New brazilian predaceous midges of the genus Monohelea Kieffer, and redescription of M. guaimiesi (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Two new Brazilian species of Monohelea Kieffer, M. affinis and M. roraimensis are described and illustrated, and a redescription of M. guiaimiesi Lane & Wirth is given.

Redescription of Nomimoscolex piraeeba Woodland, 1934 (Cestoda, Proteocephalidea), from the Amazon catfishes, Brachyplatystoma spp. with proposal of synonyms and invalidation of Endorchiinae and Endorchis

The proteocephalid species Nomimoscolex piraeeba Woodland, 1934, N. dorad (Woodland, 1935) and Endorchis piraeeba Woodland, 1934, from Brachyplatystoma spp., South American silurid fishes, are critically revised. It is concluded that they concern to one species, N. piraeeba. The Endorchiinae, a subfamily of Monticelliidae, and genus Endorchis are invalidated herein. The valid species of Endorchiinae, belonging to genus Muzophorus, M. admonticellia Woodland, 1934, M. pirarara Woodland, 1934 and M. woodlandi Rego, 1984, are transferred provisionally to Zygobothriinae.

Redescription of Gibsoniela mandube (Woodland, 1935) (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea), a parasite of Ageneiosus brevifilis (Pisces: Siluriformes), and reappraisal of the classification of the Proteocephalideans

The proteocephalid species Gibsoniela mandube (Woodland, 1935) from the siluriform fish Ageneiosus brevifilis from rio Paraná, is redescribed. This species was originally described from the same species of fish from the Amazon. The genus Gibsoniela Rego, 1984 is redefined and confirmed in the Monticeliidae. Comments are made on the relationships of the proteocephalid and monticelliid subfamilies.

Halipegus dubius Klein, 1905 (Trematoda, Hemiuridae): a redescription, with notes on the working of the ovarian complex

A redescription of Halipegus dubius Klein, 1905, of Brazilian frogs Leptodactylus pentadactylus and L. ocellatus, is presented. The parasite was found exclusively in the buccal cavity, in number varying from 1 (in most instances) to 3, and exceptionally 25 (one instance). Morphological data were based on 40 whole-mounted specimens and 4 serially sectioned ones. Larval development takes place in planorbid snails (Biomphalaria glabrata and B. tenagophila) and in an undetermined species of cyclops. Working of the ovarian complex was followed by microscopical observation of life specimens. Constrating with the similarity of the four American species of Halipegus currently recognized as valid, they can be easily separated by the characters of their cercariae.

A new neotropical predaceous midge, Downeshelea deanei, and redescription of Downeshelea guianae (Wirth)(Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

A new species of Downeshelea Wirth & Grogan, D. deanei Felippe-Bauer & Quintelas, is described and illustrated from a male specimen from Trinidad, and a redescription of D. guianae (Wirth) is given.

Redescription of Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) souzalopesi Martins, Silva & Falcão, 1970 (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

The authors redescribe the male and the female of Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) souzalopesi Martins, Silva & Falcão, 1970. Taxonomic remarks, geographic distribution and drawings are presented.

A Redescription of Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912), and Resurrection of L. neivai (Pinto, 1926) (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) is redescribed, a neotype is designated, and a very similar species, L. (N.) neivai (Pinto, 1926), is resurrected; the male and the female are redescribed. The two species can be differentiated by differences in the spermathecae, common ducts and number of cibarial horizontal teeth of the females and in the size and proportions of several structures of both sexes. The known geographical distribution of both species is given.

Redescription of Prosthenhystera obesa (Diesing, 1850) (Callodistomidae, Digenea) with New Host Records and Data on Morphological Variability

Prosthenhystera obesa (Diesing,1850) Travassos, 1922 from the gall bladder of Astyanax bimaculatus, Caranx gibbosus, Galeocharax humeralis, Leporinus copelandii, Pimelodus fur, Pseudopimelodus roosevelti, Salminus brevidens, Salminus maxillosus and from the new hosts, Cynopotamus amazonum and Triurobrycon lundii is redescribed, demonstrating a large morphological variation, mainly in body and testes size and shape. New hosts harbouring immature specimens of P. obesa are presented: Brycon sp., Leporellus vittatus, Pachyurus squamipinnis, Pimelodus clarias, Pseudoplatystoma corruscans and Salminus hilarii. Scanning electron microscopy micrographies, original figures and measurements of adult and immature specimens from different Brazilian hosts and localities are presented

A Redescription of Riggia paranensis Szidat, 1948 (Isopoda, Cymothoidae) Based on Thirty-two Specimens from Curimatid Fish of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with an Emendation of the Genus

Riggia paranensis Szidat, 1948 is redescribed on the basis of 30 female and 2 male specimens collected from the pericardial cavities of the curimatid fish Cyphocarax (= Curimata) gilberti (Quoy & Gaimard). The fishes were caught in the Itabapoana River, State of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. The presence of" dwarf" males, as reported by Szidat, was verified. The fusion of the pleonites and pleotelson in adult females was also confirmed. The generic diagnosis was emended to include details of the mouthparts and pleopods

Redescription of Rhamnocercus stichospinus Seamster and Monaco, 1956 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae), parasitic on Menticirrhus americanus (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae) from the Coastal Zone of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rhamnocercus stichospinus Seamster and Monaco, 1956 (Diplectanidae) parasitic on the sciaenid fish Menticirrhus americanus from the coastal zone of the State of Rio de Janeiro, is redescribed and recorded for the first time in the South American Atlantic Ocean. The generic diagnosis of Rhamnocercus is emended to accommodate the presence of confluent intestinal ceca in R. stichospinus.

Redescription of Tejidotaenia appendiculata (Baylis, 1947) (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea), a parasite of Tupinambis teguixin (Sauria: Teiidae) from South America

The species Tejidotaenia appendiculata (Baylis, 1947), a parasite found in teju, Tupinambis teguixin is redescribed and a new diagnosis is provided. The species is characterized by the anterior position of the ovary and the peculiar shape of suckers. It is the first record of this species in Brazil.

Redescription of the Male of Lutzomyia lutziana (Costa Lima) and Description of the Female (Diptera: Psychodidae)

During the course of taxonomic studies of New World phlebotomine sand flies, it was discovered that the female specimen considered to be the female of Lutzomyia lutziana does not belong to this species. A new description of the female of L. lutziana is presented, based on specimens captured in Lassance, State of Minas Gerais, the type locality of the species. The male of L. lutziana is also redescribed, based on an exemplar caught in Curvelo, State of Minas Gerais.

Redescription of Travassiella avitellina Rego & Pavanelli, 1987 (Proteocephalidea: Monticelliidae, Zygobothriinae), a parasite of Paulicea luetkeni (Siluriformes) from South America

The genus Travassiella Rego & Pavanelli, 1987 comprises only one species, T. avitellina Rego & Pavanelli, 1987; characterized by these authors on the basis of absence of vitelline follicles. In this study, the presence of cortical vitelline follicles in this species is confirmed after de Chambrier and Vaucher (1999); the redescription was performed for the first time based on type and new material collected from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Travassiella is confirmed as a valid genus, and compared to other genera of the subfamily Zygobothriinae. T. avitellina is characterized by: (1) the presence of gland cells posteromedially to suckers; (2) the particular distribution of vitelline follicles, forming lateral arches; (3) uterine primordium cortical, growing into medulla and forming a sac-like uterus; (4) eggs, irregularly oval, outer envelop with excrescences and two digitate lappets in one of the poles.

The subgenus Scaptia (Lepmia) fairchild: redescription of females and description of a male (Diptera: Tabanidae: Pangoniinae)

The subgenus Scaptia (Lepmia) Fairchild, known only from mountanous areas of Southeast of Brazil, is redescribed and illustrated. It is contrasted with similar species of Scaptia (Pseudoscione). It is more similar to the Australian Myioscaptia and Plinthina than to the other New World Scaptia subgenera.

Redescription of Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) and Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto, 1926) (Diptera: Psychodidae)

The phlebotomine sand flies Nyssomyia intermedia and Nyssomyia neivai are the probable vectors of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in the Southern and Southeastern regions of Brazil. These species form a complex, being difficult to separate between either females or males of the two members based on recognized morphological characteristics. Both N. intermedia and N. neivai are redescribed here in the search for characters that facilitate their correct identification. It was possible to differentiate females by means of spermathecal characteristics. Males could be separated with confidence by the tips of the genital filaments, which have the form of a deep spoon, the angle of the concavity being well accentuated in N. intermedia and much shallower in N. neivai.