Simuliofauna do rio Marumbi, Morretes - PR, Brasil: microalgas como alimento de larvas de Simulium incrustatum Lutz, 1910 (Diptera, Simuliidae)

Estuda-se a ficoflórula do conteúdo intestinal de larvas do Simulium incrustatum, num período de 18 meses com 18 amostras, em 1983/84. A identificação até gênero, foi feita com material a fresco e material montato em lamínula. No conteúdo entérico das larvas, constataram-se 50 gêneros nas Divisões Chrysophyta (diatomáceas), Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta e Euglenophyta.

Aspectos ecológicos de Simulium goeldii (Diptera: Simuliidae): relação entre substrato e densidade de larvas

The distribution of larvae of Simulium goeldii was studies in four streams in upland tropical forest near Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. In each month 32 points were sampled, each with an area of 30 x 50 cm. The areas of all substrates available were measured at each point. The larvae of S. goeldii were collected and later counted for all substrate types where larvae of this species were found. The available substrates were classified into eight types: dry leaves, green leaves, branches, fruits, detritus, rocks and sand; anly the first four types had larvae present. The Kruskal-Wallis test and analysis of variance indicated that the larvae occupy these substrates differently; the Newman-Keuls identified the following differences in intensity of occupation of the susbstrates: branchs differ from roots, dry leaves and green leaves, and green leaves differ from roots and dry leaves. The highest density of larvae was observed on green leaves. However, because the most abundant substrates in the study area were roots and dry leaves, I suggest that the latter two substrates are the most important ones for the esteblishment of this population of S. goeldii.

Gastromermis cordobensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasitizing Simulium lahillei Patterson & Shannon (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Argentina

Gastromermis cordobensis n. sp (Nematoda: Mermithidae) a parasite of larvae of the blackfly Simulium lahillei Paterson & Shannon (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Argentina, is described. Diagnostic characters of this species include a mouth ventrlly shifted; six cephalic papillae; eigh hypodermal chords; small and pear shaped amphids; a long and S-shaped vagina; a singl spicule, which is long, has non-uniform walls, and a tip with sculpture; three rows of genital papillae, the middle one with 18 pre-anal and 10 post-anal papillae, the lateral rows have 36 papillae each; oval eggs; and post-parasitic juveniles with long thin tails. Pre-parasitic and parasitic juveniles are included in the description.

Comparison of the reproductive behavior between isolated Peckia chrysostoma (Wiedemann, 1830) and Adiscochaeta ingens (Walker, 1849) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) females reared in laboratory

In both species, maintained under laboratory environmental conditions, anautogeny was comproved and all females that had free access to proteic source were fertiles. We obtained the following average values for Peckiachrysostoma: 59.7 ± 15.6 and 81.8 ± 15.4 days of longevity in the respective cases of free access and no access to proteic source, 21.4 ± 4.3 days of pre-larviposition period and 35.2 ± 16.5 days of larviposition period, 5.3 ± 1.8 larvipositions female with 7.0 ± 1.1 days of periodicity, 35.7 ± 6.1 larvae per larviposition leading to a total number of 183.8 ± 69.2 viable larvae per female and 94.8% ± 5.3% of productivity. The mean number of ovarioles per female was 56.4 ± 9.8, resulting in a reproductive potential of 63.3%. For Adiscochaeta ingens, the obtained average values were: 41.3 ± 6.3 and 52 ± 13.1 days of longevity in the respective cases of free access and no access to proteic source, 15.3 ± 1.7 days of pre-larviposition period and 21.5 ± 7.5 days of larviposition period, 3 ± 0.7 larvipositions per female with 10.4 ± 0.8 days of periodicity, 30.3 ± 8.2 larvae per larviposition leading to a total number of 78.5 ± 21.7 viable larvae per female and 90.1% ± 16% of productivity. The mean number of ovarioles per female was 54.6 ± 5.2, resulting in a reproductive potential of 55.5%. Within applied parameters, the values obtained for P. chrysostoma demonstrate its superior productivity in comparison with A. ingens

Cytological and isoenzyme analysis of the Bucay and Quevedo cytotypes of the onchocerciasis vector Simulium exiguum (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Ecuador

Four cytotypes of Simulium exiguum occur in Ecuador, where this morphospecies is the primary vector of onchocerciasis. In this paper, we give the first full description of the banding pattern of the larval polytene chromosomes of the Quevedo cytotypes differ from the chromosomal standard sequence (of the Cayapa cytotype) by the fixed inversions IIL-5 and IIL-6. The Quevedo cytotype additionally differs from the standard and Bucay cytotypes by processing a differentiated X chromosome, wich is indicated by the inversion IIS-A. As the degree of reproductive isolation between the Bucay and Quevedo cytotypes has not yet been estabilished, they must be regarded as intraspecific variants of the same species. In fact, isoenzyme characterizations showed that the Bucay and Quevedo cytotypes are differentiated only to the extent expected of incipient species or geographical populations. Moreover, the sibiling species status previously given to the Bucay cytotype needs be reassessed, there being inadequate analysis from areas in Ecuador where Bucay occurs in sympatry with the standard Cayapa cytotype. No isoenzyme electromorphs were discovered that identified all or mostadult females of any one (cytotype-pure) collection.

Adult abundance, biting behavior and parity of Anopheles aquasalis, Curry 1932 in two malarious areas of Sucre State, Venezuela

The principal vector of malaria in eastern Venezuela, Anopheles aquasalis, is exophagic and exophilic. Control using indoor insecticide house sprays has failed to lower the number of malaria cases. Therefore, studies were initiated in two villages of the eastern coastal state of Sucre to better understand this vector's biology and develop a more integrated control program. An. aquasalis was found to have a crepuscular biting behavior with a major peak at dusk and a minor peak at dawn. Mosquitos were collected more outdoors than indoors. Forty-seven percent of the biting took place before people went to bed (22:30 hr) and 69% of the mosquitos biting during this time period bite outdoors. Outdoor biting could be the reason why indoor spraying alone did not lower malaria cases. Seasonal abundance was greater in the rainy season compared to the dry season. Seasonal parous rates were high (78.3%-100%) and similar indoors and outdoors and between dry and wet season in Santa F e. In Guayana, the seasonal parity was lower (34.6%-42.2%) than Santa F e with indoor parity slightly higher than outdoors. Malaria cases were higher in Santa F e, but adult mosquito density was much lower than in Guayana. This difference could have been due to higher parity in Santa F e compared to Guayana. The greater distance to the nearest breeding site and presence of alternative hosts in Guayana can not be discounted as factors which contributed to the difference in malaria transmission between locations. We concluded that knowledge on seasonal occurrence, biting activity, resting behavior and breeding site location can be used to design a new control strategy for this vector.

Two new mermithidis (Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasites of Simulium wolffhuegeli Roubaud and S. jujuyense (Paterson & Shannon) (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Argentina

Two new species of mermithids (Nematoda: Mermithidae), Gastromermis doloresi n. sp. a parasite of Simulium wolffhuegeli Roubaud and Hydromermis doloresi n. sp. a parasite of S. jujuyense (Paterson & Shannon) from Córdoba, Argentina, are described and illustrated. G. doloresi n. sp. is characterized by having medium sized, pear-shaped and oval amphids, eight hypodermal chords all around the body, cylindrical S-shaped vagina, single long spicule 528 [mi]m, whith teh sculpture tip, three rows of genital papillae in which the middle row contains 17 pre-anal and 9 post-anal papillae, and lateral rows contain 18 papillae. Hydromermis doloresi n. sp. can be distinghished by the following: medium sized, pear-shaped amphids, eight hypodermal chords, a cylindrical, S-shaped vagina, one short curved spicule with sculpture and genital papillae in three rows. The medium ventral row of papillae has 4 double and 9 single pre-anal papillae and 3 double and 6 single port-anal papillae, lateral rows have 18 single papillae each.

Effect of Niclosamide (Bayluscide WP 70 (R)), Anacardium occidentale hexane extract and Euphorbia splendens latex on behavior of Biomphalaria glabrata (Say, 1818), under laboratory conditions

The repellent effect of the molluscicides Niclosamide (Bayluscide WP 70 (R)), Anacardium occidentale and the latex of Euphorbia splendens on Biomphalaria glabrata was observed through the investigation of the occurrence of escape behavior among molluscs that were exposed to dosages lower than the LD 50. The total number of individuals out of water among the surviving snails in the control group provided a "Natural Escape Index". The comparison between this total and the total number of surviving snails in each group exposed to the different dosages of the molluscicides after 24 hr provided the "Molluscicide Escape Index" and the detection of a "Repellency Range" to these snails. The escape indexes for Niclosamide, A. occidentale and E. splendens were 10, 6.22 and 6.44 respectively. Repellency occurred at the following concentration ranges: 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03 ppm Bayluscide, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 ppm A. occidentale and 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 ppm E. splendens. The Natural Escape Index obtained in the control group was zero.

On Simulium (Pternaspatha), with description of a new species (Diptera-Simuliidae)

Simulium (Pternaspatha) diamantinum n. sp. is described from females, males, pupae and larvae, collected at Mendoza, San Juan and Neuquén. Some specimens of this species from Laguna del Diamante were included before by Wygodzinsky and Coscarón (1967) in S. strigidorsum Enderlein. The new species is compared with closely related species of the S. (Pternaspatha) "nigristrigatum group". The following synonym is established: Simulium (Pternaspatha) bachmanni Wygodzinsky & Coscarón = Simulium (Pternaspatha) nigristrigatum (Enderlein).

The Potential for Dispersal of Onchocerciasis in Ecuador in Relation to the Distribution of the Vector Simulium exiguum (Diptera:Simuliidae)

The future dispersal of onchocerciasis in Ecuador is dependent on the distribution of cytotypes of the vector species complex Simulium exiguum. Over the last 14 years, collections of larvae have been made from over 25 rivers, between 80-1600 m altitude, from various sites on both sides of the Andes. Analysis of larval polytene chromosomes was used to determine the distributions of each cytotype. On the western side of the Andes, the Cayapa cytotype (the only cytotype directly incriminated as a vector) has a distribution from Santo Domingo de los Colorados northwards. The Quevedo and Bucay cytotypes occur from Santo Domingo de los Colorados southwards. On the eastern side of the Andes, the Aguarico cytotype occurs in the Rio Aguarico and a new cytotype is present in the tributaries of the Rio Napo. Whether the disease will spread south of Santo Domingo and on the eastern side of the Andes depends on vector capacity of the cytotypes and the dispersal patterns of individuals infected with onchocerciasis. At present the Aguarico, Bucay and Quevedo cytotypes are known to be efficient hosts, but their biting preferences and biting densities have not yet been evaluated

Behavior of Biomphalaria glabrata Say, 1818 (Gastropoda: Planorbidae): I. Morphophysiology of the Mantle Cavity

Using longitudinal and transverse anatomical sections, we observed that the three cristae of the mantle of Biomphalaria glabrata (renal, rectal and dorsolateral cristae) divide the mantle cavity into three chambers which we designated air or pulmonary chamber, water inflow chamber and water outflow chamber. Using videotape filming, we observed the inflow and outflow of air and water into and from the mantle cavity and we related their probable functions such as flotation, oxygen reservoir and transport, excreta circulation and elimination, water skeleton, and modification of specific weight. To determine whether the air bubble may function as a physical gill in this species we submitted three groups of snails to different systems in which water contained the same level of dissolved oxygen whereas the gas phases were atmospheric air, pure nitrogen or pure oxygen. We observed the following parameters: time of permanence on the surface, time of immersion, and frequency at which the snails reached the surface. These results did not demonstrate a physical gill function; morphological analysis of the mantle cavity indicates this possibility