Two new genera and five new species of the feather mite subfamily Proctophyllodinae (Astigmata : Proctophyllodidae) from suboscine birds in Brazil

Two new genera and five new species of feather mites of the family Proctophyllodidae are described from passerine birds from Brazil: Tyranniphyllodes pitangi gen. n., sp. n. from Pitangus sulphuratus (Tyrannidae); Atrichophyllodes delalandi gen. n., sp. n. from Corythopis delalandi (Tyrannidae); A. mentalis gen. n., sp. n. from Dysithamnus mentalis (Thamnophilidae); Anisophyllodes candango sp. n. from Elaenia chiriquensis (Tyrannidae); and Platyacarus sittasomi sp. n. from Sittasomus griseicapillus (Dendrocolaptidae). The discovery of these taxa might give data for a better understanding of the evolution of the family Proctophyllodidae in general and the dispersion of these mites on passerines in South America in paricular.

Esterase patterns and phylogenetic relationships of Drosophila species in the saltans subgroup (saltans group)

The esterase patterns of sixteen strains from four species in the saltans subgroup were analyzed using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Thirty-four esterase bands were detected. By using alpha and beta naphthyl acetates as substrates, they were classified in 18 alpha-esterases (they hydrolyse the alpha-naphtyl substrate), 15 beta-esterases (they hydrolyse the beta-naphtyl substrate) and 1 alpha/beta-esterase (it hydrolyses the alpha and beta-naphtyl substrates). Among the alpha-esterases, three were detected exclusively in males. Malathion, Eserine and pCMB were used as inhibitors in order to characterize biochemically the esterases. The results indicated the presence of cholinesterases, carboxylesterases and acetylesterases. The degree of mobility of the bands in the gels, their specificity to alpha and beta naphthyl acetates and the results of the inhibition tests allowed us to recognize tentatively nine genetic loci. Phylogenetic relationships among species inferred on the basis of the esterase patterns by PAUP 4.0 b8, with neighbor-joining search and a bootstrap analysis showed that, although the four species are closely related, D. septentriosaltans, D. saltans and D. austrosaltans are closer to each other than to D. prosaltans. These results showed to be consistent with phylogenetic relationships previously inferred from inversion polymorphism.

A new species of Ophlomisidium (Echinodermata : Ophiuroidea) from the continental shelf and slope off southern Brazil

A new species of Ophiomisidium is described and regards about reproduction are presented. It is the first species in the genus to posses, apparently,. a brooding development. Very few specimens of species of Ophiomisidium have previously been collected, but over 3000 specimens of the new species were collected on the continental shelf and slope (60-810 m depth) off southern Brazil. They were obtained during the REVIZEE Programme, the first extensive surveys to examine Brazilian ophiuroids from depths greater than 200 m.

Esterase patterns and phylogenetic relationships of species and strains included in the Drosophila buzzatii cluster

Ten strains of two species in the Drosophila buzzatii cluster (D. serido and D. seriema) were examined as to esterase patterns using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The migration rate of esterases, and their substrate specificity to alpha and beta naphthyl acetates, were analysed. Other esterase features such as inhibition behaviour, presence in males and females and location in the head, thorax or abdomen of flies, were also examined. The present data,together with results obtained by others for eight strains of D. koepferae, D. serido, D. seriema and D. buzzatii, show that 69 bands have been detected in the eighteen strains studied. This total number of bands was used for comparison of strains and species by similarity index, analysis of dependence and cluster analysis. The comparisons confirmed the existence of a high degree of similarity among D. seriema strains and among D. koepferae strains, but indicated differentiation among the D. serido strains. Two strains (D69R2 and D69R5) which differed from the others of the latter species, showed closer affinities with D. buzzatii, which indicates the need for further work on those strains classified as D. serido.

Association of two new Coryphasia species (Araneae, Salticidae) with tank-bromeliads in southeastern Brazil: Habitats and patterns of host plant use

Two allopatric species of Coryphasia (Araneae: Salticidae), both described for the first time in this study, have been found associated with Bromeliaceae in distinct phytophysiognomies (e.g., inselbergs, highland forests and restingas) from southeastern Brazil. In this study, we investigated whether these salticids were associated specifically with bromeliads, and whether they used bromeliads of different species and sizes in distinct geographic regions. The Coryphasia species were rarely found outside bromeliads, occupied larger bromeliad species among those available, and were generally more frequent on bromeliads in open areas, such as inselbergs on mountain tops. The two Coophasia species were observed submerging in phytotelmata, possibly as an anti-predatory behavior. The patterns of spatial and microspatial distribution and the submergence behavior of these species were similar to those of other bromeliad-dwelling salticids, which suggests a convergence among spiders that live on bromeliads.

CYTOGENETICS OF 4 BRAZILIAN HYLA SPECIES (AMPHIBIA-ANURA) AND DESCRIPTION OF A CASE WITH A SUPERNUMERARY CHROMOSOME

The chromosomes of Hyla fuscovaria, H. hayii and II. prasina, with 2n=24, and of Hyla sp. (aff. circumdata), a new species, with 2n=24 and 2n=25, were studied.The karyotypes with 2n=24 in the four species were very similar, with almost no differences in the size and morphology of the chromosomes. The numerical variability found in Hyla sp. (aff. circumdata) is due to the occurrence of a supernumerary chromosome in some specimens. NOR data obtained for the first time in the four species and C banding analysis of H. prasina indicate that such types of banding may be useful to differentiate species with very similar karyotypes, contributing to the understanding of chromosome evolution and the establishment of phylogenetic relationships among Brazilian Hyla species.

Stoneflies (Plecoptera) from northern Goias State, central Brazil: new record of Kempnyia oliveirai (Perlidae) and a new species of Tupiperla (Gripopterygidae)

A new species of Tupiperla, T. jumirim, is described from Chapada dos Veadeiros, northern Goias State, Brazil. Kempnyia oliveirai is recorded from the same locality.

Subfamilial affiliation of Neoscirula (Acari : Prostigmata : Cunaxidae) and descriptions of three new species of this genus from Brazil

The original affiliation of the genus Neoscirula Den Heyer to the subfamily Coleoscirinae Den Heyer, 1979 is maintained. Three new species of this genus are described and illustrated, viz. N. flechtmanni sp. nov., N. oliveirai sp. nov. and N. queirozi sp. nov.. A key to the Brazilian and South African species is provided.

Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) found in soil and litter from Atibaia, State of São Paulo, Brazil, with description of two new species

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A new species of Hypsiboas from the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil (Amphibia : Anura : Hylidae)

We describe a new species of Hypsiboas of the Hypsiboas pulchellus species group from highland streams of the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. Vocalizations, egg-mass, and tadpole are also described. We compared the new species with other species of the Hypsiboas pulchellus species group. The new species is most similar to Hypsiboas semiguttatus, its sister species, and Hypsiboas curupi, from which it differs in advertisement call and larval morphology. We provide information on natural history, phylogenetic relationships, embryos, geographic distribution, and conservation.

Adenopygus: a new genus and two new species of Luzarinae cricket of Brazilian Atlantic Forest (Orthoptera: Grylloidea)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Anomaloterga mantiqueirae: a new genus and species of Strogulomorphini from the Mantiqueira fault escarpment, Brazil (Orthoptera, Phalangopsidae, Strogulomorphini).

A new genus and species of cricket, Anomaloterga mantiqueirae, here described, is the first representative of Strogulomorphini to be reported from Brazil. The specimens were collected at night from the lower portions of live tree trunks in a summit forest located on the Mantiqueira Fault Escarpment, State of São Paulo.

A new species of Galendromus (Acari : Phytoseiidae): A case of intraspecific variation and redefinition of carinulatus species group

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Two new species of the cricket genus Eidmanacris and a new combination name for a third species (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Phalangopsidae)

Two new species of the genus Eidmanacris are described (E. bidentata and E. corumbatai) and a new combination name ( E. alboannulata) is assigned for the species Arachnomimus alboannulatus Piza, 1960 (= E. bicornis Mesa & Mello, 1985). Morphological and karyologycal information are provided, and the structure of the genital sclerites is discussed. [KEY WORDS: Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Phalangopsidae, Eidmanacris, cricket, phallic sclerites, chromosomes].

Adenocalymma ubatubensis Assis and Semir, a new species of Bignoniaceae from Ubatuba, Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Adenocalymma ubatubensis, a new species from southeastern coastal Brazil, is described and illustrated. The species is distinguished by its large pseudostipules and calyx without nectaries.