Culex saltanensis Dyar, 1928: natural vector of Plasmodium juxtanucleare in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Searching for the natural vector of Plasmodium juxtanucleare in an enzootic locality: Granjas Calábria (33% of the chickens infected), Jacarepaguá, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 13 comparative captures of mosquitoes were carried out, simultaneously on man (out-doors) and on chiken (in a poultry-yard), between 6 and 9 p.m., from September to March 1989. Culex saltanensis was the most frequent species in captures on chicken, accounting for 41.7% of the mosquitoes collected on this bait, showing to be highly ornithophilic (90% captured on chicken versus 10% on man). Seven specimens of Cx. saltanensis were found naturally infected in granjas Calábria: five with mature pedunculate oocysts and two with sporozoites (on in the haemocoele and one in the salivary glands). These sporozoites porudced an infection by P. juxtanucleare in a chick, which had parasitemia on day 41 after inoculation. One Cx. coronator was found with mature pedunculate oocysts. Culex saltanensis was regarded as primary vector of P. juxtanucleare in Rio de Janeiro for being highly ornithophilic and in enough density to maintain the transmission, having been found with infective sporozoites in its salivary glands, and being susceptible to the parasite and able to transmit experimentally it by the bite.

Crithidia ricardoi sp. n. a new species of trypanosomatidae isolated from Culex saltanensis Dyar, 1928 (Diptera: Culicidae)

A flagellte trypanosomatid was isolated in culture from the digestive tract of the mosquito Culex saltanensis Dyar, 1928. It grows exuberantly in liver infusion in the form of epimastigotes and choanomastigotes typical of the genus Crithidia. The trypanosomatid was compared to C. deanei, C. fasciculata, C. luciliae, C. oncopelti and C. guilhermei. The techniques used for comparison were electron transmission microscopy, isoenzymes and kDNA restriction profiles. No endosymbionts were found at electron microscopy. Results for the biochemical methods employd indicate that the trypanosomatid isolated from C. saltanensis is a new species of Crithidia. The name C. ricardoi sp. n. is proposed for thes new species.

Infection of Oxydoras kneri Bleecker, 1862 (Pisces, Doradidae) by the acanthocephalan Paracavisoma impudica (Diesing, 1851) Kritcher, 1957

Infection of Oxydoras kneri by the acanthocephalan Paracavisoma impudica is described. The parasites do not penetrate deeply into the host gut wall and do not reach the muscularis layers. Host reaction is minimal, consisting of limited fibrosis around the proboscides. Haemorrhages and lymphocyte infiltration are not observed, and phagocytic cells are only present occasionally. Oxydoras kneri is a newly reported host for Paracavisoma impudica.

Neocucullanus neocucullanus Travassos, Artigas et Pereira, 1928 (Nematoda: Cucullanidae) from the Characidae fish, Brycon hilarii Valenciennes, 1850, from Brazil

During investigation on the helminth parasites from Brycon hilarii Valenciennes, 1850 (Characiformes, Characidae), from River Juba, Tangará da Serra, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, several specimens of the nematode Neocucullanus Travassos, Artigas et Pereira, 1928 were detected. A detailed study of this material, including scanning electron microscopy, allowed to identify these nematodes as N. neocucullanus Travassos, Artigas et Pereira, 1928 and to confirm N. multipapillatus Petter, 1989 as a junior synonym of N. neocucullanus.

The life history of Pygidiopsis macrostomum Travassos, 1928 (Digenea: Heterophyidae)

The life history of the trematode Pygidiopsis macrostomum Travassos, 1928 is described for the first time. Rediae and cercariae were obtained from naturally infected snails Heleobia australis (d´Orbigny), a new first intermediate host. Metacercariae were found encysted in the mesenteries of three naturally infected guppies, Phalloptychus januarius (Hensel), Jenynsia multidentata (Jenyns) (new host records) and Poecilia vivipara Bloch and Schneider. Experimental infections were successfully completed in the intermediate hosts H. australis and Poe. vivipara reared in the laboratory and hamsters Mesocricetus auratus Waterhouse were utilised as a definitive host.

Nomenclatural notes in Membracidae (Homoptera): new combination and new synonymies in Amastris Stål, 1862

The following nomenclatural changes are made: Amastris convoluta (Fabricius, 1781) comb. nov. (formerly Darnis; Hebetica); Amastris maculata Funkhouser, 1922 = Amastris fasciata Broomfield, 1976 syn. nov. = Amastris pseudomaculata Broomfield, 1976 syn. nov. = Amastris inermis Broomfield, 1976 syn. nov. = Amastris sakakibarai Broomfield, 1976 syn. nov.; Amastris elevata Funkhouser, 1922 = Amastris vismiae Haviland, 1925 syn. nov. = Amastris flavifolia Funkhouser, 1927 syn. nov.

Pineus boerneri Annand, 1928 (Hemiptera, Adelgidae) - a new species to Brazil: morphology of eggs, nymphs and adults

Pineus boerneri Annand, 1928 (Hemiptera, Adelgidae) _ a new species to Brazil: morphology of eggs, nymphs and adults. Pineus boerneri represents the first Adelgidae species recorded in Brazil. This aphid species forms extensive colonies on branches and trunk of Pinus spp., with apterous oviparous females, eggs and nymphs covered with white wax. The aim of this research is to study the morphology of eggs, nymphs, and adults to provide useful data for species identification in order to solve taxonomic issues. The study was based on morphometric data and optical and scanning electron microscopy images. First instar nymphs are active and can be easily distinguished from the others by their elongate minute yellowish body; well developed legs bearing a pair of sensorial setae at the apex of the second tarsomere; and antenna with three segments with a large rhinarium and distinct apical setae on the last segment. From the second to the fourth instar, nymphs are sessile, with round red body; they loose the third antennal segment and its sensorial structures, as well as the setae on the second tarsomere. The oviparous female is reddish-brown, with round body with about 0.76 mm diameter; legs reduced; antennae one-segmented; ovipositor distinct; numerous wax glands are present, mainly on the head. Accurate characterization of the species and distinction of the nymphal instars of P. boerneri were made possible by canonical analysis of morphometric data and morphological characters.

External morphology of immature stages of Zaretis strigosus (Gmelin) and Siderone galanthis catarina Dottax and Pierre comb. nov., with taxonomic notes on Siderone (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Charaxinae)

ABSTRACT The external morphology of immature stages of Zaretis strigosus (Gmelin, [1790]) and Siderone galanthis catarina Dottax and Pierre, 2009 comb. nov. from southern Brazil are described. Additionally, morphology of the adults and sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase, subunit I, were analyzed in order to evaluate the taxonomy of Siderone galanthis Hübner, [1823]. Immatures were collected on Casearia sylvestris (Salicaceae) in Curitiba, Paraná, and Balneário Barra do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and reared at the laboratory. Morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided, based on observations through stereoscopic and optic microscopes attached to camera lucida; results are compared and discussed and immature stages of some other species of Charaxinae. The results indicates that the morphology of the immature stages of the studied species differ greatly from other Anaeini, representing a distinct lineage of leafwings butterflies. Morphology and molecular evidence indicate that S. nemesis mexicana Dottax and Pierre, 2009 and S. nemesis catarina Dottax and Pierre, 2009 are conspecific with S. galanthis (Cramer, 1775); additionally, S. thebais C. Felder and R. Felder 1862, S. nemesis var. confluens Staudinger, 1887, S. nemesis f. leonora Bargmann, 1928 and S. nemesis f. exacta Bargmann, 1929 are synonymized with S. galanthis galanthis (Cramer, 1775).