Breeding of Ornidia obesa (Diptera: Syrphidae: Eristalinae) on Pig Carcasses in Brazil

On Mho obesa F. (Diptera: Syrphidae) is usually neglected in forensic entomology, although adults are rather frequent on vertebrate carrion. In this study, conducted in southeastern Brazil in 2008, we used two pig carcasses, one killed by cocaine overdose and the other by shooting, to evaluate mainly the possible influences of the type of death on the larval development of O. obesa in the pig remains. We recorded the breeding of 218 adult specimens of this syrphid fly from the carcass killed by shooting, and none from the carcass killed by cocaine. These observations may open a new perspective for the use of O. obesa in forensic studies, considering its breeding preferences and its complete development on vertebrate carrion.

A new species of Gamasiphis (Acari: Ologamasidae) from Brazil, with a key to species from the Neotropical Region

Gamasiphis paulista n. sp. is described based on specimens representing all postembryonic stages, collected from litter and soil in Piracicaba, State of Sao Paulo. This is the first species of Gamasiphis described from Brazil. A key is provided for the separation of species of this genus known from the Neotropical Region.

Phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) of the Dominican Republic, with a re-definition of the genus Typhloseiopsis De Leon

The phytoseiid mites of the Dominican Republic are virtually unknown. In a survey conducted in areas of natural vegetation of that country, 23 species were collected, two of which, Phytoseius dominicensis Ferragut & Moraes sp. nov. and Typhloseiopsis adventitius Ferragut & Moraes sp. nov., are new to science. We report the species found in that survey, describe the two new species, and provide complementary morphological information about other species. To accommodate the new Typhloseiopsis De Leon species, a redefinition of Typhloseiopsis is proposed. A key for the separation of the species in this genus is provided.

The Effects of Host, Geographic Origin, and Gender on the Thermal Requirements of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is the vector of the bacteria that causes citrus greening and is considered one of the world`s most important citrus diseases. We examined how host, geographic region, and gender affect the thermal requirements of D. citri. The insects were reared in climatic chambers at constant temperatures of 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30, and 32 1 degrees C, 70 +/- 10% RH, and a 14 h photophase. Host plants for D. citri included orange (Citrus sinensis [Rutaceae]) varieties Pera and Natal, the rootstock, Rungpur lime (C. limonia [Rutaceae]) and the natural host, Orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata [Rutaceae]). To study the influence of geographic origin on thermal requirements, we studied D. citri populations from Piracicaba, SP (warmer region) and Itapetininga, SP (cooler region). The duration and survival of the development stages and the duration of the total development (egg-adult) did not differ significantly on the different hosts, but it did vary with temperature. Nymphs of D. citri created on the different hosts have the same thermal requirements. The thermal requirements for this species collected from the two climate regions were identical; males and females also had the same thermal requirements.

MICROORGANISMS IN ORGANIC AND NON ORGANIC HONEY SAMPLES OF AFRICANIZED HONEYBEES

This research was carried out to evaluate and compare 11 organic honey samples and six non organic honey samples, respectively, harvested from islands of the triple frontier (Sao Paulo, Parana and Mato Grosso do Sul states) and from the state of Parana, Brazil. The samples were studied for the presence of coliforms from 35 degrees C, to 45 degrees C and the enumeration of moulds and yeast, a minimum of 1.9 x 10(2) and a maximum of 1.1 x 10(3) CFU/g were observed in organic honey and a minimum of 1.8 x 10(1) and a maximum of 2.5 x 10(2) CFU/g were in non organic honey. In this studied region, the organic honey presented a microbiological quality inferior to the non organic honey.

Phytoseiid mites of the tribe Typhlodromini (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from sub-Saharan Africa

This is the ninth publication in a series on the taxonomy of phytoseiid mites of sub-Saharan Africa. Sixty-five phytoseiid species of the tribe Typhlodromini Wainstein, all of which are in the genus Typhlodromus Scheuten are reported in this paper (62 in the subgenus Anthoseius DeLeon and 3 in the subgenus Typhlodromus Scheuten). They refer to all species of this tribe known to occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Fifteen new species are described and 41 species are redescribed. Most of the reported species were collected in various habitats in southern Africa and in cassava habitats in tropical Africa. A key is included for the separation of these species.

A new flat mite (Acari: Prostigmata: Tenuipalpidae) from date palm in the Sultanate of Oman

Tenuipalpus omani n. sp. (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) is described from the Sultanate of Oman, based on adults of both sexes collected on date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae). This new species is most similar to T. eriophyoides Baker, T. pareriophyoides Meyer & Gerson and T. yarensis Hasan, Bashir & Wakil, also collected from date palm.

A new species of Proctolaelaps Berlese (Acari : Ascidae) from northeastern Brazil

Proctolaelaps bulbosus n. sp. (Acari: Ascidae) is described from adult females and males of a laboratory colony derived from a collection from Cocos nucifera L. (Arecaceae) in northeastern Brazil. This species is distinguished from other Proctolaelaps species by the absence of the setae z3 and R3, knobbed seta Z5 and long spermatodactyl.

Rediscovery and redescription of Silvaseius Barretoae (Yoshida-Shaul and Chant) (Acari : Phytoseiidae)

New collection records of Silvaseius barretoae (Yoshida-Shaul and Chant) are reported and a redescription of females as well as the first description of male are provided based on specimens collected in Argentina and Brazil.

Two new species of Tetranychus Dufour (Acari : Tetranychidae) from Peru

Two new species of spider mites (Tetranychidae) found on Solanaceae in Peru are described: Tetranychus singularis n. sp. from Datura stramonium L. and T. amazonensis n. sp. from Solanum caricaefolium Rusby.

Phytoseiid mites (Acari : Phytoseiidae) of the subfamilies Phytoseiinae Berlese and Typhlodrominae Wainstein from Peru, with descriptions of two new species

This paper reports the mites of the subfamilies Phytoseiinae and Typhlodrominae (Phytoseiidae) from Peru, providing descriptions of 2 new species, Phytoseius ortegae Guanilo and Moraes, n. sp. and Phytoseius poripherus Guanilo and Moraes, n. sp., and a taxonomic key to separate the species reported.

Phytoseiid mites of the tribe Paraseiulini Wainstein (Acari : Phytoseiidae) from sub-Saharan Africa

This is the eighth publication of a series on the determination of phytoseiid mites of sub-Saharan Africa. Twenty-three phytoseiid species of the tribe Paraseiulini Wainstein are reported in this paper. They refer to all species of this tribe known to occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Six of these species are described for the first time and 13 species are redescribed. Most of the reported species were collected in cassava habitats in tropical Africa and in other habitats in South Africa. A key is included to help in the separation of the species treated in this paper.

Redescription of Lasioseius floridensis Berlese, 1916 (Acari: Mesostigmata: Blattisociidae), with notes on closely related species

A redescription of Lasioseius floridensis Berlese, 1916 is presented based on examination with descriptive notes of primary type material in the Berlese Collection and on a study of specimens collected from gerbera leaves in Mogi das Cruzes, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil representing all postembryonic stages. This species was originally described from Lake City, Florida, USA, where it was collected from moss; it is considered a senior synonym of Lasioseius arboreus Chant, 1963 (new synonymy) and Lasioseius fimetorum Karg, 1971 (new synonymy), based on examination of primary type material of the latter two species. Examination of other primary type material also indicated that Lasioseius sugawarai Ehara, 1964 is a senior synonym of Lasioseius tridentatus Baker, Delfinado & Abbatiello, 1976 (new synonymy). Placement of L. floridensis among other of the ca 150 species of Lasioseius, based on available keys, and the need for more detailed descriptions of species of genera such as Lasioseius, confirmed by examination of their primary type material, are discussed.

Determining the season of death from the family composition of insects infesting carrion

Determining the season of death by means of the composition of the families of insects infesting carrion is rarely attempted in forensic studies and has never been statistically modelled. For this reason, a baseline-category logit model is proposed for predicting the season of death as a function of whether the area where the carcass was exposed is sunlit or shaded and of the relative abundance of particular families of carrion insects (Calliphoridae, Fanniidae, Sarcophagidae, and Formicidae). The field study was conducted using rodent carcasses (20-252 g) in an urban forest in southeastern Brazil. Four carcasses (2 in a sunlit and 2 in a shaded area) were placed simultaneously at the study site, twice during each season from August 2003 through June 2004. The feasibility of the model, measured in terms of overall accuracy, is 64 +/- 14%. It is likely the proposed model will assist forensic teams in predicting the season of death in tropical ecosystems, without the need of identifying the species of specimens or the remains of carrion insects.

EVALUATION OF FIVE SUGAR CANE PLANTERS

Brazil is the world biggest producer of sugar cane with an area of 7x10(6) hectares. Mainly the system used for planting is the semi-mechanized one, which consists in opening the furrows with a machine, manually allocating the fractioned stalks and then covering the furrows done by the machines. The great amount of human labor used in the semi-mechanized system is becoming harder to find and also more expensive, indicating the need of a fully mechanized operation. Currently in Brazil these agriculture machines industries offers six different types of fully mechanized sugar cane planters (two types of whole stalks for planting and four using mechanized harvested stalks known as billets). All of them plant in two furrows simultaneously in 1.5 m row spacing. This study analyzed five different machines and the following variables: Working Speed (km h(-1)); Effective Capacity (ha h(-1)), Drawbar Force (kgf), Draw Bar Power (in HP), Fuel Consumption (L h(-1)) and Costs (US$ ha(-1)) comparing them with the semi-mechanized system. This research also characterized the stalks for planting as viable gems number (%), non viable gems number (%) and billet length (m). And lastly the mechanized planting system is cheaper than the conventional one and none of the machines has an adequate mechanism for placing the right amount of sugar cane seed.