Description of larva of Amblyomma romitii (Acari: Ixodidae) by optical and scanning electron microscopy, including porotaxy and phylogenetic analysis.

The description of the larva of Amblyomma romitii Tonelli-Rondelli is based on optical and scanning electron microscopy. Larvae were obtained under laboratory conditions from an engorged female collected on capybara from Rurópolis municipality, State of Pará, Northern Brazil. Several characters are presented including the chaetotaxy of idiosoma, palpi and Haller's organ. The larval porotaxy (topographical and numerical patterns of integumentary structures) was presented and compared to that of the other Amblyomma spp. larvae. The mitochondrial 16S rDNA partial sequence of A. romitii generated in the present study was aligned with sequences previously determined for other Amblyomma species available in Genbank and with some species presently sequenced. The larval morphology of A. romitii and other Neotropical Amblyomma spp. larvae is discussed as well as the DNA sequence and its phylogenetic position among other species of the genus.

Acaricidal activity of extracts from different structures of Piper tuberculatum against larvae and adults of Rhipicephalus microplus / Atividade acaricida de extratos de diferentes estruturas de Piper tuberculatum sobre larvas e adultos de Rhipicephalus microplus

ABSTRACT The strategies to control the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus are based mainly on the use of synthetic pesticides. However, the emergence, establishment, and development of resistance of ticks is rendering the main chemical groups ineffective. Finding new molecules to effectively control infestations by R. microplus is necessary to maintain the productivity of cattle herds, particularly of taurine breeds established in equatorial and tropical regions of the world. Ethanol extracts from the leaves, stems, and fruits of Piper tuberculatum were evaluated in bioassays at concentrations of 50, 25, 12.50, 6.25, 3.12 and 1.56 mg mL-1. The concentrations lethal to 50% of the individuals (LC50) of tick larvae after 24 hours of exposure were 3.62, 3.99 and 5.30 mg mL-1 for fruit, stem and leaf extracts, respectively. Against the engorged females, the highest efficacy rates were obtained at the concentration of 50 mg mL-1, corresponding to 71.57%, 68.38% and 37.03% of the fruit, leaf and stem extracts, respectively. The main effect of the ethanol extracts was on the egg hatching rate of ticks, with a reduction of 55.63% for the fruit and leaf extracts, and 20.82% for the stem extract. The results show that P. tuberculatum is a promising source of molecules for use as active ingredients in pesticide formulations for R. microplus control.

RESUMO Estratégias de controle do carrapato dos bovinos, Rhipicephalus microplus, fundamentam-se na utilização de pesticidas. Os principais grupos químicos utilizados atualmente mostram-se ineficazes devido ao surgimento de populações resistentes. A pesquisa de novas moléculas com eficiência acaricida é uma necessidade para manutenção da produtividade dos rebanhos bovinos estabelecidos em regiões de clima tropical. Avaliamos a atividade de Piper tuberculatum para o controle de fêmeas ingurgitadas e larvas de R. microplus através de bioensaios de imersão de adultos e de pacotes de larvas. As concentrações avaliadas foram de 50; 25; 12,50; 6,25; 3,12 e 1,56 mg mL-1 de extrato etanólico de folha, talo e fruto de P. tuberculatum. As concentrações letais para 50% dos indivíduos (CL50) após 24 horas de exposição de larvas de R. microplus foram 3,62; 3,99 e 5,30 mg mL-1 para os extratos etanólicos de fruto, talo e folha, respectivamente. Para fêmeas ingurgitadas, a maior eficácia resultou da concentração de 50 mg mL-1 de extrato de fruto (71.57%). O principal efeito dos extratos etanólicos de P. tuberculatum foi sobre a eclodibilidade, com uma redução de 55.63% para extratos de fruto e folha. P. tuberculatum mostra-se promissora como fonte de moléculas candidatas a uso em pesticidas, em formulações destinadas ao controle das infestações de R. microplus.