Biogeography and karyotypes of freshwater planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Paludicola) in southern Brazil

In the Tricladida (Platyhelminthes), the incidence of different biotypes identified by several ploidy levels is very common. Planarians collected in the State of Rio Grande do Sul were identified using cytogenetics. Different species distributions were observed with respect to Rio Grande do Sul's geomorphology, which could have been caused by their different microhabitats. Girardia tigrina and G. anderlani consisted of diploid and triploid individuals, whereas G. schubarti showed diploids, triploids, and mixoploids; for all these species, individuals of different ploidies were sympatric. Only for diploid G. anderlani were B chromosomes observed. These B chromosomes seem to have an irregular segregational behavior during mitosis, and possibly also during meiosis. However the processes (e.g., selection, mutation) of maintaining 2n, 3n, and 2n/3n individuals within natural populations of G. schubarti remain to be clarified.     

Three new species,four new records and an updated checklist of Habenaria (Orchidaceae) from Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil

Three new species of Habenaria (Orchidaceae) section Nudae from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, are described and illustrated: Habenaria australis, H. kleinii and H. sobraliana. These are the first records of H. sect. Nudae for the state. Based on the examination of living and dried specimens, a total of 33 species and 400 collections of Habenaria were recorded for Rio Grande do Sul. Based on this survey, an updated checklist of the genus Habenaria for Rio Grande do Sul has been compiled. Four species are known only from this state, while seven other species are restricted to southern Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Habenaria hieronymi, previously known only from Argentina, is recorded for the first time from Brazil, and H. brachyphyton, H. ekmaniana and H. melanopoda are new records for Rio Grande do Sul.     

First record of culex (Culex) brethesi (Dyar) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

This is the first record of Culex (Culex) brethesi (Dyar) in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The species was identified from specimens collected in a sand bar vegetation with the aid of a Nasci's trap, during an expedition for surveillance of the West Nile Virus in July of 2006, in the city of Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.     

A new Brazilian species of Petunia (Solanaceae) from interior Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil

Petunia interior, a new species from interior Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, is described, and its morphological distinction from related species and features of its habitat are discussed.     

Two new species of Petunia (Solanaceae) from southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Petunia bajeensis and P. riograndensis, two new species from southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil are described, and their morphological distinction from related species and features of their habitats are discussed.     

Description of a new phlebotomine species, Evandromyia gaucha sp. nov. (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

The present paper describes a new phlebotomine species, Evandromyia gaucha sp. nov., based on seven females found in the municipality of Ca?apava do Sul, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The new species belong to rupicola series and differs from other sand flies of the genus Evandromyia due to the presence of a rounded spermatheca head with its size very close to that of the spermatheca body.     

Two new species of Petunia (Solanaceae) from southern Brazil

Two new species of Petunia Jussieu from Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul states in Brazil are described and compared with the other seven specieS. A key and synopsis of all the species of Petunia are provided     

A new species of Dendrocerus (Hymenoptera,Megaspilidae) from southern Brazil

A new species of the megaspiline genus Dendrocerus Ratzeburg is described and figured. Dendrocerus riograndensis sp. n., is known from a series of males from the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and were captured with Malaise traps from an agricultural tobacco field.     

Geophilic dermatophytes recovered from Rio Grande do Sul soil

Summary A total of 109 soil samples from a very large zone of Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil) was studied for the presence of dermatophytes.M. gypseum andK. ajelloi were the dermatophytes isolated.

---

Sumário 109 amostras do solo de uma ampla zona do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil) foram estudadas.OM. gypseum e oK. ajelloi foram os únicos dermatófitos isolados.É comentada a literatura brasileira sôbre isolamento dos dermatófitos do solo. São comparados dados do isolamento de dermatófitos do solo do Rio Grande do Sul e Uruguay — zonas fisiogeográficas semelhantes — e dos diversos estados brasileiroa — zonas fisiogeográficas distintas.

     

A new species of Lupinus (Fabaceae: Lupininae) from southeastern Brazil

Lupinus rubriflorus Planchuelo, from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, is described and illustrated. This species is related toL. bracteolaris s.l. differing in pubescence, stipules, and floral characters.     

Occurrence of Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

The occurrence of Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) is registered for the first time in tobacco [Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae)]. The specimens were collected in a Virginia tobacco field, in Venancio Aires, State of Rio Grande do Sul. Caterpillars occurred in large infestations, causing important damage to tobacco leaves, and demanding chemical control to minimize losses. This occurrence indicates that this species can feed on Virginia tobacco, which corresponds to 80% of the tobacco area of Rio Grande do Sul, and so presents high risk to become an important pest in tobacco fields.     

Microsporon canis infection in a pig

Summary The authors relate the first isolation ofM. canis from a pig in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

---

Sumário Os autores relatam a primeiro isolamento doM. canis de um suino no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.

     

Contribution to the taxonomy of Gryllus Linnaeus, 1758 in South America: Part I: Redescription of Gryllus argentinus Saussure, 1874 (Orthoptera,Grylloidea, Gryllidae)

The genus Gryllus includes 82 described species that occur in America from Canada to Argentina as well as in several areas of Africa, Europe and Asia. There are 12 species in South America, which were described in the nineteenth century based on a small number of samples and inconsistent characters such as body coloration and external morphology. The aim of this article is to redescribe Gryllus argentinus Saussure, 1874 collected in the urban areas of Pelotas, Capão do Leão and Rio Grande, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, highlighting phallic sclerites, calling song and body morphometry. We designate the lectotype male, provide a combination of diagnostic characteristics and discuss the taxonomic situation of South American Gryllus species.     

First report of Elasmus polistis Burks (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) recovered from Polistes versicolor (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) nests in Brazil

The first record of Elasmus polistis Burks in Polistes versicolor (Olivier) nests in the Rio Grande do Sul state and in Brazil is provided. A total of 173 specimens of P. versicolor and 790 specimens of E. polistis were collected from two nests from Gramado and Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil.     

Sub-inhibitory Concentrations of Antifungals Suppress Hemolysin Activity of Oral Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis Isolates from HIV-Infected Individuals

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a dimorphic pathogenic fungus, causes the principal form of systemic mycosis in Brazil. The literature furnishes only limited data on the ecology of this fungus in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of fungal infection in wild animals, using serological tests and using the animals as sentinels of the presence of P. brasiliensis in three specified mesoregions of Rio Grande do Sul. A total of 128 wild animals from the three mesoregions were included in the study. The serum samples were evaluated by immunodiffusion and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique to detect anti-gp43 antibodies from P. brasiliensis. Two conjugates were tested and compared with the ELISA technique. Although no positive samples were detected by immunodiffusion, 26 animals (20 %), belonging to 13 distinct species, were found to be seropositive by the ELISA technique. The seropositive animals were from two mesoregions of the state. The results were similar according to the gender, age, and family of the animals, but differed significantly according to the conjugate used (p < 0.001), showing more sensitivity to protein A-peroxidase than to protein G-peroxidase. The finding that wild animals from the state of Rio Grande do Sul are exposed to P. brasiliensis suggests that the fungus can be found in this region despite the often-rigorous winters, which frequently include below-freezing temperatures.     

Leinendera achaeta sp. n., a new species of robber fly from Brazil (Diptera,Asilidae, Asilinae)

The third species of the Neotropical genus Leinendera Carrera, 1945, Leinendera achaeta sp. n., is described from Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The habitus, wing and male terminalia are described and illustrated, and a key to the three Brazilian species is provided.     

Occurrence of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) on aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in wheat plantation in Medianeira, Parana State, Brazil

This paper records the occurrence of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) attacking aphids in wheat plantation in Medianeira, in the west region of Paraná State, Brazil. This microhymenoptera was introduced and released by Embrapa Trigo, from 1978 to 1992 in the wheat production region at the state of Rio Grande do Sul, what suggests that individuals of this species may show high dispersal ability.     

Ecological-evolutionary relationships in Passiflora alata from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

The geographical distribution, ecological characteristics, flowering and fruiting times, and pollinating agents of Passiflora alata are considered and related to molecular genetic data gathered simultaneously. The first report on this species in Rio Grande do Sul was made in 1934, only in cultivated gardens. Approximately 20 years later, however, the species was already classified as efferata (wild) in Porto Alegre's suburbs. The data presented here, together with the DNA investigations, indicate that P. alata is actively colonizing previously unoccupied areas of this region.