Levantamento das espécies de Simulium (Diptera, Simuliidae), Riacho dos Padres, município de Almirante Tamandaré, Paraná, Brasil

De janeiro a agosto de 2002, quinzenalmente, foi levada a efeito a coleta de simulídeos imaturos em substratos naturais e antrópicos no Riacho dos Padres. O trabalho visou proceder ao inventário das espécies e verificar as freqüências relativas. A área de propriedade particular localizada na Região Metropolitana de Curitiba constitui uma microempresa de agronegócio, com criação de peixes, coelhos, ovinos, bovinos, aves domésticas e, ainda, área de lazer com eqüinos para cavalgada de visitantes. A presença constante de animais hospedeiros e a ração fornecida aos peixes garantiram farta alimentação aos simulídeos, o que favoreceu a explosão desta praga. Em todos os substratos foram coletadas 24.021 pupas e um total de 197.812 larvas. A partir de pupas, foram identificadas com as seguintes freqüências: Simulium inaequale (55,24%), Simulium perflavum (16,81%), Simulium pertinax (13,93%), Simulium orbitale (8,03%), Simulium subnigrum (4,92%), Simulium distinctum (1,03%) e Simulium incrustatum (0,04%). Verificou-se também a quantidade de larvas que colonizaram todos os substratos.

Controle integrado de espécies de Simulium (Diptera, Simuliidae) por Bacillus thuringiensis e manejos mecânicos no riacho e nos vertedouros de tanques de piscicultura, Almirante Tamandaré, Paraná, Brasil

No Riacho dos Padres na Chácara Evíssima, numa microempresa de agronegócio com criação de peixes e animais domésticos, área de lazer e salão de eventos, localizada na Região Metropolitana de Curitiba, os simulídeos em grande proliferação causaram sério impacto com as picadas a tal ponto que dificultaram o convívio habitual. De janeiro a agosto de 2002, coletou-se 24.021 pupas por meio das quais foram identificadas as espécies: Simulium inaequale, Simulium perflavum, Simulium pertinax com 85,98% e Simulium orbitale, Simulium subnigrum, Simulium distinctum e Simulium incrustatum com somente 14,02% de freqüência. O combate a estas populações iniciado em 28 de fevereiro terminou em 08 de agosto de 2002. O controle integrado consistiu na aplicação de biopesticida Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) e em manejos mecânicos não só removendo os imaturos (ovos, larvas e pupas) por meio de escovação de vertedouros, mas também pela retirada de substratos naturais e antrópicos do leito. A densidade larvária média inicial, antes da aplicação de Bti no leito do riacho (75 m) e no último vertedouro, verificada em substratos antrópicos fitilhos (área 13.500 cm²), foi de 6,7 e 11,5 larvas/cm², respectivamente. Nestes habitats, o controle integrado com Bti de 1,77 a 2,09 mg/litro do ingrediente ativo, suplementado com manejos mecânicos, monitorado em substratos fitilhos (área 20.250 cm²), resultou em redução larvar de 72,61% a 99,97% e de 74,91% a 99,45%, respectivamente, nas vazões de 0,39 a 0,45 e de 0,38 a 0,43 m³/min. No primeiro vertedouro (área 5.110 cm²), porém, só com manejos mecânicos, atingiu-se a redução larvária de 53,81% a 99,59%. O controle efetuado reduziu as picadas hematófagas ao nível esperado, surtindo o efeito positivo almejado.

Catálogo do material-tipo de Tachinidae (Diptera) depositado no Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo

Catálogo do material-tipo de Tachinidae (Diptera) depositado no Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo. O Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo abriga a maior e mais representativa coleção brasileira de Diptera. A coleção de Tachinidae destaca-se como a segunda mais numerosa, com 32554 espécimes adultos montados. No presente estudo é apresentado um catálogo de tipos primários e secundários de Tachinidae abrigados no Museu de Zoologia, fornecendo informações sobre dados de coleta, seu estado de conservação, bem como o status taxonômico dos nomes específicos e seu atual posicionamento genérico, quando diferente do original. O catálogo lista um total de 847 espécimes-tipo (99 holótipos, 737 parátipos, 8 síntipos, 1 lectótipo, 1 paralectótipo e 1 neótipo) representando um total de 263 espécies nominais de Tachinidae, predominantemente da Região Neotropical. Também são listados espécimes cujo status (se tipo ou não) foi considerado duvidoso. Uma breve biografia de Charles Henry Tyler Townsend e José Henrique Guimarães é apresentada.

Biogeographic analysis of Crocidiinae (Diptera, Bombyliidae): finding congruence among morphological, molecular, fossil and paleogeographical data

Biogeographic studies dealing with Bombyliidae are rare in the literature and no information is available on its origin and early diversification. In this study, we found evidence from molecular phylogeny and from fossil record supporting a Middle Jurassic origin of the Bombylioidea, taken as a starting point to discuss the biogeography and diversification of Crocidiinae. Based on a previously published phylogenetic hypothesis, we performed a Brooks Parsimony Analysis (BPA) to discuss the biogeographical history of Crocidiinae lineages. This subfamily is mostly distributed over arid areas of the early components of the Gondwanaland: Chile and southern Africa, but also in southwestern Palaearctic and southwestern Nearctic. The vicariant events affecting the Crocidiinae biogeography at the generic level seems to be related to the sequential separation of a Laurasian clade from a Gondwanan clade followed by the splitting of the latter into smaller components. This also leads to a hypothesis of origin of the Crocidiinae in the Middle Jurassic, the same period in which other bombyliid lineages are supposed to have arisen and irradiated.

Informational matching

This paper analyzes the problem of matching heterogeneous agents in aBayesian learning model. One agent gives a noisy signal to another agent,who is responsible for learning. If production has a strong informationalcomponent, a phase of cross-matching occurs, so that agents of low knowledgecatch up with those of higher one. It is shown that:(i) a greater informational component in production makes cross-matchingmore likely;(ii) as the new technology is mastered, production becomes relatively morephysical and less informational;(iii) a greater dispersion of the ability to learn and transfer informationmakes self-matching more likely; and(iv) self-matching leads to more self-matching, whereas cross-matching canmake less productive agents overtake more productive ones.

A synopsis of the Hydrometra (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Hydrometridae) from the Amazon River floodplain, Brazil, with redescription of Hydrometra argentina Berg

Hydrometra argentina Berg, 1879, H. caraiba Guérin-Méneville, 1857 and H. guianana Hungerford & Evans, 1934 are newly recorded in the Amazon River floodplain, Brazil. A redescription of H. argentina is also given, as the original description is incomplete. A key to the three known species occurring in this region is provided. Hydrometra argentina can be distinguished from H. caraiba and H. guianana by the body length smaller than 12.50 mm, anteoculus/postoculus ratio between 1.80 and 2.00, clypeus narrow and conical, metacetabulum with no circular pits, and projections on male abdominal sternite VI in the shape of simple spines. The other species can be distinguished mainly by the anteoculus/postoculus ratio and position of projections on male abdominal sternite VI.

Análise faunística de Calliphoridae (Diptera) da Reserva Biológica do Tinguá, Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro

O presente estudo investiga a fauna de califorídeos na Reserva Biológica do Tinguá usando como meios os índices faunísticos. Realizaram-se coletas mensais com armadilhas contendo sardinha expostas por 48 horas, nos pontos: A- borda da mata; B- 1000 metros para interior da mata; C- 500 metros para interior da mata. Objetivou-se estudar a entomofauna califorídica em ambiente florestal através de índices faunísticos. Foram coletadas 26 espécies de califorídeos ao longo do experimento. Definiram-se espécies Singletons, Doubletons, Uniques e Duplicates, intermediárias e comuns; calcularam-se riqueza e projeção da riqueza (estimadores Chao 1 e 2, Jackknife 1 e 2, Ace, Ice e Bootstrap); diversidade (Índice Shannon-Wiener); equidade (Índice Pielou) e similaridade dos pontos (quociente Sorensen e porcentagem de similaridade Southwood). Os pontos A e B mostraram o mesmo número de espécies de califorídeos (23), maior que C (16), diferindo apenas nas espécies raras, intermediárias e comuns. Em A foi registrado grande número de espécies consideradas intermediárias. Em B o número de espécies raras, intermediárias e comuns foi similar. Em C, o número de espécies raras foi menor que de intermediárias e comuns. Jackknife 2 no ponto B gerou a maior riqueza, indicando possibilidade de serem coletadas mais cinco espécies na reserva além das coletadas neste estudo, e em A e C mais três espécies. Ace e Bootstrap apresentaram-se seguros para estimativa de riqueza de Calliphoridae. A diversidade foi maior em B. A equidade foi semelhante nos pontos. B e C foram mais semelhantes em relação às espécies (dendograma): Laneela nigripes e Mesembrinella bellardiana, principais destes dois pontos aparecem agrupadas; Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya megacephala e Hemilucilia semidiaphana, principais espécies em A aparecem unidas.

Job creation under liquidity constraints: The Spanish case

This paper shows that liquidity constraints restrict jobcreation even when labor markets are flexible. In a dynamicmodel of labor demand, I show that in an environment of imperfect capital and imperfect labor markets, firms usetemporary contracts to relax financial constraints. Evidence for the predictions of the model is presented using Spanish data from the CBBE (Central de Balances del Banco de España - Balance Sheet data from the Bank of Spain). It is shown that firms substitute temporary laborfor permanent one and use less debt as their financial position improves. In particular, it is rejected that Spanish firms operate in an environment of free capital markets and of no labor adjustment costs. The labor reform of 1984, which created temporary contracts, implied to some extent a relaxation of liquidity constraints.Accordingly, firms used these contracts more extensivelyand used less debt; however, as capital markets continueto be imperfect, permanent job creation continues to beslow. Consequently, relaxation of liquidity constraints should also be part of a job creation strategy.

Firm investment in imperfect capital markets: A structural estimation

We set up a dynamic model of firm investment in which liquidity constraintsenter explicity into the firm's maximization problem. The optimal policyrules are incorporated into a maximum likelihood procedure which estimatesthe structural parameters of the model. Investment is positively related tothe firm's internal financial position when the firm is relatively poor. This relationship disappears for wealthy firms, which can reach theirdesired level of investment. Borrowing is an increasing function of financial position for poor firms. This relationship is reversed as a firm's financial position improves, and large firms hold little debt.Liquidity constrained firms may be unused credits lines and the capacity toinvest further if they desire. However the fear that liquidity constraintswill become binding in the future induces them to invest only when internalresources increase.We estimate the structural parameters of the model and use them to quantifythe importance of liquidity constraints on firms' investment. We find thatliquidity constraints matter significantly for the investment decisions of firms. If firms can finance investment by issuing fresh equity, rather than with internal funds or debt, average capital stock is almost 35% higher overa period of 20 years. Transitory shocks to internal funds have a sustained effect on the capital stock. This effect lasts for several periods and ismore persistent for small firms than for large firms. A 10% negative shock to firm fundamentals reduces the capital stock of firms which face liquidityconstraints by almost 8% over a period as opposed to only 3.5% for firms which do not face these constraints.

Insects associated with exposed decomposing bodies in the Colombian Andean Coffee Region

In Colombia, mainly classic forensic medicine methods were used to clarify crimes until 2004. However, other disciplines, including forensic entomology, started to be considered only after the New Accusatory System introduction in Bogotá and the Coffee Region in 2005. In order to provide tools for obtaining evidentiary material elements in judicial trials, it is presented here the succession of insects throughout the decomposition process of an exposed carcass of Sus scrofa Linnaeus 1758 (Suidae) and the Occurrence Matrix of colonizing species. This process was evaluated under ambient conditions in the Andean rural area of the city of Pereira, in the Mundo Nuevo district, located in a pre-montane Wet Forest area, from October to November 2006. A sampling period of 27 days and 3198 individuals were collected. We found these colonizing species in the following stages of decomposition: Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann, 1819) fresh; Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Rondani, 1850), Oxelytrum discicolle (Brullé, 1840), and Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius 1775) bloated; Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann 1819), Compsomyiops verena (Walker, 1849), Ophyra aenescens (Wiedemann, 1830) and Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 active; Fannia sp. advanced and Stearibia nigriceps (Meigen, 1826) remains. This study provides support tools to define the Post Mortem Interval that may be used by experts from government institutions and laboratories officially accredited.

Saving our science from ourselves: the plight of biological classification

Saving our science from ourselves: the plight of biological classification. Biological classification ( nomenclature, taxonomy, and systematics) is being sold short. The desire for new technologies, faster and cheaper taxonomic descriptions, identifications, and revisions is symptomatic of a lack of appreciation and understanding of classification. The problem of gadget-driven science, a lack of best practice and the inability to accept classification as a descriptive and empirical science are discussed. The worst cases scenario is a future in which classifications are purely artificial and uninformative.

On the first tachinid fly (Diptera, Tachinidae) carrying Asclepiadoideae pollinaria in the Neotropical Region

On the first tachinid fly (Diptera, Tachinidae) carrying Asclepiadoideae pollinaria in the Neotropical Region. This paper reports the first Neotropical Tachinidae species possibly associated to pollination of Asclepiadoideae: a female of Euacaulona sumichrasti Townsend, 1908 (Diptera, Tachinidae, Phasiinae, Trichopodini) carrying pollinaria of Gonolobus parviflorus Decne., 1844 (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae, Asclepiadeae: Gonolobinae) attached to its proboscis. The fly specimen was collected in Paraguay, Departamento Canindeyú. The pollinarium is illustrated and described herein. This represents the first anthophilous record to G. parviflorus and to the genus.

Veliidae (Insecta, Heteroptera, Gerromorpha) from southeastern Brazil: three new species from Rio de Janeiro State, a new species group for Neotropical Rhagovelia Mayr, and notes on distribution and synonymy

Microvelia nelsoni sp. nov., M. takiyae sp. nov., and Rhagovelia mangaratiba sp. nov. are described. Rhagovelia scitula and R. whitei are transferred from the robusta group to the new whitei group. Rhagovelia denticulata is synonymized under R. scitula. Microvelia longipes, Oiovelia brasiliensis, Rhagovelia sooretama, R. trianguloides, R. vaniniae, and Stridulivelia quadrispinosa are recorded for the first time from Rio de Janeiro State. Additional new municipality records in Rio de Janeiro State are presented for Microvelia braziliensis, M. ioana, M. mimula, M. pulchella, Paravelia basalis, P. itatiayana, Rhagovelia accedens, R. agra, R. aiuruoca, R. elegans, R. hambletoni, R. henryi, R. itatiaiana, R. lucida, R. macta, R. modesta, R. novana, R. scitula, R. tenuipes, R. tijuca, R. triangula, and R. zela. Corrections are presented for the previously published distributions of Rhagovelia aiuruoca, R. lucida, R. macta, and R. triangula.

Fixed and random effects in Classical and Bayesian regression

This paper proposes a common and tractable framework for analyzingdifferent definitions of fixed and random effects in a contant-slopevariable-intercept model. It is shown that, regardless of whethereffects (i) are treated as parameters or as an error term, (ii) areestimated in different stages of a hierarchical model, or whether (iii)correlation between effects and regressors is allowed, when the sameinformation on effects is introduced into all estimation methods, theresulting slope estimator is also the same across methods. If differentmethods produce different results, it is ultimately because differentinformation is being used for each methods.