The risk of acquiring the new influenza A(H1N1) for Brazilian travelers to Chile, Argentina and the USA

We estimate the risk of acquiring the new influenza A(H1N1) for Brazilian travelers to Chile, Argentina and the USA. This is done by a mathematical model that quantifies the intensity of transmission of the new virus in those countries and the probability that one individual has of acquiring the influenza depending on the date of arrival and time spent in the area. The maximum estimated risk reached 7.5 cases per 10,000 visitors to Chile, 17 cases per 10,000 travelers to Argentina and 23 cases per 10,000 travelers to the USA. The estimated number of imported cases until 27 July is 57 ± 9 from Chile, 136 ± 27 from the USA and 301 ± 21 from Argentina, which are in accord with the official figures. Estimating the number of imported cases was particularly important for the moment of the disease introduction into this country, but it will certainly be important again as a tool to calculate the number of future imported cases from northern countries in our next inter-epidemic season, were imported cases can constitute again the majority of the new influenza burden to the Brazilian health services.

Sylvatic foci of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma infestans in Chile: description of a new focus and challenges for control programs

Triatoma infestans is one of the main domestic vectors of Chagas disease. Reports of wild habitat occurrences have recently increased. In Chile, after a successful elimination campaign of T. infestans domestic infestation, a sylvatic focus was reported in bromeliads in the metropolitan region. Here, we report a new focus of sylvatic T. infestans inhabiting rock piles in the Valparaíso region in central Chile. All T. infestans captured were nymphal instars living among the stones, which were inhabited by several mammal species, along with the sylvatic triatomine vector Mepraia spinolai. We found a prevalence of infection with Trypanosoma cruzi of 36.54% in T. infestans, similar to the previous report for sylvatic specimens from bromeliads. Sylvatic populations of T. infestans should be studied at different geographic scales to elucidate their role in the maintenance of the sylvatic transmission cycle of T. cruzi and their possible role in threatening the domestic elimination of this vector. This information should be used to re-design the control programs in Chile to avoid the re-establishment of the domestic cycle.

Novas espécies e nota sobre Lamiinae (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) neotropicais da coleção Arriagada, Santiago, Chile

New species described: Acanthoderini - Acanthoderes (Psapharochrus) piraiuba sp. nov.from Argentina (San Luis); Acanthoderes (Acanthoderes) uyapensis sp. nov. from Bolivia (La Paz); Dufauxia simplex sp. nov. from Paraguay (Caazapá); Aerenicini - Antodice quadrimaculata sp. nov. from Paraguay (Caazapá); Calliini - Drycothaea maculata sp. nov. from Bolivia (La Paz); Falsamblesthiini - Obereoides antennatus sp. nov. from Bolívia (La Paz). Color variation of Phoebe spegazzinii Bruch, 1908 is discussed.

Novas espécies e nota sobre Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) neotropicais da coleção Arriagada, Santiago, Chile

Notas sobre uma forma melânica de Trachyderes (T.) cingulatus Klug, 1825 (Trachiderini) e descrição de novos táxons: Eburini, Pantomallus titinga sp. nov. da Bolivia (La Paz, Santa Cruz); Elaphidionini, Stizocera asyka sp. nov. do Paraguai (Presidente Hayes); Ibidionini, Cycnidolon immaculatum sp. nov., da Bolívia (La Paz); Desmiphorini, Ischnoleomimus arriagadai sp. nov. do Paraguai (Paraguari); Ceiupaba bella sp. nov., da Guiana Francesa, Equador (Pichincha) e Bolívia (La Paz); Euestola obliqua sp. nov. e Paraguay (Caazapá).

Dos nuevas especies de Iridopsis Warren (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) del norte de Chile

Se presentan descripciones de dos nuevas especies de Iridopsis Warren, 1894, del norte de Chile: I. hausmanni sp. nov., del valle de Azapa, Provincia de Arica; e I. parrai sp. nov., de la Pampa del Tamarugal, Provincia de Iquique. Los estados inmaduros de I. parrai se asocian con Prosopis tamarugo Phil. (Fabaceae). Esta es la primera mención de Iridopsis para Chile.

Redescription of Oropezella abdominalis Collin from Chile with description of the male and a key to the Neotropical genera of Ocydromiinae (Diptera, Hybotidae)

Oropezella abdominalis Collin, 1933 (Diptera, Hybotidae) is redescribed and the male is described for the first time. An identification key to the Neotropical genera of Ocydromiinae is also provided.

Una nueva especie de Cosmophyga Dognin (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) del norte de Chile

Se describe Cosmophyga cortesi sp. nov. del Valle de Azapa, Provincia de Arica, norte de Chile, sobre la base de adultos macho y hembra. Este es el primer reporte de Cosmophyga para Chile.

Prospección de lepidópteros antófagos asociados a Acacia macracantha Willd. (Fabaceae) en el norte de Chile

Se efectuó una prospección de larvas de lepidópteros antófagos asociados a Acacia macracantha Willd. (Fabaceae) en dos valles costeros del norte de Chile: Azapa y Chaca. Fueron registradas ocho especies, distribuidas en ocho géneros y cinco familias. La composición de especies del ensamble fue la misma en las dos localidades. Sin embargo, la abundancia del ensamble y la abundancia por especie fueron diferentes entre los valles.

A new species of Glena Hulst (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from northern Chile

A new species of Glena Hulst (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from northern Chile. A new species of Glena Hulst (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) is described from two valleys of the coastal desert of northern Chile. Immature stages are associated with Trixis cacalioides (Kunth) Don. (Asteraceae). Holotype, male and female genitalia, and a sexual dimorphic feature are illustrated. This is the first record of a species of Glena from Chile.

First record of Coenosia attenuata Stein (Diptera, Muscidae) from Chile, with biological notes

First record of Coenosia attenuata Stein (Diptera, Muscidae) from Chile, with biological notes. Coenosia Meigen (Muscidae, Coenosiinae) species are known as predators of other insects and play an important role as potential biocontrol agents. Six species of Coenosia have been recorded in Europe preying on insects pests, one of them is Coenosia attenuata Stein. This species was recently recorded from the Neotropical Region and is herein recorded for the first time to Chile. Biological notes were included.

A new species of Lioptilodes Zimmerman (Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae) from northern Chile

Male and female adults of a new species of Lioptilodes Zimmerman (Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae) are described and illustrated. Immature stages are associated with Baccharis scandens (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. (Asteraceae). The species was collected in two localities of northern Chile: near sea level in the Azapa valley, in the coastal desert of Arica Province and at 3000 m elevation in Socoroma, Parinacota Province.

A new species of Eccopsis Zeller (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) from the coastal valleys of northern Chile, with the first continental record of E. galapagana Razowski & Landry

A new species of Eccopsis Zeller (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) from the coastal valleys of northern Chile, with the first continental record of E. galapagana Razowski & Landry. Eccopsis Zeller, 1852 is reported for the first time from Chile. Eccopsis razowskii Vargas, n. sp. is described and illustrated based on specimens reared from larvae collected on native Acacia macracantha Willd. (Fabaceae) in the coastal valleys of the northern Chilean desert. Eccopsis galapagana Razowski & Landry, 2008, previously known only from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, is recorded for the first time from continental South America. Larvae of the latter were collected in northern Chile feeding on Prosopis alba Griseb (Fabaceae).

First record of Phoebis argante chincha Lamas (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) in Chile

First record of Phoebis argante chincha Lamas (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) in Chile. The presence of Phoebis argante chincha Lamas, 1976 (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) is reported for the first time in Chile, from the Azapa valley, Arica.

A new case constructing adelid moth from Chile (Lepidoptera)

A new case constructing adelid moth from Chile (Lepidoptera). The adult and larva of Ceromitia tubulifolia sp. nov. are described and illustrated. The larvae seem to be associated with sclerophyllous forest of central Chile. The larvae make a protective case from of a piece of leaf. The name phylloikos is proposed for this form of larval case. A review of the morphology and bionomics of this species are provided.

A new species of Eupithecia Curtis (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from the Azapa Valley, northern Chile

A new species of Eupithecia Curtis (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from the Azapa Valley, northern Chile. Male and female adults of a new species of Eupithecia Curtis from the Arica Province, Chile are described and illustrated. The species is compared with E. yubitzae Vargas & Parra, 2004, from the same locality, and E. galapagosata Landry & Rindge 1995, from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.