Techniques for the detection of pathogenic Cryptococcus species in wood decay substrata and the evaluation of viability in stored samples

In this study, we evaluated several techniques for the detection of the yeast form of Cryptococcus in decaying wood and measured the viability of these fungi in environmental samples stored in the laboratory. Samples were collected from a tree known to be positive for Cryptococcus and were each inoculated on 10 Niger seed agar (NSA) plates. The conventional technique (CT) yielded a greater number of positive samples and indicated a higher fungal density [in colony forming units per gram of wood (CFU.g-1)] compared to the humid swab technique (ST). However, the difference in positive and false negative results between the CT-ST was not significant. The threshold of detection for the CT was 0.05.10³ CFU.g-1, while the threshold for the ST was greater than 0.1.10³ CFU-1. No colonies were recovered using the dry swab technique. We also determined the viability of Cryptococcus in wood samples stored for 45 days at 25ºC using the CT and ST and found that samples not only continued to yield a positive response, but also exhibited an increase in CFU.g-1, suggesting that Cryptococcus is able to grow in stored environmental samples. The ST.1, in which samples collected with swabs were immediately plated on NSA medium, was more efficient and less laborious than either the CT or ST and required approximately 10 min to perform; however, additional studies are needed to validate this technique.

Neue Nachweise der Rhinopoma hardwickei (Chiroptera) aus Westafrika

From Mali, the first record of the bat Rhinopoma hardwickei is communicated. From Niger, new data of the same bat actualise the problem of subspecific rank of older material from this country

Eryphus Perty, 1832 e Tacyba, um novo gênero de Heteropsini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae)

Eryphus Perty, 1832 and Tacyba, a new genus of Heteropsini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae). Some species, up to now, included in Callideriphus Blanchard, 1851 are rearranged in: a) those congeneric with Callideriphus grossipes Blanchard, 1851 and b) not congeneric. The first set of species will be treated in a future paper; the second one, on the other hand, is subdivided into Eryphus Perty, 1832 and Tacyba gen. nov. Eryphus Perty, 1832 (type species: Eryphus bipunctatus Perty, 1832), a valid genus, is redescribed and a key for the species is also provided. The following species are transferred to Eryphus: E. bivittatus (Melzer, 1934) comb. nov., E. carinatus (Zajciw, 1970) comb. nov., E. flavicollis (Fisher, 1938) comb. nov., E. laetus (Blanchard, 1851) comb. nov., E. marginatus (Zajciw, 1970) comb. nov., E. picticollis (Gounelle, 1911) comb. nov., E. transversalis (Fairmaire & Germain, 1864) comb. nov. New synonym proposed: Eryphus bipunctatus Perty, 1832 = Callideriphus atricollis Melzer, 1931. New taxa described: Eryphus tacuarembo sp. nov. (Uruguay, Tacuarembó), E. carioca sp. nov. (Brazil, Rio de Janeiro); Tacyba gen. nov. (type species: Callideriphus maculatus Cerda, 1988). Species transferred to Tacyba and synonyms: T. maculata (Cerda, 1988) comb. nov., T. tenuis (Blanchard, 1851) comb. nov. = Callideriphus testaceicornis Fairmaire & Germain, 1859 syn. nov. = Callideriphus clathratus Fairmaire & Germain, 1860 syn. nov. = Callideriphus niger Philippi & Philippi, 1864 syn. nov. Callideriphus flavicollis m. quadripunctatus Fuchs, 1961 and Callideriphus flavicollis m. reductus Fuchs, 1961, both names of infrasubspecific category (not available under the rules of ICZN), are herein treated as intraspecific variation of Eryphus picticollis (Gounelle, 1911) which occur in southern Brazil and Argentina.

Review of the genus Chalcolepidius Eschscholtz, 1829 (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Agrypninae)

The genus Chalcolepidius is revised. Type specimens of 65 nominal species, except C. costatus Pjatakowa, 1941, C. fleutiauxi Pjatakowa, 1941 and C. viriditarsus Schwarz, 1906, are examined. Eighty five species are studied, of which 34 are synonymyzed and 12 new species described; three species, C. alicii Pjatakowa, 1941, C. haroldi Candèze, 1878 and C. unicus Fleutiaux, 1910, formely included in this genus, are not congeneric and are removed; C. validus Candèze, 1857 is revalidated. The genus is now formed by 63 species. Redescriptions, illustrations and a key for the examined species, and a cladistic analysis for groups of species are also included. New synonyms established: C. apacheanus Casey, 1891 = C. simulans Casey, 1907 syn. nov. = C. acuminatus Casey, 1907 syn. nov. = C. nobilis Casey, 1907 syn. nov.; C. approximatus Erichson, 1841 = C. aztecus Casey, 1907 syn. nov. = C. niger Pjatakowa, 1941 syn. nov.; C. attenuatus Erichson, 1841 = C. cuneatus Champion, 1894 syn. nov. = C. tenuis Champion, 1894 syn. nov.; C. aurulentus Candèze, 1874 = C. candezei Dohrn, 1881 syn. nov. = C. grossheimi Pjatakowa, 1941 syn. nov.; C. bomplandii Guérin, 1844 = C. humboldti Candèze, 1881 syn. nov.; C. chalcantheus Candèze, 1857 = C. violaceous Pjatakowa, 1941 syn. nov.; C. cyaneus Candèze, 1881 = C. scitus Candèze, 1889 syn. nov. = C. abbreviatovittatus Pjatakowa, 1941 syn. nov.; C. desmarestii Chevrolat, 1835 = C. brevicollis Casey, 1907 syn. nov.; C. gossipiatus Guérin, 1844 = C. erichsonii Guérin-Méneville, 1844 syn. nov. = C. lemoinii Candèze, 1857 syn. nov.; C. inops Candèze, 1886 = C. murinus Champion, 1894 syn. nov.; C. jansoni Candèze, 1874 = C. mucronatus Candèze, 1889 syn. nov.; C. lacordairii Candèze, 1857 = C. exquisitus Candèze, 1886 syn. nov. = C. monachus Candèze, 1893 syn. nov.; C. lenzi Candèze, 1886 = C. behrensi Candèze, 1886 syn. nov.; C. oxydatus Candèze, 1857 = C. jekeli Candèze, 1874 syn. nov.; C. porcatus (Linnaeus, 1767) = C. peruanus Candèze, 1886 syn. nov. = C. flavostriatus Pjatakowa, 1941 syn. nov. = C. herbstii multistriatus Golbach, 1977 syn. nov.; C. rugatus Candèze, 1857 = C. amictus Casey, 1907 syn. nov.; C. smaragdinus LeConte, 1854 = C. ostentus Casey, 1907 syn. nov. = C. rectus Casey, 1907 syn. nov.; C. sulcatus (Fabricius, 1777) = C. herbstii Erichson, 1841 syn. nov; C. virens (Fabricius, 1787) = C. perrisi Candèze, 1857 syn. nov.; C. virginalis Candèze, 1857 = C. championi Casey, 1907 syn. nov.; C. viridipilis (Say, 1825) = C. debilis Casey, 1907 syn. nov.; C. webbi LeConte, 1854 = C. sonoricus Casey, 1907 syn. nov.; C. zonatus Eschscholtz, 1829 = C. longicollis Candèze, 1857 syn. nov. New species described: C. albisetosus sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. albiventris sp. nov. (Mexico: Veracruz), C. copulatuvittatus sp. nov. (Venezuela), C. extenuatuvittatus sp. nov. (Venezuela), C. fasciatus sp. nov. (Mexico: Durango), C. ferratuvittatus sp. nov. (Ecuador), C. proximus sp. nov. (Mexico: Sinaloa), C. serricornis sp. nov. (Mexico: Veracruz), C. spinipennis sp. nov. (Mexico: Veracruz), C. supremus sp. nov. (Venezuela), C. truncuvittatus sp. nov. (Mexico: Tamaulipas) and C. virgatipennis sp. nov. (Mexico: Durango). Redescribed species: C. angustatus Candèze, 1857, C. apacheanus Casey, 1891, C. approximatus Erichson, 1841, C. attenuatus Erichson, 1841, C. aurulentus Candèze, 1874, C. bomplandii Guérin-Méneville, 1844, C. boucardi Candèze, 1874, C. chalcantheus Candèze, 1857, C. corpulentus Candèze, 1874, C. cyaneus Candèze, 1881, C. desmarestii Chevrolat, 1835, C. dugesi Candèze, 1886, C. erythroloma Candèze, 1857, C. eschscholtzi Chevrolat, 1833, C. exulatus Candèze, 1874, C. fabricii Erichson, 1841, C. forreri Candèze, 1886, C. fryi Candèze, 1874, C. gossipiatus Guérin-Méneville, 1844, C. inops Candèze, 1886, C. jansoni Candèze, 1874, C. lacordairii Candèze, 1857, C. lafargi Chevrolat, 1835, C. lenzi Candèze, 1886, C. limbatus (Fabricius, 1777), C. mexicanus Castelnau, 1836, C. mniszechi Candèze, 1881, C. mocquerysii Candèze, 1857, C. morio Candèze, 1857, C. obscurus Castelnau, 1836, C. oxydatus Candèze, 1857, C. porcatus (Linnaeus, 1767), C. pruinosus Erichson, 1841, C. rodriguezi Candèze, 1886, C. rostainei Candèze, 1889, C. rubripennis LeConte, 1861, C. rugatus Candèze, 1857, C. silbermanni Chevrolat, 1835, C. smaragdinus LeConte, 1854, C. sulcatus (Fabricius, 1777), C. tartarus Fall, 1898, C. validus Candèze, 1857, reval., C. villei Candèze, 1878, C. virens (Fabricius, 1787), C. virginalis Candèze, 1857, C. viridipilis (Say, 1825), C. webbi LeConte, 1854, C. zonatus Eschscholtz, 1829.

Secreted glutamic protease rescues aspartic protease Pep deficiency in Aspergillus fumigatus during growth in acidic protein medium.

In an acidic protein medium Aspergillus fumigatus secretes an aspartic endoprotease (Pep) as well as tripeptidyl-peptidases, a prolyl-peptidase and carboxypeptidases. In addition, LC-MS/MS revealed a novel glutamic protease, AfuGprA, homologous to Aspergillus niger aspergillopepsin II. The importance of AfuGprA in protein digestion was evaluated by deletion of its encoding gene in A. fumigatus wild-type D141 and in a pepΔ mutant. Either A. fumigatus Pep or AfuGprA was shown to be necessary for fungal growth in protein medium at low pH. Exoproteolytic activity is therefore not sufficient for complete protein hydrolysis and fungal growth in a medium containing proteins as the sole nitrogen source. Pep and AfuGprA constitute a pair of endoproteases active at low pH, in analogy to A. fumigatus alkaline protease (Alp) and metalloprotease I (Mep), where at least one of these enzymes is necessary for fungal growth in protein medium at neutral pH. Heterologous expression of AfuGprA in Pichia pastoris showed that the enzyme is synthesized as a preproprotein and that the propeptide is removed through an autoproteolytic reaction at low pH to generate the mature protease. In contrast to A. niger aspergillopepsin II, AfuGprA is a single-chain protein and is structurally more similar to G1 proteases characterized in other non-Aspergillus fungi.

Relatório - Detecção de Tuta Absoluta (Myerick, 1917) em Cabo Verde

Tuta absoluta é praga minadora de folhas desenvolve-se principalmente no tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum) e não só mas também em outras espécies de Solanáceas tais como batata comum (Solanum tuberosum), beringela (Solanum melongina), Pimentos (Capsicum sp.) e no tomate silvestre (Lycopersicon hirsutum), (Solanum dulcamara), (Solanum nigrum), (Solanum elaeagnifolium), (Datura stramonium), (Datura ferox) e (Nicotiana glauca). No entretanto, esta praga ataca espécies de tomate em grande escala a nível dos trópicos, Sub-trópicos e regiões temperadas causando prejuízos económicos consideráveis (USDA, 2011). Esta praga encontra-se presente na América do Sul, (Chili, Bolívia, Brasil, Colômbia, Equador, Uruguai, Perú, Venezuela, Argentina). No continente Africano ela encontra-se na Africa Ocidental e Central designadamente no Benim, Camarões Cabo-Verde, Costa do Marfim, Congo Brazzaville, Gambia, Gabão, Ghana, Guiné-Conakry, Guiné- Bissau, Mali, Mauritânia, Niger, Nigéria, República Democrático do Congo, Serra Leoa, Senegal, Tchad e Togo. Pela primeira vez T. absoluta foi assinalada na Europa em 2006, e em Espanha na comunidade Valenciana em 2007 (Vieira, 2008). O cultivo de tomate em Cabo Verde tem aumentado nos últimos anos. Atualmente tomate é o legume mais cultivado em Cabo Verde. A sua quota parte na produção hortícola que não ultrapassavam os 1.000 t há uns anos, atinge atualmente 4200 t, o que representa 23% da produção total dos legumes. Apesar de alguns constrangimentos, nomeadamente problemas de ordem fitossanitária e escassez de água de rega a disponibilidade e a utilização generalizada das variedades locais, permitiram um escalonamento da produção durante o na, compreendendo o período quente e húmido. Um outro fator que contribui para o aumento substancial da produção, é a salinização de água de rega, em várias zonas do regadio. Os agricultores destas zonas viram nesta cultura a única saída para obterem algum rendimento (MAP/ CPDA/INIDA/ FAO GCP/CV/036/NET s/data). Em Cabo Verde a área média de um campo de produção de tomate é de 750 m2 sendo máxima de 1.400 m2. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estabelecimento instantâneo de presença ou ausência da nova praga Tuta absoluta no país que foi recentemente encontrada na Sub-região Saariana na Costa Ocidental e Central de África.

Relatório Detecção de Tuta Absoluta (Myerick,1917) em Cabo Verde

Tuta absoluta é praga minadora de folhas desenvolve-se principalmente no tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum) e não só mas também em outras espécies de Solanáceas tais como batata comum (Solanum tuberosum), beringela (Solanum melongina), Pimentos (Capsicum sp.) e no tomate silvestre (Lycopersicon hirsutum), (Solanum dulcamara), (Solanum nigrum), (Solanum elaeagnifolium), (Datura stramonium), (Datura ferox) e (Nicotiana glauca). No entretanto, esta praga ataca espécies de tomate em grande escala a nível dos trópicos, Sub-trópicos e regiões temperadas causando prejuízos económicos consideráveis (USDA, 2011). Esta praga encontra-se presente na América do Sul, (Chili, Bolívia, Brasil, Colômbia, Equador, Uruguai, Perú, Venezuela, Argentina). No continente Africano ela encontra-se na Africa Ocidental e Central designadamente no Benim, Camarões Cabo-Verde, Costa do Marfim, Congo Brazzaville, Gambia, Gabão, Ghana, Guiné-Conakry, Guiné- Bissau, Mali, Mauritânia, Niger, Nigéria, República Democrático do Congo, Serra Leoa, Senegal, Tchad e Togo. Pela primeira vez T. absoluta foi assinalada na Europa em 2006, e em Espanha na comunidade Valenciana em 2007 (Vieira, 2008). O cultivo de tomate em Cabo Verde tem aumentado nos últimos anos. Atualmente tomate é o legume mais cultivado em Cabo Verde. A sua quota parte na produção hortícola que não ultrapassavam os 1.000 t há uns anos, atinge atualmente 4200 t, o que representa 23% da produção total dos legumes. Apesar de alguns constrangimentos, nomeadamente problemas de ordem fitossanitária e escassez de água de rega a disponibilidade e a utilização generalizada das variedades locais, permitiram um escalonamento da produção durante o na, compreendendo o período quente e húmido. Um outro fator que contribui para o aumento substancial da produção, é a salinização de água de rega, em várias zonas do regadio. Os agricultores destas zonas viram nesta cultura a única saída para obterem algum rendimento (MAP/ CPDA/INIDA/ FAO GCP/CV/036/NET s/data). Em Cabo Verde a área média de um campo de produção de tomate é de 750 m2 sendo máxima de 1.400 m2. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estabelecimento instantâneo de presença ou ausência da nova praga Tuta absoluta no país que foi recentemente encontrada na Sub-região Saariana na Costa Ocidental e Central de África.

Detecção e Monitorização de Tuta Absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) em Cabo Verde

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Microlepidoptera:Gelechiidae) é praga minadora de folhas desenvolve-se principal-mente no tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum) e não só mas também em outras espécies de Solanáceas tais como batata comum (Solanum tuberosum), beringela (Solanum melongina), Pimentos (Capsicum sp.) e no tomate silvestre (Lycopersicon hirsutum), (Solanum dulcamara), (Solanum nigrum), (Solanum elaeagnifolium), (Datura stramonium), (Datura ferox) e (Nicotiana glauca). Esta praga ataca espécies de tomate em grande escala a nível dos trópicos, Sub-trópicos e regiões temperadas causando prejuízos económicos consideráveis (USDA, 2011). Esta praga encontra-se presente na América do Sul, (Chili, Bolívia, Brasil, Colômbia, Equador, Uruguai, Perú, Venezuela, Argentina). No continente Africano ela encontra-se na Africa Ocidental e Central designadamente no Benim, Camarões, Cabo-Verde, Costa do Marfim, Congo Brazzaville, Gambia, Gabão, Ghana, Guiné-Conakry, Guiné- Bissau, Mali, Mauritâ-nia, Niger, Nigéria, República Democrático do Congo, Serra Leoa, Senegal, Tchad e Togo. Pela primeira vez T. abso-luta foi assinalada na Europa em 2006, e em Espanha na comunidade Valenciana em 2007 (Vieira, 2008). O cultivo de tomate em Cabo Verde tem aumentado nos últimos anos. Actualmente tomate é o legume mais cultivado em Cabo Verde. A sua quota parte na produção hortícola que não ultrapassavam os 1.000 t há uns anos, atinge actualmente 4200 t, o que representa 23% da produção total dos legumes. Apesar de alguns constrangimentos, nomeadamente problemas de ordem fitossanitária e escassez de água de rega a disponibi-lidade e a utilização generalizada das variedades locais, permitiram um escalonamento da produção durante o ano, compreendendo o período quente e húmido. Um outro fator que contri-bui para o aumento substancial da produção, é a salinização de água de rega, em várias zonas do regadio. Os agricultores destas zonas viram nesta cultura a única saída para obterem algum rendimento (MAP/ CPDA/INIDA/ FAO GCP/CV/036/NET s/data). Em Cabo Verde a área média de um campo de produção de tomate é de 750 m2 sendo máxima de 1.400 m2. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estabelecimento instantâneo de presença ou ausência da nova praga Tuta absoluta no país que foi recentemente encontrada na Sub-região Saariana na Costa Ocidental e Central de África.

The type-species of Psilochlorops Duda (Diptera, Chloropidae) and its position in the phylogeny of the genus, with the description of a new species

The type-species of Psilochlorops Duda (Diptera, Chloropidae) and its position in the phylogeny of the genus, with the description of a new species. The genus Psilochlorops is known only for the Neotropical Region and had six described species to date. Psilochlorops niger sp. nov. is herein described and the male genitalia of P. clavitibia, the type-species of the genus, is described in detail. A new cladistic analysis of Psilochlorops is presented, including all known species of the genus.

La vente des terres dans le Département de Gaya : dynamiques et acteurs

Pendant des années, la marchandisation de la terre au Niger a été soumise à une censure sociale. Elle est maintenant largement acceptée dans les régions rurales. Dans le Département de Gaya, cette pratique a été étendue pour une grande part depuis l'année 2000. Le revenu généré par le processus des petites irrigations a été un fort conducteur pour une demande croissante de la terre. L'établissement graduel d'institutions dans le Code Rural a aussi fourni une structure administrative pour les transactions de terre. Les très riches fermiers, mais aussi les acteurs externes à agriculture (fonctionnaires, hommes d'affaires) ont bénéficié considérablement de ces nouvelles occasions. Au contraire, la marchandisation soudaine de la terre a sapé la situation de fermiers, en particulier les emprunteurs qui tenaient des droits de terre faibles. Pendant que le Code Rural a fourni un cadre obligatoire générale assez sécurisé pour obtenir tous les droits de la propriété à travers des lois modernes, l'augmentation de la circulation monétaire a réduit grandement l'éventail d'arrangements des acteurs titulaires des faibles droits de terre. Il a conduit finalement à accroître les risques de paupérisation et à des inégalités grandissantes.

Novel secreted proteases of Aspergillus fumigatus

Objectives: Sequencing and annotation of the genome of Aspergillus fumigatus has dramatically changed our knowledge about the proteins potentially encoded by the fungus. Own analysis have resulted in at least 47 of them contain a signal for secretion. Among those list we want to characterize those enzymes that may have impact on fungal growth outside and particularly inside the host. We thereby want to learn more about their function in general and to identify possible novel drug targets suited to combat invasive aspergillosis. Methods: Four groups of secreted proteases have been chosen for further analysis: 1 Serine-carboxyl proteases (sedolisins). Four of them were expressed in yeast and partly in bacteria. Substrate-specificity studies and kinetics as well as protein characterization of the yeast derived proteases were performed according to standard methods. Enzyme specific polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbits using the peptides expressed in bacteria. Expression of proteases in A. fumigatus was investigated with these antibodies and gene knockout mutants for each enzyme as a control. All the following mentioned proteases will be investigated accordingly. 2 Two metalloproteases from the M12-family, ADAM-A and ADAM-B. Both proteases are likely membrane associated and may have inherent sheddase function as their counterparts in mammals. 3 One metalloprotease of the M43 family. An orthologue of this protease in Coccidioides posadasii is known to posses immunomodulating activities. 4 One putative endoprotease of the S28-family. An orthologue in Aspergillus niger is known to digest proline-rich proteins. In A. fumigatus this enzyme may facilitate invasion through proline-rich proteins like collagen. Results: All sedolisins expressed in yeast were proteolytically active: Three of them were characterized as tripeptidyl-peptidases whereas one enzyme is an endoprotease. Corresponding knockout mutants did not reveal a specific phenotype. Expression and investigations on all above mentioned proteases as well as generation of corresponding knockout mutants and double knockout mutants for the ADAMs, respectively, is underway. Promising candidates will be investigated in animal studies for reduced virulence. Conclusions : The real existence of so far hypothetical proteases predicted by the genome project was already demonstrated for the sedolisins by a reverse genetic approach (from gene to protein). With the aim of improving basic knowledge on function of other proteases potentially crucial for fungal growth and thus for pathogenesis, other hypothetical enzymes will be investigated. Those enzymes may turn out to be ideal drug targets for antimycotic chemotherapy.

Multiple mating and offspring quality in Lasius ants

Genetic diversity benefits for social insect colonies headed by polyandrous queens have received intense attention, whereas sexual selection remains little explored. Yet mates of the same queen may engage in sperm competition over the siring of offspring, and this could confer benefits on queens if the most successful sire in each colony (the majority sire) produces gynes (daughter queens) of higher quality. These benefits could be increased if high-quality sires make queens increase the percentage of eggs that they fertilize (unfertilized eggs develop into sons in social hymenopterans), or if daughters of better genetic quality are over-represented in the gyne versus worker class. Such effects would lead to female-biased sex ratios in colonies with high-quality majority gynes. I tested these ideas in field colonies of Lasius niger black garden ants, using body mass of gynes as a fitness trait as it is known to correlate with future fecundity. Also, I established the paternity of gynes through microsatellite DNA offspring analyses. Majority sires did not always produce heavier gynes in L. niger, but whenever they did do so colonies produced more females, numerically and in terms of the energetic investment in female versus male production. Better quality sires may be able to induce queens to fertilize more eggs or so-called caste shunting may occur wherever the daughters of better males are preferentially shunted to into the gyne caste. My study supports that integrating sexual selection and social evolutionary studies may bring a deeper understanding of mating system evolution in social insects.

Effect of two microbial phytase preparations on phosphorus utilisation in broilers fed maize-soybean meal based diets

Selostus: Fytaasientsyymilisäyksen vaikutus fosforin hyväksikäyttöön maissi-soijarouhepohjaisessa broilerrehussa

Solubilização do fosfato de ferro em meio de cultura

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência de solubilização de FePO4 por Aspergillus niger, em meio de cultura com diferentes fontes de carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) e com concentrações crescentes de fosfato. A quantidade de fosfato solúvel, acidez e pH final foram determinados após o crescimento do fungo, em cultura estacionária a 30ºC. A eficiência de solubilização aumentou conforme o crescimento do fungo, atingiu o máximo no 11º dia (68%) e depois regrediu. Das fontes de C e de N testadas, as maiores eficiências de solubilização foram obtidas com manitol (21%) e ácido glutâmico (17%). Com o aumento da concentração de fosfato (0 a 1.330 µg mL-1), a máxima eficiência de solubilização (70%) foi obtida com 330 µg mL-1 de PO4(3-) e decresceu até 47% com 1.330 µg mL-1. A produção de ácidos foi o principal mecanismo de solubilização do FePO4, com base na correlação positiva e significativa entre a produção de fosfato e a acidez.

Loss of mating flight and shift in the pattern of carbohydrate storage in sexuals of ants (Hymenoptera; Formicidae)

In ants, energy for flying is derived from carbohydrates (glycogen and free sugars). The amount of these substrates was compared in sexuals participating or not participating in mating flights. Results show that in participating females (Lasius niger, L. flavus, Myrmica scabrinodis, Formica rufa, F. polyctena, F. lugubris), the amount of carbohydrates, especially glycogen, was higher than in non-participating females (Cataglyphis cursor, Iridomyrmex humilis). Similarly, male C. cursor and I. humilis which fly, exhibit a much higher carbohydrate content than do the non-flying females of these species. Furthermore, the quantity of carbohydrates stored was generally higher in males than in females for each species. These results are discussed with regard to the loss of the nuptial flight by some species of ants.