New Species and New Records of Dexosarcophaga Townsend (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) from Brazil with a Key to Species of the Subgenus Bezzisca

Dexosarcophaga tupinamba n. sp. is described based on male specimens from the Brazilian states of Pará and Maranhão; Dexosarcophaga bermudezi Silva & Mello-Patiu is newly recorded from Pará and South America; and Dexosarcophaga avispaensis Mello is newly recorded from Pará (new to Brazil). The Brazilian species Dexosarcophaga limitata (Lopes) and Dexosarcophaga pusilla (Lopes) are both recorded from Pará, which are new records from the Brazilian Amazon, Dexosarcophaga aurifacies (Lopes) is newly recorded from the state of Alagoas and Dexosarcophaga carvalhoi (Lopes) is newly recorded from the states of Mato Grosso, Maranhão, and Pará. A key to the identification of males of the subgenus Bezzisca is provided.     

A new species of Litopeltis Hebard, 1920 from Rio de Janeiro,Brazil (Blattodea,Blaberidae, Epilamprinae) with a key to males and geographical distribution of the remaining species of the genus

This contribution describes a new species of Litopeltis from Brazil, L. teresopolitensis sp. n., which shows similarities with L. paineirensis Lopes & Oliveira, 2010 and L. ribeiropretano Lopes & Oliveira, 2010. It differs in characters of morphology genitalia and configuration, with the median sclerite bearing microspines on the sclerotic apex. A map showing the geographic distribution of the Brazilian species and a key to males of the other species of the genus are also presented.     

Phlebotomine sandflies in Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu, Minas Gerais state, Brazil

We surveyed the phlebotomine fauna in the Parque Nacional Cavernas do Perua?u, Minas Gerais, Brazil, aiming to associate the presence of vector with the risk of leishmaniasis transmission. Field captures were performed with CDC light traps between February and March 2003. A total of 436 sand flies were captured, belonging to 14 species. The predominant species (28.7%) was Lutzomyia ischnacantha Martins, Souza e Falc?o, followed by L. renei (27,06%) and L. cavernicola (13,07%). The finding of L. intermedia, a species that is incriminated as vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis, has to be taken into account.     

Out of South America: phylogeny of non‐biting midges in the genus Labrundinia suggests multiple dispersal events to Central and North America

Non‐biting midges of the genus Labrundinia (Chironomidae: Tanypodinae) are minute dipterans with immature stages living in a variety of unpolluted water bodies, from small streams and ponds to lakes and bays. Extensively recorded in ecological studies, the genus comprises 39 species, all except one described from areas outside the Palearctic region. Internal structure among Labrundinia species was postulated by S. S. Roback, who recognized four species groups based on morphological characters of immature stages. We examined phylogenetic relationships among known Labrundinia species using partial DNA sequences of the nuclear protein‐coding gene CAD and morphological characters. Both analyses with Bayesian inference and parsimony methods recovered the monophyly of Labrundinia, strongly supported by five morphological synapomorphies. Internal relationships within the genus partly supported Roback's species groups with the addition of later described species. Biogeographical inferences were obtained by applying Bayesian binary MCMC (BBM) analysis and favoured a scenario where Labrundinia had its initial diversification in the Neotropical region and that current presence in the Nearctic region and southern South America is due to subsequent dispersal.     

Polymorphism and genetic diversity of Isospora parnaitatiaiensis Silva,Rodrigues, Lopes,Berto, Luz,Ferreira & Lopes, 2015 (Eimeriidae) from antbirds (Thamnophilidae) in Brazil

Systematic Parasitology - Isospora parnaitatiaiensis Silva, Rodrigues, Lopes, Berto, Luz, Ferreira & Lopes, 2015 was identified from a new host, the plain antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis...     

关于几个叶肢介化石属名的注解

Bean(1836)在上个世纪曾描述过英国约克郡北部斯卡伯勒附近格里斯托普湾(Gristhorpe Bay)中侏罗统巴柔阶(相当 E.(o.) sauzei带)克洛顿组(Cloughton Formation)格里斯托普层的一些化石,包括双壳类 Unio distortus Bean, 介形类 Cypris concentrica Bean 和 Cypris arcuata Bean (Cypris M?ller, 1776). 嗣后不久, Jones(1862)认为 C.concentrica 是一个叶肢介化石并将这个种归入了 Estheria R?ppell, 1837.本世纪50年代,苏联学者诺沃日     

The species composition of the nemertean genus Oerstedia (Nemertea: Hoplonemertea) in the Far Eastern seas of Russia

According to the literature, six species of nemerteans of the Oerstedia genus occur in the Far Eastern seas of Russia. The results of genetic (28S) and allozyme (11 loci) analysis revealed that O. oculata (Kulikova, 1987), O. zebra (Chernyshev, 1993) and O. valentinae (Chernyshev, 1993) are junior synonyms of O. polyorbis Iwata, 1954, while O. phoresiae (Kulikova, 1987) is a valid species. The species validity of O. dorsalis sensu Iwata, 1954 was also corroborated. New data on the variability and distribution of certain nemerteans are furnished.     

Description of Culicoides (Mataemyia) felippebauerae sp. n., Forcipomyia musae immatures, and occurrence of F. genualis, breeding in banana stems in Brazilian Amazonia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The following three species of Ceratopogonidae were collected breeding in the rhizomatous herb Phenakospermum guyannense Endl., 1833 in the vicinity of Manaus, Brazil, a new species, Culicoides (Mataemyia) felippebauerae Spinelli, Forcipomyia (Forcipomyia) genualis (Loew), and F. (Phytohelea) musae Clastrier & Dellécole. C. (M.) felippebauerae is described and illustrated as adult, pupa, and fourth instar larva, the adult compared with the adult of C. barthi Taveres and Souza and larva and pupa with those of C. dicrourus Wirth & Blanton and C. macieli Tavares & Ruiz, the only species with known immatures in the subgenus. The pupa and fourth instar larva of F. (P.) musae are described and illustrated and compared with immatures of F. (P.) edwardsi Saunders.     

A new Swartzia (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae: Swartzieae) species with trimorphic stamens from Amazonian Brazil

A new species Swartzia trimorphica Mansano & A. L. Souza (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Swartzieae) from the Amazonian Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new species is notable and distinct from all the other species of Swartzia by its highly unusual trimorphic stamens, while the other species have either an isomorphic or a dimorphic androecium. The new species is included in the section and subsection Swartzia , ser. Orthostylae based on its bracteolate pedicels, the cauligerous inflorescences, lateral style and the relative size of the ovary compared to the style. The atypically small gynoecium in the material suggests the possibility that flowers may be functionally unisexual. Field observations and more collections are needed to resolve this question.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 147 , 235–238.     

五种淡水吸管虫原生动物中国新纪录种的描述

对采自于中国洞庭湖和汉阳墨水湖氧化沟的5种吸管虫做了形态学报道,均为国内新纪录:靴状盘吸管虫Discophrya cothurnata(Weisse,1847-1848)Lachmann,1859;粗壮盘吸管虫Discophrya robusta Nozawa,1938;长柄球吸管虫Metacineta macrocaulis(Stokes,1887)Matthes,1954;圆形放射吸管虫Heliophrya rotunda(Hentschel,1916)Matthes,1954和孟加拉锤吸管虫Tokophrya bengalensis Ghosh,1929.     

A new genus and species for the first recorded cave-dwelling Cavernicola (Platyhelminthes) from South America

Species diversity of Brazilian cave fauna has been seriously underestimated. A karst area located in Felipe Guerra, northeastern Brazil, which is a hotspot of subterranean diversity in Brazil, has revealed more than 20 troglobitic species, most of them still undescribed. Based on recent samplings in this karst area, we document the occurrence of the suborder Cavernicola (Platyhelminthes) in South American hypogean environments for the first time and describe a new genus and species for this suborder. Hausera Leal-Zanchet & Souza, gen. n. has features concordant with those defined for the family Dimarcusidae. The new genus is characterized by two unique features, viz. an intestine extending dorsally to the brain and ovovitelline ducts located dorsally to the nerve cords, which is complemented by a combination of other characters. The type-specimens of Hausera hauseri Leal-Zanchet & Souza, sp. n. are typical stygobionts, unpigmented and eyeless, and they may constitute an oceanic relict as is the case of other stygobiotic invertebrates found in this karst area in northeastern Brazil.     

湖南鳞(虫兆)属种类记述(弹尾目,鳞(虫兆)科)

记述采自湖南省的弹尾目Collembola鳞(虫兆)科Tomoceridae鳞(虫兆)属Tomocerus 3种,包括2新种:六斑鳞(虫兆)Tomocerus(Tomocerus)hexipunctatus sp. nov.和多毛鳞(虫兆)Tomocerus(Tomocerus)multisetus sp. nov.和1个已知种T.(T.)kinoshitai Yosii,1954.     

Comparative reproductive biology of the social parasite Acromyrmex ameliae de Souza, Soares & Della Lucia and of its host Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Social parasites exhibit several characteristics that allow them to exploit their host species efficiently. The smaller size of parasite species is a trait commonly found in ants. In this work, we investigated several aspects of the reproductive biology of Acromyrmex ameliae De Souza, Soares & Della Lucia, a recently discovered parasite of Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus Forel. Sexuals of A. ameliae are substantially smaller than those from host species. Parasite queens laid significantly less worker eggs than host queens and inhibit sexual production of the host. The sex ratio of parasite species is highly female biased. Interestingly, we have observed parasite coupling on the laboratory, inside the nests and in the ground, opening the possibility to use controlled mating to study genetic approaches of parasitism in the ants.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prohatschekia</Emphasis> Nunes-Ruivo, 1954 (Copepoda: Hatschekiidae) parasitic on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scorpaena elongata</Emphasis> (Cadenat) off Algeria

A new species of parasitic copepod, Prohatschekia mediterranea n. sp. (Siphonostomatoida: Hatschekiidae), is described from a scorpaenid fish, Scorpaena elongata, collected off Algeria. This is the seventh species of Prohatschekia Nunes-Ruivo, 1954 to be described and the first record of the genus from the Mediterranean Sea. The new species is most closely related to P. cremouxi Nunes-Ruivo, 1954, known from a congeneric host collected in Senegal. A key is provided to distinguish the new species from other members of the genus.     

Demonstration of the activation of prodrug CB 1954 using human DT-diaphorase mutant Q104Y-transfected MDA-MB-231 cells and mouse xenograft model

The rat form of DT-diaphorase (NAD(P)H: quinone acceptor oxidoreductase; EC 1.6.99.2) is more effective than the human form in activating prodrugs such as CB 1954 (5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide). Our site-directed mutagenesis study has revealed that residue 104 (Tyr in the rat enzyme and Gln in the human enzyme) is an important residue responsible for the catalytic differences between the rat and the human enzymes in the activation of CB 1954 (S. Chen et al., 1997, J. Biol. Chem. 272, 1437-1439). The human mutant Q104Y is capable of reducing CB 1954 at a rate identical to that of the wild-type rat DT-diaphorase. In the present study, we prepared both the wild-type human DT-diaphorase- and the mutant Q104Y-expressing MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines using the cDNA transfection method. The MDA-MB-231 cell line is homozygous for a P187S mutation in the DT-diaphorase gene and has no detectable DT-diaphorase activity. Stable clones for the wild-type transfected cells had the DT-diaphorase activity ranged from 0.1 to 3.8 micromol of DCIP reduced/min/mg of protein and the clones for Q104Y transfected cells had the activity ranged from 0.06 to 1.58 micromol of DCIP reduced/min/mg of protein. Furthermore, in contrast to the cells transfected with only expression vector that were not sensitive to CB 1954 treatment, the wild-type and Q104Y-expressing cells were capable of the reductive activation of CB 1954, resulting in cell eradication. Our data showed that cell killing by CB 1954 followed a dose and incubation-time dependent manner. It was also found that the cell survival upon the treatment of CB 1954 was related to the expressed DT-diaphorase activity in these cells. In the presence of 75 microM CB 1954, a 50% cell killing was achieved in cells containing Q104Y and the wild-type DT-diaphorase with the activity at approximately 0.67 and 3.8 micromol of DCIP reduced/min/mg of protein, respectively. These results agree well with those of the in vitro enzyme assays that show that Q104Y is significantly more active than the wild-type DT-diaphorase in the activation of CB 1954. Finally, the in vivo activation of CB 1954 was demonstrated with a nude mouse model using Q104Y-transfected MDA-MB-231 cells. These studies reveal that DT-diaphorase can activate CB 1954, and human Q104Y mutant enzyme is more active than the wild-type enzyme in the intracellular reductive activation of CB 1954.     

Life-history responses of larviparous Boettcherisca formosensis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) to larval competition for food, including comparisons with oviparous Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Calliphoridae)

Abstract. 1 The effect of larval rearing density on life-history parameters of Boettcherisca formosensis Kirner & Lopes (Sarcophagidae) was investigated. Increases in rearing density resulted in lowered larval survivorship, shortened larval development time and production of smaller, shorter-lived adults with reduced fecundity.
2. B. formosensis is larviparous. Average brood size was 17.5±1.0 (mean±M) larvae, which was much less than the average number of mature larvae inside gravid females. Females apparently produced a series of small broods, distributing their offspring over a number of carcasses.
3. Compared with the oviparous species Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann) (Calliphoridae), B. formosensis adults were larger and longer-lived, with a longer larval development time but shorter larval feeding period. However, females had a shorter pre-reproductive period, were less fecund, and had a lower life time reproductive investment.
4. B. formosensis had lower relative performance (measured by the composite index of performance, r') than H. ligurriens over the larval rearing density range, and was more sensitive to increases in density. Although the r' values suggest that the sarcophagid may be a competitively inferior species, other features which are not included in the index (such as larvipary, short larval feeding period and spreading of offspring from a single brood among carcasses) may be of significant adaptive value to B. formosensis.     

Dynamics or constancy in Sphagnum dominated mire ecosystems? A 40‐year study

Traditionally mire ecosystems (especially bogs) have been viewed as stable systems with slow changes in the vegetation over time. In this study the mire Åkhultmyren, south‐central Sweden was re‐investigated in 1997 after 40 yr of continued natural development. The results show a high degree of dynamics in a Sphagnum dominated bog and fen. Altogether 97 vascular plant and bryophyte species were recorded in the two inventories of the bog and poor fen vegetation. pH and electrical conductivity in the mire water were also surveyed. In 1997 we found 10 new species and that 8 species had disappeared since 1954 but the over‐all mean number of species per plot (size 400 m²) had hardly changed. However, 21% of the species increased and 21% decreased significantly in frequency. Most of the species that decreased in frequency were low‐grown vascular plants, most common in wet microhabitats. Vascular plant species that increased in frequency included trees (defined as >1.3 m in height) and were generally taller than the unchanged or decreasing species. The frequency of dwarf shrubs and hummock bryophytes increased too. Areas with an initial pH of 4.5–5.0 showed the strongest decrease in pH, coinciding with an enlarged distribution of some Sphagnum species. The species diversity increased on the bog, but decreased in the wettest parts of the fen, where the pH also decreased. Species with unchanged or increasing frequency often showed high capacity to colonise new plots. On average the sum of gains and losses of species in the plots in 1997 was ca 50% of the species number in 1954. The vegetation changes indicate a drier mire surface and an increased availability of nitrogen. The increased tree cover may have triggered further changes in the plant cover.