Two new species of the feather mite subfamily Pterodectinae (Acari: Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae) from Brazil

We describe two new pterodectine feather mites (Analgoidea: Proctophyllodidae) from Brazilian passerines (Passeriformes): Pterodectes amaurochalinus sp. n., from Turdus amaurochalinus Cabanis (Turdidae), and Dolichodectes neotropicus sp. n., collected from Elaenia chiriquensis Lawrence (Tyrannidae). A key to species of the genus Dolichodectes is presented. Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press.

Seletividade de alguns agrotóxicos em uso na citricultura ao ácaro predador Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

This work was carried out to determine the residual toxicity of the main pesticides used in citrus, on Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) under laboratory conditions. For this, it was used the residual contact bioassay. Citrus leaves of the variety Pêra were sprayed in a Potter tower. The residual action was evaluated at 2 hours and 1; 3; 5; 7; 10; 14 e 21 days after treatment. Ten adult females of N. californicus were transferred to each ring, together with an enough amount of Tetranychus urticae nymphs and adults to feed the predator. Mortality evaluations were performed at 72 hours after treatment. Bioassays indicate that the pesticides: acrinathrin, deltamethrin, dinocap, sulphur, fenpropathrin, fenbutatin oxide and propargite were innocuous to N. californicus. On the other hand, abamectin, azocyclotin e cyhexatin caused mortalities of 29.8; 32.0 e 34.1%, respectively, two hours after transference. Dicofol, pyridaben and chlorfenapyr were extremely toxic to the predator mite, causing 100% of mortality two hours after the application. This way, to this population of N. californicus, the releases can be performed safely 3 days after the application, except for cyhexatin (5 days), dicofol and pyridaben (14 days) and chlorfenapyr (21 days), without risk of significant adult mortality rates due to the application of pesticides.

A new genus and species of tarsonemid mite (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from Brazil

Biscutulumnemus neotropicus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Tarsonemidae: Tarsoneminae: Tarsonemini) is described from adult female and male mites, collected on Croton floribundus Spreng., from São José do Rio Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil. This new genus resembles members of Dendmptus and Tarsonemus, but male mites have two triangular shields anterolaterally to the prodorsal shield and the sejugal apodeme is absent. In addition, Biscutulumnemus differs from Dendroptus by the presence of femoral seta l″ and tibial solenidion φ1 and the presence of a vestigial apodeme I on female mites. Unlike Tarsonemus, Biscutulumnemus has a beaklike gnathosomal capsule, a round flange on leg IV of male mites, and stigmata very close to v1 on the prodorsal shield of female mites. Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press.

Oxidative stability and α-tocopherol retention in soybean oil with lemon seed extract (Citrus limon) under thermoxidation

The synergistic effect of lemon seed extract with tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) in soybean oil subjected to thermoxidation by Rancimat was investigated, and the influence of these antioxidants on α-tocopherol degradation in thermoxidized soybean oil. Control, LSE (2,400 mg/kg Lemon Seed Extract), TBHQ (50 mg/kg), Mixture 1 (LSE + 50 mg/kg TBHQ) and Mixture 2 (LSE + 25 mg/kg TBHQ) were subjected to 180°C for 20 h. Samples were taken at time 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 h intervals and analysed for oxidative stability and α-tocopherol content. LSE and Mixtures 1 and 2 showed the capacity of retarding lipid oxidation when added to soya oil and also contributed to α-tocopherol retention in oil heated at high temperatures. However, Mixtures 1 and 2 added to the oil presented a greater antioxidant power, consequently proving the antioxidants synergistic effect.

Effect of fungicides on the mite fauna of prunus persica L. cultivars in Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil

The objective of this study was to characterize the diversity of phytophagous and predatory mites on peach cultivars either with or without fungicide treatment, in the city of Presidente Prudente, State of São Paulo, Brazil. In order to evaluate the effect of fungicides, leaf samples were colleted at random from treated and untreated plants of the Tropical, Aurora 1 and Aurora 2 cultivars, from June 2004 to February 2006. From the results obtained it can be concluded that: plants with or without treatment showed high populations of predatory mites, indicating that the treatments were innocuous on the mite populations. A diversified composition of the mite community was observed. The Phytoseiidae family had the highest richness in numbers and species of mites. Euseius citrifolius and E. concordis were the most abundant species. Plants with or without treatment had high abundances of predatory mites, with a predominance of E. citrifolius.

Relationship between citrus productivity and indicators of uniformity in trickle irrigation system

In trickle irrigation systems, the design is based on the pre-established emission uniformity (EU) which is the combined result of the equipment characteristics and its hydraulic configuration. However, this desired value of the EU may not be confirmed by the final project (in field conditions) and neither by the yield uniformity. The hypotheses of this research were: a) the EU of a trickle irrigation system at field conditions is equal to the emission uniformity pre-established in the its design; b) EU has always the lowest value when compared with other indicators of uniformity; c) the discharge variation coefficient (VC) is not equal to production variation coefficient in the operational unit; d) the difference between the discharge variation coefficient and the productivity variation coefficient depends on the water depth applied. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between EU used in the irrigation system design and the final yield uniformity. The uniformity indicators evaluated were: EU, distribution uniformity (UD) and the index proposed by Barragan & Wu (2005). They were compared estimating the performance of a trickle irrigation system applied in a citrus orchard with dimensions of 400m x 600m. The design of the irrigation system was optimized by a Linear Programming model. The tree rows were leveled in the larger direction and the spacing adopted in the orchard was 7m x 4m. The manifold line was always operating on a slope condition. The sensitivity analysis involved different slopes, 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12%, and different values of emission uniformity, 60, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 and 94%. The citrus yield uniformity was evaluated by the variation coefficient. The emission uniformity (EU) after design differed from the EU pre-established, more sharply in the initial values lower than 90%. Comparing the uniformity indexes, the EU always generated lower values when compared with the UD and with the index proposed by Barragan. The emitter variation coefficient was always lower than the productivity variation coefficient. To obtain uniformity of production, it is necessary to consider the irrigation system uniformity and mainly the water depth to be applied.

Two new feather mite species (Acari, pteronyssidae) from the white-barred piculet, picumnus cirratus (Aves, piciformes)

Two new species of the feather mite family Pteronyssidae Oudemans, 1941 are described from the white-barred piculet, Picumnus cirratus Temminck from Brazil: Pterotrogus picumni sp. n. and Ramphastobius scutatus sp. n., representing the first mites described from this host. Pterotrogus picumni sp. n. can be readily distinguished from all previous species of the simplex group by having dorsal crest on femora I and II in both sexes. This is the first representative of the genus Pterotrogus Gaud, 1981 recorded on a host of the genus Picumnus Temminck. Ramphastobius scutatus sp. n. is unique among species of the genus by having in both sexes the prodorsal and scapular shields fused into a single propodonotal shield covering all prodorsum. An updated key to known species of the genus Ramphastobius Gaud, 1981 is presented. © Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre ASCR.

Citrus aurantium L. essential oil exhibits anxiolytic-like activity mediated by 5-HT1A-receptors and reduces cholesterol after repeated oral treatment

Background: The current treatments for anxiety disorders and depression have multiple adverse effects in addition to a delayed onset of action, which has prompted efforts to find new substances with potential activity in these disorders. Citrus aurantium was chosen based on ethnopharmacological data because traditional medicine refers to the Citrus genus as useful in diminishing the symptoms of anxiety or insomnia, and C. aurantium has more recently been proposed as an adjuvant for antidepressants. In the present work, we investigated the biological activity underlying the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of C. aurantium essential oil (EO), the putative mechanism of the anxiolytic-like effect, and the neurochemical changes in specific brain structures of mice after acute treatment. We also monitored the mice for possible signs of toxicity after a 14-day treatment.Methods: The anxiolytic-like activity of the EO was investigated in a light/dark box, and the antidepressant activity was investigated in a forced swim test. Flumazenil, a competitive antagonist of benzodiazepine binding, and the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 were used in the experimental procedures to determine the mechanism of action of the EO. To exclude false positive results due to motor impairment, the mice were submitted to the rotarod test.Results: The data suggest that the anxiolytic-like activity observed in the light/dark box procedure after acute (5 mg/kg) or 14-day repeated (1 mg/kg/day) dosing was mediated by the serotonergic system (5-HT1A receptors). Acute treatment with the EO showed no activity in the forced swim test, which is sensitive to antidepressants. A neurochemical evaluation showed no alterations in neurotransmitter levels in the cortex, the striatum, the pons, and the hypothalamus. Furthermore, no locomotor impairment or signs of toxicity or biochemical changes, except a reduction in cholesterol levels, were observed after treatment with the EO.Conclusion: This work contributes to a better understanding of the biological activity of C. aurantium EO by characterizing the mechanism of action underlying its anxiolytic-like activity. © 2013 Costa et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Contrasting engineering effects of leaf-rolling caterpillars on a tropical mite community

Ecosystem engineers are organisms that change the physical structure of environments and provide habitats for other organisms. Lepidopteran caterpillars may act as ecosystem engineers by rolling leaves as shelters to complete metamorphosis. After being abandoned, these structures may provide shelter for other organisms. In this study, the influence of leaf-rolling caterpillars on tropical mite communities was reported. Expanded leaves and leaves rolled by larvae and also developed field experiments using leaves rolled manually with different shapes and sizes (i.e. different architectures) in different seasons were surveyed (dry and rainy). While the abundance and diversity of predatory mites were higher in rolled leaves, the abundance of phytophages decreased in these leaves. Species composition differed between rolled and expanded leaves. The structure of shelters affected the distribution of predatory mites, with higher abundances found on funnel-shaped leaves. Predatory mites only benefited from the rolled leaves in the dry season. This is the first study showing (i) the contrasting effects of ecosystem engineers on microarthropod communities, favouring some feeding guilds and inhibiting others; (ii) that the shape of rolled leaves has variable effects on mite communities; and (iii) that facilitation was temporally dependent, i.e. occurred only in the dry season. © 2013 The Royal Entomological Society.

Mite (Acari; Arachnida) diversity of two native plants in fragments of a semideciduous seasonal forest in Brazil

Studies to determine mite species richness in natural environments are still scarce, and have been conducted mainly in tropical ecosystems. The aim of this study was to determine the species richness of mites on two common native plants in fragments of the semideciduous seasonal forest in the Northwest of São Paulo State, Brazil. In each of eight fragments, 10 specimens of Actinostemon communis (Euphorbiaceae) and 10 of Trichilia casaretti (Meliaceae) were selected and marked. In total, 124 species of mites belonging to 21 families were found on the two plants. Tarsonemidae had the highest diversity (34 species), followed by Phytoseiidae (31), Tetranychidae (9) and Tenuipalpidae (8). Species accumulation curves for the two sampled plants did not reach an asymptote, even with the large sampling effort. Hence, it is estimated that a greater sampling effort may lead to an increase in species richness compared with what was found in this study. The richness of this mite fauna suggests that preservation of these plant species is important to maintain the mite diversity in these forest fragments. © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Physico-chemical characterization of seed oils extracted from oranges (Citrus sinensis)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the spider mite genera Aponychus, Paraponychus and Stylophoronychus using morphology (Acari:Tetranychidae)

Despite their great importance as pests of cultivated plants worldwide, members of the family Tetranychidae have never been subjected to a thorough cladistic analysis to reveal the history and relationships among related genera. Herein, we provide the first phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic review of species of the genera Aponychus, Paraponychus and Stylophoronychus using morphological characters. The results indicate a monophyletic clade uniting the aforementioned genera, although none of the three genera were recovered as monophyletic. We reinstate the tribe Aponychini as the taxon containing those three genera. Aponychus bambusae and A. aequilibris are herein considered junior synonyms of Stylophoronychus vannus and A. corpuzae, respectively. © 2013 CSIRO.

Effect of pectin extracted from citrus pulp on digesta characteristics and nutrient digestibility in broilers chickens

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

A new genus and species of pterodectine feather mite (Acari: Proctophyllodidae) from Tod-Tyrants in Brazil (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae)

A new genus and species of feather mite, Hemitriccodectes furcatus gen. nov., sp. nov., is described from passerines of the genus Hemitriccus from Brazil: Hemitriccus furcatus, H. margaritaceiventer and H. striaticollis (Tyrannidae). The new genus belongs to the Pterodectes generic complex and most clearly differs from previously established genera of this complex by the following combination of features: trochanteral setae sRIII are present, and solenidia σ are absent from genua III. The new genus also lacks dorsal hysteroromal setae c1. © 2013 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.

Fatty acids profile and alteration of lemon seeds extract (Citrus limon) added to soybean oil under thermoxidation

This paper aimed at evaluating fatty acids profile and the total alteration of lemon seeds extract added to soybean oil under thermoxidation, verifying the isolated and synergistic effect of these antioxidants. Therefore, Control treatments, LSE (2,400 mg/kg Lemon Seeds Extract), TBHQ (mg/kg), Mixture 1 (LSE + 50 mg/kg TBHQ) and Mixture 2 (LSE + 25 mg/kg TBHQ) were subjected to 180 C for 20 h. Samples were taken at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 h intervals and analyzed as for fatty acid profile and total polar compounds. Results were subjected to variance analyses and Tukey tests at a 5% significance level. An increase in the percentage of saturated fatty acids and mono-unsaturated, and decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids was observed, regardless of the treatments studied. For total polar compounds, it was verified that Mixtures 1 and 2 presented values lower than 25% with 20 h of heating, not surpassing the limits established in many countries for disposal of oils and fats under high temperatures, thus proving the synergistic effect of antioxidants. © 2011 Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India).