Formação das castas no gênero Melípona (Illiger, 1806)

The present work is destinated to prove that the castes : workers and queens, in Melipona bees are due to genetic factors and not to differences in food. 2) Material used: Hives of Melipona quadri-fasciata anthidioides (Lep. 1836), M. schenki schenki (Gribodo, 1893), M. fasciata rufiventris (Lep. 1836), M. quadri-fasciata vicina (Lep. 1836), M. marginata marginata (Lep. 1836), Apis mellifera (L. 1758). 3) It should be pointed out that in Melipona bees there are no royal cells for the queens, but all the cells are of the same size independently of being destinated for workers, queens or drones. The numerous queens which are born are killed soon after emerging from their cells. 4) Changes of feeding in quality and in quantity caused no variation of castes. The only variable factor is the size, which becomes bigger when the bee is well nourished. 5) The offsprings of 5 hives were examined : 3 of M. quadri-fasciata anthidioides (n.o 1, n.o 2 and n.o 3), 1 of M. quadri-fasciata vicina (n.o 4) and 1 of M. marginata marginata (n.o 5). Combs of about 40 cells were taken into laboratory and the type of bee registered immediately after emerging. The results of the counts were: BOX COMB WORKER QUEEN PERCENTAGE Σ X2 to 12,5% Nº 1 1th 69 8 10,4% 0, 3139 " 1 2nd 144 18 11,1% 0, 2856 " 2 1th 52 8 13,3% 0, 0384 " 3 1th 45 10 18,2% 1, 6736 " 4 1th 56 4 6,7% 1, 8686 " 4 2nd 29 4 12,1% 0,00432 Σ X2 to 25% " 5 1th 34 14 29,2% 0,44444 "5 2nd 83 27 24,5% 0, 0121 In the 4 first boxes there is a percentage of 11,63% queens and in the last there is a percentage of 25,95%. 6) These percentages are very near two genetical ratios: 12,5% or 7:1, and 25% or 3:1, which correspond to a trifactorial and a bifactorial back-cross. Carrying out a X² test no significant deviations were found ( X² to 12,5% and to 25% and table 1 to 4). 7) We suppose that the formula for the queen in the first case (11,65%) is: AaBbCc. Since the Melipona bees are arrhenotokous hymenopteres, the drones are haploid and may have any one of the following eight formulas, corresponding to the gonic segregation of the queem : ABC, ABc, Abc, Abc, AbC, aBC, aBc, abC, abc. Anyone combination of these males with the queen will give a segregation of 7 workers to 1 queen, since there is always only one triple heterozygote among the eight possible segregates (table 5). 8) In order to explain the second case, it is suffient to assume that in this species there are only two pairs of factors, the queen being the double heterozygote : AaBb, while the drones may have any one of the following constitutions: AB, Ab, aB and ab. Workers are again all diploids which are homozygous for one or both factors, for instance: AABB, AABb, AaBB, aaBb, AAbb, etc. (table 6). 9) It is suggested that the genus Melipona is an intermediary type between the solitary bees, where all females are fertile independently of their feeding, and the genera Apis and Trigona, where without special feeding all females are born sterile, while only specially fed females develop into fertile queens. 10) No speculations are put forward with regards to the evolutionary mechanism which may have been responsible for the development of the genetical determination of castes in Melipona, since it seems advisable point to extend the studies to other insects with complicated caste systems.

Estudo descritivo e bionômico de Cerosipha forbesi (Weed, 1889) (Horn., Aphididae)

Os autôres estudam o pulgão Cerosipha forbesi (Weed, 1889) (= Aphis forbesi), que vive sobre o morangueiro (Fragaria spp.), inseto provavelmente ainda não assinalado na literatura entomológica brasileira.

Serrasentis sagittifer (Linton, 1889) (Acanthocephala)

Dans le travail présent, Serrasentis sagittifer est redécrit et la validité du nom et des espèces qui lui sont assimilées est discutée.

Quatro especies nuevas de nematodos del sur del Perú y redescripción de Hedruris Orestiae Moniez, 1889

En el estudio helmintológico de anfibios del género Telmatobius Wiegmann, 1834, y del pez Orestias luteus Valenciennes, 1839, de las zonas de Arequipa, Puno y del Lago Titicaca, se han encontrado nematodes de los géneros Hedruris Nitzsch, 1821 y Falcaustra Lane, 1915. Se redescribe Hedruris orestiae Moniez, 1889 y se describen cuatro especies nuevas: Hedruris moniezi sp. n., Falcaustra condorcanquii sp. n., Falcaustra pumacahuai sp. n. y Falcaustra tiahuanaquensis sp. n.

Description of the adult form of Nybelinia (Syngenes) rougetcampanae Dollfus, 1960 and some new data on n. (n.) bisculata (Linton, 1889) (Trypanorhyncha: Tentaculariidae)

The adult form of Nybelinia (Syngenes) rougetcampanae Dollfus, 1960 is described, parasitizing one specimen of Sphyrna lewni (Griffith & Smith, 1834) out of the five ones necropsied and one out of six Nothorhynchus pectorosus (Garman, 1884) was found harbouring N. (N.) bisculata (Linton, 1889). The finding of these cestodes under Trypanorhyncha in sharks captured off the coast of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, amplifies their known geographical distribution and adds new host records for these parasites.

First report of Temnocephala brevicornis Monticelli 1889 (Temnocephalidae: Platyhelminthes) in Argentina

Temnocephala brevicornis Monticelli 1889, ectosymbiont of Hydromedusa tectifera Cope 1869, is reported for the first time for Argentina. Numerous temnocephalans from Arroyo Villoldo in the locality of Magdalena, Buenos Aires, Argentina were stained in toto to be studied. This commensal species in turtles was originally cited in association with Hydromedusa maximiliani (Mikan) and Hydraspis radiolata Mikan in Brazil. Afterwards, it was found on other fresh water turtle species in Brazil and Uruguay.

Morfologia externa dos estágios imaturos de heliconíneos neotropicais: I. Eueides isabella dianasa (Hübner, 1806)

External morphology of the immature stages of neotropical heliconians: I. Eueides isabella dianasa (Hübner, 1806). The external features of egg, larva and pupa of Eueides isabella dianasa (Hübner, 1806) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) are described and illustrated, based upon light and scanning electron microscopy.

COMPARAÇÃO ENTRE AS REGIÕES VITÍCOLAS DE SÃO JOAQUIM – SC, BRASIL E SAN MICHELE ALL’ADIGE – TN, ITÁLIA

A fenologia da videira, a produtividade das plantas e a qualidade da uva apresentam forte relação com os fatores ambientais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar as regiões vitícolas de altitude elevada de Santa Catarina com a região de San Michele All’Adige localizada na Itália. Para os estudos, utilizou-se dos dados da Estação Experimental de São Joaquim - EPAGRI (28°16’30,08”S, 49°56’09,34”O, altitude 1.400 m), localizada em São Joaquim e do Istituto Agrario di San Michele All’Adige – Fondazione Edmund Mach46°11’41,46”N, 11°08’04,41”L, altitude 223 m), localizado na Província de Trento. A variedade avaliada foi a Rebo, para a qual foram determinados osprincipais estádios fenológicos e calculada a exigência térmica através dos graus-dia, temperaturas média, máxima, mínima, amplitude, precipitação, umidade relativa do ar, insolação e radiação solar global. No momento da colheita, foi avaliado o desempenho agronômico da variedade Rebo. Em São Joaquim, o ciclo da variedade Rebo é mais longo, o acúmulo térmico é menor, a precipitação pluviométrica e a radiação solar global acumulada são maiores do que em San Michele All’Adige. As temperaturas mais baixas e a menor insolação durante a floração-mudança de cor das bagas são os principais fatores climáticos relacionados com as menores produtividades das plantas. Em São Joaquim, as baixas temperaturas e as elevadas taxas de radiação solar global na maturação contribuem de maneira positiva na formação dos compostos fenólicos, mas dificultam a degradação dos ácidos da variedade Rebo.

Caracterização do mel produzido por espécies de Melipona Illiger, 1806 (apidae: meliponini) da região nordeste do Brasil: 1. Características físico-químicas

Thirty three honey samples produced by four Melipona species from different areas of the State of Bahia, were analyzed with the aim to determine their physico-chemical characteristics, contributing to the establishment of standards for quality control. The majority of the average values for physico-chemical parameters fulfilled the quality criteria established by the Brazilian and international Legislations for Apis honey, except for moisture content, which afforded higher values. Concerning the high number of samples wich did not fit the limits for reducing sugars, it is necessary to define minimum values in order to characterize Melipona honeys, as well as criteria for use of diastasic activity.