About some trematodes parasites of Haemulon sciurus (Shaw, 1803)

From September, 1980 to August, 1981 forty specimens of Haemulon sciurus from "Praia da Ribeira, Ilha do Governador", Rio de Janeiro State, were examined for parasites. In this paper, parcial results concerning only the collected trematodes are reported: Diplomonorchis leiostomi Hopkins, 1941 (first record in Brazil and in a new host); Lasiotocus beauforti (Hopkins, 1941) Thomas, 1959 (new host record); Genolopa ampullacea Linton, 1910; Parahemiurus merus (Linton, 1910) Yamaguti, 1938 (new host record): Aponurus pyriformis (Linton, 1910) Overstreet, 1973 and Diplangus paxillus Linton, 1910. Figures, measurements and comments of each species are given.

Infecção natural do Holochilus brasiliensis nanus Thomas, 1897 (Rodentia, cricetidae) por Litomosoides carinii

É registrada a infecção natural do Holochilus brasiliensis nanus, um pequeno roedor semi-aquático da Baixada Ocidental do Estado do Maranhão, Brasil, por Litomosoides carinii.

Neohilgertia venusti Gen. N. SP. N. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae)from Thylamys venustus cinderellus (Thomas) Reig, Kirsch & Marshall, 1985 (Marsupialia: Didelphidae) in Burruyacu, Tucuman, Argentina - Systematic position and possible evolution

Neohilgertia gen. n. proposed for Oxyuridae nematodes from Thylamys venustus cinderellus (Marsupialia: Didelphidae) is described. The hypothesis about the possibility of a secondary parasitism for marsupials and the origin of the genus in the African Sciuridae parasite ancestors is discussed.

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.

Artificial Feeding of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae) through Silicone Membrane

An artificial feeding system was used where citrated bovine blood was offerred to male and female Amblyomma cajennense. Vestiges of blood, sweat, hair and exfoliated skin were used as phago-stimulants placed on the surface of the silicone membrane. The ticks were collected, as engorged nymphs, from naturally infested equines, with the ecdysis occurring in the laboratory. Four hundred ticks were used, 50% being female, at three to four weeks post-ecdysis. Vestiges of blood on the silicone membrane were the most efficient phago-stimulant and the association of vestiges of blood and sweat residue smears yielded better results compared to the other phago-stimulants used

Host Specificity of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae) with Comments on the Drop-off Rhythm

The parasitic specificity of larval, nymph and adult Amblyomma cajennense on six different host species: Oryctolagus cuniculus, Rattus norvegicus, Gallus gallus domesticus, Anas platyrhynchus, Coturnix coturnix and Streptopelia decorata is described. In terms of the numbers of larvae and nymphs recovered, O. cuniculus was the best host species. The modal day for drop-off of larvae and nymphs was day three for the mammal hosts, but variable in the birds. We conclude that adult A. cajennense have a strong degree of specificity due to the fact that the tick failed to complete its life cycle on any of the evaluated hosts. The immature stages, on the other hand, showed a low level of specificity, most especially in the larval stage, indicating the existence of secondary hosts which probably serve as dispersers in the wild. The results also indicated a variable drop-off rhythm for larvae and nymphs in two periods, diurnal (6-18 hr) and nocturnal (18-6 hr), which differed depending upon the host.

Wild birds as hosts of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae)

We evaluated the prevalence, mean intensity and relative density of ticks in 467 wild birds of 67 species (12 families) from forest and cerrado habitats at two protected areas of Minas Gerais, between March and September 1997. Ticks collected (n=177) were identified as larvae and nymphs of Amblyomma cajennense and four other species of Amblyomma. We report for the first time 28 bird species as hosts of the immature stages of A. cajennense, demonstrating the lack of host specificity of the larvae and nymphs. A. cajennense had 15% prevalence on birds, with a mean infestation intensity of 0.37 ticks per host sampled, and 2.5 ticks per infested bird. Prevalence varied in relation to host species, diet and between birds from forests at two successional stages. There were no differences in relation to host forest dependence, participation in mixed flocks of birds, and nest type constructed. A. cajennense is a species of medical and veterinary importance, occurring on domestic animals but is known little of its occurrence on wildlife.

Neopolystoma fentoni n. sp. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) a parasite of the conjunctival sac of freshwater turtles in Costa Rica

Neopolystoma fentoni n. sp. is described from the conjunctival sac of Kinosternon leucostomum (Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril 1851) and Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima (Gray 1855) from the Guanacaste Conservation Area in Costa Rica. The new species differs from all other species of Neopolystoma, except N. elizabethae Platt 2000 in possessing a circle of eight genital spines that are recurved and possess a crescent-shaped base. N. fentoni n. sp. differs from N. elizabethae in lacking cecal diverticula and in a number of morphometric criteria.

O gênero Callideriphus Blanchard, 1851 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Heteropsini)

The genus Callideriphus Blanchard, 1851 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Heteropsini). The genus Callideriphus comprises only two species: C. grossipes Blanchard, 1851 (type species) and C. tucumanus sp. nov. (Argentina, Tucumán). The type locality of C. grossipes had been originally indicated as Chile, but it is supposedly considered erroneous. Its distribution, actually, extends from Southeastern Brazil up to Argentina, along the Atlantic Forest. This species is extremely variable in regard to its coloration and elytral punctation. Two subspecies are recognized: C. grossipes grossipes Blanchard, 1851 (BRAZIL: Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina) and C. grossipes flavipennis Melzer, 1934 (BRAZIL: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul; ARGENTINA: Chaco, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires). Four intermediate forms are recorded and commented. Redescription and a key to species are added. Nomenclatural changes: Callideriphus grossipes grossipes Blanchard, 1851 = C. grossipes var. brasliensis Melzer, 1923 syn. nov. = C. rubricollis Melzer, 1934 syn. nov.; Callideriphus grossipes flavipennis Melzer, 1934 stat nov. = C. signaticollis Melzer, 1934 syn. nov.

Revisão do gênero Mecocephala Dallas, 1851 (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae)

Revision of the genus Mecocephala Dallas, 1851 (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae). The genus Mecocephala Dallas, 1851 is revised, and some taxonomic and geographical distribution data are evaluated. The following species are considered to belong to this genus: M. acuminata Dallas, 1851 = M. holmbergi Pirán, 1969 syn. nov., M. curculionoides Pirán, 1959, M. bonariensis sp. nov., M. magna sp. nov., M. maldonadensis sp. nov., and M. zikani sp. nov.; their distribution is restricted to southern Neotropical Region. Other species, formerly placed in Mecocephala, are considered, respectively: M. rubripes Berg, 1894 incertae sedis, M. darwini Kirkaldy, 1909 incertae sedis, M. atra Bergroth, 1914 incertae sedis, Paramecocephala uruguayensis (Pirán, 1970) comb. nov., Paramecocephala fusca (Haglund, 1868) comb. nov. A key to the species is presented.

Reestruturação do gênero Deois Fennah; descrição de um novo gênero e de novas espécies (Homoptera, Cercopidae, Tomaspidinae)

Restructure of the genus Deois Fennah; description of a new genus and new species (Homoptera, Cercopidae, Tomaspidinae). The genus Deois Fennah is reviewed and some changes in the taxonomy are introduced. The genus and its four subgenera are redefined, having now the following composition: 1) subgenus Deois (Deois) with: D. (D.) correntina (Berg, 1879), D. (D.) grandis Sakakibara, 1979, D. (D.) knoblauchii (Berg, 1879) (formerly in D. (Pandysia)), D. (D.) morialis (China & Myers, 1934), D. (D.) mourei Cavichioli & Sakakibara, 1994, D. (D.) piraporae Sakakibara, 1979, D. (D.) pseudoflavopicta (Lallemand, 1938) comb. nov. (formerly in Mahanarva) = D. (D.) similis Sakakibara, 1979 syn. nov., D. (D.) rubropicta Sakakibara, 1979, D. (D.) spinulata sp. nov., D. (D.) terrea (Germar, 1821), D. (D.) uniformis (Distant, 1909). 2) subgenus Deois (Pandysia) with: D. (P.) bergi sp. nov., D. (P.) crenulata sp. nov., D. (P.) schach (Fabricius, 1787) = Sphenorhyna transiens Walker, 1851 syn. nov.. 3) Deois (Fennahia) with: D. (F.) coerulea (Lallemand, 1924), D. (F.) flexuosa (Walker, 1851). 4) Deois (Acanthodeois) with: D. (A.) flavopicta (Stål, 1854), Deois (A.) incompleta (Walker, 1851). The genus Orodamnis Fennah, 1953 stat. nov. (formerly Deois (Orodamnis)) with: Orodamnis rhynchosporae (China & Myers, 1934) comb. nov. The genus Deoisella gen. nov. is described for: Deoisella fasciata sp. nov. (type species) and Deoisella picklesi (China & Myers, 1934) comb. nov.