Mauritinus seferi Bondar, 1960: bionomy, description of immature stages and redescription of adult (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

Mature larvae of Mauritinus seferi Bondar, 1960 were collected in the mesocarp of murity palm (Mauritia flexuosa Linnaeus), in the State of Pará, Brazil. Larvae were reared to pupa and adults in the laboratory. Mature larva and pupa are described and adult redescribed. Adult and immature are illustrated for the first time. Observations about bionomy are included and discussed.

Ciclo biológico de Calacarus heveae Feres, 1992 (Acari, Eriophyidae)

Calacarus heveae Feres, 1992 is an Eriophyidae mite described from rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) in the northwest region of the State of São Paulo. This mite prefers the adaxial face of the folioles and it can reduce the brightness of the leaves, turning them progressively yellow and brownish, and consequently premature fall. The aim of this work was to study the biology of C. heveae in laboratory, on detached rubber tree folioles. The study was conducted at 28±1 ºC in the photophase (12h), 25±1 ºC in the dark phase (12h), and 90±5% relative humidity. The study was initiated with a total of 59 eggs. The average duration of egg, larva and nymph stages was 5.8, 2.0 and 1.4 days, respectively. The period from egg to adult lasted 9.3 days, and the average periods of pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition, 1.8, 6.1 and 1.2 days, respectively. The average longevity of the adult male was ca. 4.0 days, while the longevity adult female was about 8.4 days. The average daily oviposition rate was 2.3 egg per female while the average fecundity was 16.2 eggs per female.

The oceanic base of slope record of the Permian-Triassic crisis: view from Tethys (Oman)

The Oman Mountains provide some of the best sections of Permian and Triassic sediments from ocean sea floor to base-of-slope environments related to the distal South Tethyan margin. The central part of the range exposes the Buday'ah section of oceanic sediments in the so-called "Hawasina allochtons". The locality of Wadi Maqam in the north-western part of the Oman Mountains is among places where the thick Permian-Triassic base-of-slope sediments is exposed (Baud et al., 2001). Overlying 400 m of middle Permian limestones and dolomites, the upper Permian sediments consist of 50 m of ≈ 10 cm thick beds of cherts and dolomites rich in sponge spicules. The top of the Permian units is well bioturbated lime mudstone-wackestone, devoid of cherts and dated as late Changhsingian (Krystyn in Richoz et al., 2005). The boundary yellow shales are overlain by very thinly bedded, laminated microbial platy lime mudstone with H. parvus. The dramatic loss of the burrowing infauna indicates the appearance of oxygen-poor water. These Induan sediments are about 25 m thick and show at the top the first calcirudites, commonly clast-supported (edge-wise conglomerates), and are characterized by tabular clasts representing the sub- in situ reworking of the laminated, platy calcilutite. The very thick Smithian overlying litho-unit (up to 900 m) marks the onset on the base-of-slope of a deep-marine basin in which carbonate submarine fan deposits developed This very thick unit consists essentially of platy limestones, calcarenites and calcirudites. It comprises mainly grey-beige calcilutite, laminated and flaggy, interbedded with sparse beds of fine-grained calcarenite in cm beds. Channelized beds of intraformational calcirudite are also part of this succession which constitutes the greater part of the outcrop available. During the Spathian to Anisian, the sedimentation changes to terrigenous mudstone and siltstone that ended with Ladinian radiolarites.

Microscopia eletrônica de varredura de duas espécies de Fannia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera, Fanniidae)

As espécies Fannia pusio Wiedeman, 1830 e Fannia trimaculata Stein, 1898 pertencem ao grupo canicularis e ao subgrupo pusio. Estas espécies são morfologicamente muito similares e geralmente são diferenciadas por uma fileira de cerdas no fêmur do terceiro par de pernas do macho. A análise com microscopia eletrônica de varredura mostrou na estrutura denominada "cellas", menor número de orifícios na superfície dorsal do ovo e, na superfície ventral, foi detectado menor rugosidade, ambos em F. trimaculata. Na larva, o estigma ou espiráculo protorácico é proeminente, onde F. trimaculata apresentou duas expansões tegumentares pequenas e sete longas de igual comprimento. Os machos de F. trimaculata apresentam uma fileira de cerdas localizadas mais externamente na faceta e, outra fileira de cerdas menores, a qual é ausente em machos de F. pusio, porém presente nas fêmeas de ambas as espécies.

Immatures of Heterispa vinula (Erichson) and Physocoryna scabra Guérin-Méneville (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae, Chalepini)

Larva and pupa of Heterispa vinula (Erichson, 1847) and larva of Physocorina scabra Guérin-Méneville, 1844 are described and illustrated. The material of H. vinula was collected feeding on Sida carpinifolia (L.f.) K. Schum (Malvaceae) in the city of São Paulo (Ipiranga and Mooca districts), and of P. scabra on acerola (Malpighia glabra L.) (Malpighiacea) in Cruz das Almas, Bahia. Larvae of genus Physocorina are described for the first time.

Morfologia dos imaturos e do adulto de Coccidophilus citricola Brèthes (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae, Sticholotidinae), predador de cochonilhas-de-carapaça (Hemiptera, Diaspididae) de citros

Imaturos e adultos de Coccidophilus citricola Brèthes, 1905 são descritos e ilustrados com auxílio de microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A larva é comparada com as de Microweisea Cockerel e outras espécies de Coccinellidae, e o adulto com duas espécies norte-americanas de Coccidophilus Brèthes.

Formation of the long range Dpp morphogen gradient.

The TGF-β homolog Decapentaplegic (Dpp) acts as a secreted morphogen in the Drosophila wing disc, and spreads through the target tissue in order to form a long range concentration gradient. Despite extensive studies, the mechanism by which the Dpp gradient is formed remains controversial. Two opposing mechanisms have been proposed: receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) and restricted extracellular diffusion (RED). In these scenarios the receptor for Dpp plays different roles. In the RMT model it is essential for endocytosis, re-secretion, and thus transport of Dpp, whereas in the RED model it merely modulates Dpp distribution by binding it at the cell surface for internalization and subsequent degradation. Here we analyzed the effect of receptor mutant clones on the Dpp profile in quantitative mathematical models representing transport by either RMT or RED. We then, using novel genetic tools, experimentally monitored the actual Dpp gradient in wing discs containing receptor gain-of-function and loss-of-function clones. Gain-of-function clones reveal that Dpp binds in vivo strongly to the type I receptor Thick veins, but not to the type II receptor Punt. Importantly, results with the loss-of-function clones then refute the RMT model for Dpp gradient formation, while supporting the RED model in which the majority of Dpp is not bound to Thick veins. Together our results show that receptor-mediated transcytosis cannot account for Dpp gradient formation, and support restricted extracellular diffusion as the main mechanism for Dpp dispersal. The properties of this mechanism, in which only a minority of Dpp is receptor-bound, may facilitate long-range distribution.

A new spermophagous species of Heilipus Germar from the Amazonian Region (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Molytinae)

Heilipus odoratus sp. nov. (type locality: Brazil, Amazonas, Manaus) is described based on adults reared from seeds of Aniba rosaeodora Ducke (Lauraceae), popularly called "pau-rosa". The species is spermophagous and develops from egg to adult inside the seeds. The new taxon is compared with the similar Heilipus draco (Fabricius, 1801). Illustrations of larva, pupa, adult and of important structures for species identification are given, including the male and female genitalia, figured for the first time for a species of Heilipus.

Revision of the Leucosphyrus group of Anopheles (Cellia) (Diptera, Culicidae)

Revision of the Leucosphyrus Group of Anopheles (Cellia) (Diptera, Culicidae). This is a comprehensive revision of 20 species of the Leucosphyrus Group of the Neomyzomyia Series of Anopheles (Cellia). Morphological description of the adults, male and female, male genitalia, pupa and fourth-instar larva are provided for each taxon in addition to bionomics, distribution data and systematic discussion for each species, including diagnostic characters. Identification keys for females and fourth-instar larvae are provided. When possible medical importance of each species is included. Illustrations of of the adults, fourth-instar larvae and pupae are provided. Distribution maps for each species are mainly based on the material examined; however, when possible published data were also used. Tables on adult character variations, fourth-instar larval and pupal setal branching are included as appendices. A neotype for An. takasagoensis Morishita and An. sulawesi Koesoemawinangoen, and a lectotype for An. balabacensis Baisas, are designated. The authorship of An. sulawesi previously cited as Waktoedi is corrected to Koesoemawinangoen.

A new genus and species of gall midge (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) associated with Parkia pendula (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae)

Parkiamyia paraensis, a new genus and species of Cecidomyiidae that induces galls on Parkia pendula is described (larva, pupa, male,female and gall) based on material from Pará (Brazil).

Bionomia dos estágios imaturos de duas espécies de Peckia (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) em suíno em decomposição em área de floresta no norte do Brasil

Descreveu-se a duração dos estádios larvais de Peckia (Pattonella) smarti (Lopes 1941) e Peckia (Pattonella) pallidipilosa (Curran & Walley 1934) obtidos em suínos em decomposição na natureza durante as estações chuvosa e seca na Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke, Manaus, Amazonas. As larvas foram colocadas em recipientes com serragem úmida e carne suína com 12 horas de decomposição para puparem. Os recipientes com as larvas foram mantidos em viveiro próximo ao local de coleta. A idenficação foi baseada nos adultos e posteriormente foram correlacionados com as larvas. O período de larva até a emergência dos adultos, na estação chuvosa, foi de 17,93 dias para P. smarti e 15,87 dias para P. pallidipilosa. Na estação seca foi de 16,05 dias para P. smarti e 15,96 dias para P. pallidipilosa. Peckia smarti e P. pallidipilosa estão sendo registradas pela primeira vez para o Estado do Amazonas e para o Brasil, respectivamente.

Descrição dos imaturos e primeiro registro de planta hospedeira de Charidotis gemellata Boheman (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae)

O ovo, a larva de quinto instar e pupa de Charidotis gemellata são descritos e ilustrados. O material examinado foi coletado no Campus do Centro Politécnico (UFPR), Curitiba/PR, Brasil; onde foram encontrados adultos de Charidotis gemellata Boheman sobre folhas de Pithecoctenium crucigerum Gentry L. (Bignoniaceae). Este é o primeiro registro de planta hospedeira para C. gemellata e também o primeiro registro para o estado do Paraná.

Morfologia externa dos estágios imaturos de heliconíneos neotropicais: VI. Dione moneta moneta Hübner (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae)

As estruturas externas do ovo, larva e pupa de Dione moneta moneta Hübner, 1825 são descritas e ilustradas, baseadas em microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura.

Larvas de insetos associadas a Clusia hilariana Schltdl. (Clusiaceae) na Restinga de Jurubatiba, RJ, Brasil

Clusia hilariana é uma das espécies de plantas mais abundantes no Parque Nacional, desempenhando um papel importante na dinâmica sucessional desse ecossistema de restinga. Esse trabalho apresenta a composição e aspectos ecológicos das espécies de larvas de mariposas encontradas em C. hilariana. Em 40 plantas, mensalmente vistoriadas, foram obtidas quatorze espécies de lepidópteros. Chloropaschia granitalis foi a espécie de larva mais abundante alimentando-se nessa espécie de planta.

Morfologia externa dos estágios imaturos de heliconíneos neotropicais: VII. Dryadula phaetusa (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae)

As estruturas externas do ovo, larva e pupa de Dryadula phaetusa (Linnaeus, 1758) são descritas e ilustradas, baseadas em microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura.