Efeito de anticoncepcional humano no desenvolvimento larval de Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) para uso forense

A Entomologia Forense é a ciência que aplica o estudo dos insetos, dentre outros artrópodes, a procedimentos legais, estando subdividida em três sub-áreas principais: Entomologia Urbana, Entomologia de Produtos Estocados e Entomologia Médico-Legal ou Médico-Criminal. A fauna entomológica cadavérica no Brasil apresenta uma ampla diversidade de espécies que se sucedem na carcaça, pois o processo de decomposição oferece condições ideais principalmente ao desenvolvimento dos dípteros, dentre outros insetos. A sucessão ecológica em carcaças ocorre em ondas de colonização, também denominada de sucessão ecológica de colonização de carcaças. A primeira onda, que é a mais importante para o presente estudo, inclui principalmente as moscas-varejeiras; dentre elas, merece destaque a espécie Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), um díptero da família Calliphoridae, que utiliza a carcaça para oviposição ou para alimentação dos adultos. Dos ovos eclodem as larvas, que se alimentam dos tecidos em decomposição, se desenvolvem e empupam no solo, nos arredores do cadáver, sendo assim possível estimar, a partir de evidências entomológicas, o tempo decorrido desde a morte até a descoberta de cadáveres humanos, ou seja, o intervalo pós-morte ou IPM, além de permitir obter informações do local onde possivelmente o crime tenha ocorrido, causa da morte, entre outros aspectos. Alguns trabalhos têm demonstrado que vários fatores podem afetar a determinação do IPM, tornando a investigação criminal mais difícil e, quando não forem levados em consideração, conduzem a erros no cálculo do IPM. Dispersão larval pós-alimentar, competição, predação, parasitismo, condições ambientais, e a presença de toxinas/drogas no corpo devem ser analisados em conjunto, de modo que erros na estimativa do IPM sejam minimizados tanto quanto possível. Deste modo, testes preliminares utilizando dietas artificiais em laboratório são...

Effect of caffeine on larval mortality of Aedes aegypti: efficiency related to solution concentration and age

In two experiments, the duration of the effect of caffeine (CAF) solutions on larval mortality (LM) of Aedes aegypti was analyzed. In the first, LM was studied using solutions at 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL aged from zero to five days in artificial breeding sites exposed to the laboratory environment (LE). In the second, the solutions aged at 1.0, 2.0 and 2.5 mg/mL closed flasks were stored in LE or in the refrigerator (R), and the effect on LM was tested in the experimental breeding sites at 30 days interval. In the first, the duration of the effect increased with the solution age in each CAF concentration. CAF at 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL, without addition of food, produced 100% LM until 25 days after preparation; with food, at 11 and 18 days, respectively. In the second the effectiveness of CAF solutions lasted up to the seventh month, irrespective of whether they were stored in R or in LE. No adult emerged at any of the CAF concentrations used in second experiment.

Efeito da alimentação do adulto na qualidade do endoparasitoide larval da broca comum da cana-de-açúcar

Aiming qualitative improvements in the mass rearing of Cotesia flavipes (Cameron, 1891) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in laboratory, tests were conducted with adults feed before parasitism on Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae, using 14 artificial diets based on sucrose, brewer yeast and honey. The design was completely randomized with 15 treatments and five replications. The biological parameters evaluated in F1 and F2 generations were: number of adults emerged; sex ratio; adult emergence percentage; weight of pupae mass; and male and female longevity. The highest average of emerged adults were 85 in diet with sucrose 5% for F1 generation, and 91 in diet with sucrose 5% + yeast brewer 2,5% for F2; the smaller average of adult emergency were 63.60 in diet with honey 5% + yeast brewer 2.5 % for F1 generation and 66.80 in diet with honey 5% for F2. Diets that produced more females were honey 5% + yeast brewer 2.5%, showing the sex ratio of 0.82 for F1 generation, and sucrose 10% + 2.5% yeast brewer 2.5% (0.75) for F2, while sucrose 10% + yeast brewer 2.5% (0.60 for F1) and honey 2.5% (0.59) provided fewer females for F2 generation. The highest percentage of adult emergence were 93.90% with the diet containing sucrose 2.5% + yeast brewer 2.5%) and 93.89 % with honey 5% + yeast brewer 2.5%, and the lowest 81.71% (honey 5% + yeast brewer 2.5%) for F1 and 78.96 % (honey 5%) to F1 and F2, respectively. The diet with Mel 2.5% produced greater weight of pupae mass. The adult longevity did not differ significantly for all diets in F1 and F2 generations. Diets containing 5% or 10% of sucrose or honey provide, in general, improve the qualitative development of C. flavipes in mass rearing.

Particle competition and cooperation for semi-supervised learning with label noise

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of the competition of Cu(II) and Ni(II) on the kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities of Cr(III)-organic ligand complexes using competitive ligand exchange (EDTA)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphology of the first larval stage of Macrobrachium brasiliense (Heller, 1868) (Caridea: Palaemonidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Differences in larval nutritional requirements and female oviposition preference reflect the order of fruit colonization of Zaprionus indianus and Drosophila simulans

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

On-plant larval movement and feeding behavior of fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on reproductive corn stages

Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (fall armyworm) is considered one of the most destructive pests of corn throughout the Americas. Although this pest has been extensively studied, little is known about its larval movement and feeding behavior on reproductive compared to vegetative corn stages. Thus, we conducted studies with two corn stages (R1 and R3) and four corn plant zones (tassel, above ear, ear zone, and below ear) in the field at Concord, NE (USA), and in the field and greenhouse at Botucatu, SP (Brazil), to investigate on-plant larval movement. The effects of different corn tissues (opened tassel, closed tassel, silk, kernel, and leaf), two feeding sequence scenarios (closed tassel-leaf-silk-kernel and leaf-silk-kernel), and artificial diet (positive control) on larval survival and development were also evaluated in the laboratory. Ear zone has a strong effect on feeding choice and survival of fall armyworm larvae regardless of reproductive corn stage. Feeding site choice is made by first-instar. Corn leaves of reproductive plants were not suitable for early instar development, but silk and kernel tissues had a positive effect on survival and development of fall armyworm larvae on reproductive stage corn.

Theoretical approaches to forensic entomology: I. Mathematical model of postfeeding larval dispersal

An overall theoretical approach to model phenomena of interest for forensic entomology is advanced. Efforts are concentrated in identifying biological attributes at the individual, population and community of the arthropod fauna associated with decomposing human corpses and then incorporating these attributes into mathematical models. In particular in this paper a diffusion model of dispersal of post feeding larvae is described for blowflies, which are the most common insects associated with corpses.

Zoeal stages and megalopa of Mithrax hispidus (Herbst, 1790) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majoidea: Mithracidae): A reappraisal of larval characters from laboratory cultured material and a review of larvae of the Mithrax-Mithraculus species complex

Mithrax hispidus (Herbst, 1790) is a mithracid majoid crab occurring on sand, corals and rocks in waters of the western Atlantic. Larval development consists of two zoeal stages and a megalopa. All larval stages are described in detail based on multiple cultures. Prior to this study, larvae of M hispidus were considered to be different and grouped separately from most other larvae of Mithrax, primarily based on setation. A detailed morphological examination, based on the same specimens used for the first description, revealed that the inclusion of M hispidus in a separate group is not valid as zoeae now fully agree with the morphological characteristics defined for the other group of five Mithrax species, including M. pleuracanthus, M. verrucosus, M. caribbaeus, M. coryphe, and M. forceps. This illustrates the importance of precisely recording morphological details such as setation, which may otherwise lead to incorrect interpretations with regard to perceived taxonomic affinities. A comparison of larvae of the Mithrax -Mithraculus species complex does not support separation into two genera. Larval evidence supports the recently suggested adult-based synonymization of M caribbaeus with M. hispidus.

Sterilization of immature blowflies (Calliphoridae) for use in larval therapy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação da capacidade de renovação do epitélio do mesêntero e seus efeitos no potencial reprodutivo de fêmeas adultas de Ceraeochrysa claveri (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) alimentadas durante a fase larval com óleo de nim (azadirachta indica A. JUSS)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)