans and domestic animals. Phytochemical screening carried out with the aqueous crude extract of Pouteria sapota (Jacq.) H.E. Moore & Stearn, Sapotaceae, leaves showed that coumarins, reducing sugars, flavonoids and cyanogenic glycosides were its most abundant metabolites. This study evaluated the activity of the crude aqueous extract of this plant on the post-embryonic development of Chrysomya putoria. Larvae treated with 5, 10 and 25% extract showed a decrease in the pupal period and in the newly-hatched larvae to adult period when compared to the control groups. Larvae from the 25% extract group were the lightest (45.8 mg) when compared with the control group (46.5 mg). The larval and newly-hatched larvae to adult stages were more sensitive to the leaf extract from P. sapota (5%) and the treated flies showed the low viability (47.5 and 45.5% respectively). The results demonstrated that topic treatment with P. sapota could alter C. putoria post embryonic development.

Ultrastructure of immature stages of Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) using scanning electron microscopy.

The blowfly Lucilia cuprina is distributed worldwide and is a mechanical vector of pathogens. It can cause myiasis in humans and is strongly related to forensic entomology, as it is frequently found on human and animal corpses. However, most of the L. cuprina found on corpses are the immature stages of this fly. Correct identification is very important for forensic entomology but at present only the identification keys of adult L. cuprina are available. Thus, the aim of this paper was to describe and analyze the morphological characteristics of all larval instars and the puparia of L. cuprina using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

First record of acari Arrenurus Dugès, 1834 as a parasite of Odonata species in Brazil

Water mites are common and widespread parasites of some aquatic insects in freshwater habitats. This is the first record of acari Arrenurus Dugès, 1834, as a parasite of Odonata in Brazil. Water mites were sampled from Miathyria marcella (Selys, 1857) and Ischnura fluviatilis (Selys, 1876).

Ácaros aquáticos são parasitas comuns de alguns insetos aquáticos em habitats de água doce. Este é o primeiro registro do ácaro Arrenurus Dugès, 1834, como parasita de Odonata no Brasil. Ácaros aquáticos foram coletados em Miathyria marcella (Selys, 1857) e Ischnura fluviatilis (Selys, 1876).

Description of the larva of Neocordulia machadoi Santos, Costa & Carriço, 2010 (Odonata: Corduliidae) from Brazil / Descrição da Larva de Neocordulia machadoi Santos, Costa & Carriço, 2010 (Odonata: Corduliidae) para o Brasil

The Larva of Neocordulia machadoi is described and illustrated based on a exuvia collected at Cachoeira da Eubisose stream, São Tomé das Letras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. With the discovery of this new larva, the number of known Corduliidae larvae is now eight for the Neotropical region.

A larva de Neocordulia machadoi é descrita e ilustrada com base em uma exúvia, coletada no riacho da Cachoeira da Eubiose, São Tomé das Letras, Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Com a descoberta desta nova larva, o número de larvas de Corduliidae é agora oito para a região Neotropical.

A new species of Neocordulia Selys, 1882 (Odonata: Corduliidae) from Minas Gerais State, Brazil / Uma nova espécie de Neocordulia Selys, 1882 (Odonata: Corduliidae) do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

A new species of Neocordulia is described and illustrated based on a reared male, collected at Cachoeira da Eubisose stream, São Tomé das Letras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The Holotype is deposited in the Museu Nacional, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Uma nova espécie de Neocordulia é descrita e ilustrada com base em um macho obtido a partir de criação de ninfa, coletada no riacho da Cachoeira da Eubiose, São Tomé das Letras, Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. O Holótipo está depositado no Museu Nacional, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

Ocorrência de Neoneura maria (Scudder, 1866) (Odonata: Protoneuridae) para a Província de Santiago de Cuba / Ocurrence of Neoneura maria (Scudder, 1866) (Odonata: Protoneuridae) for the Province of Santiago de Cuba

Durante o período de 2005-2006 foram estudados os macroinvertebrados associados ao sistema radicular de Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, 1883 na represa Chalons de Santiago de Cuba. A larva de Neoneura maria (Scudder, 1866), endêmica de Cuba, registrada para os três Setores da ilha, foi capturada constituindo o primeiro registro para a Província de Santiago de Cuba.

During the period 2005-2006 the macroinvertebrates associated with the root system of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, 1883 were studied in the overflow Chalons dam in Santiago de Cuba. The larva of Neoneura maria (Scudder, 1866), endemic for Cuba, reported to the three Sectors of the island, was collected and constitute the first report for the Província de Santiago de Cuba.