THE \u3ci\u3eANCOGNATHA\u3c/i\u3e ERICHSON (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE: DYNASTINAE: CYCLOCEPHALINI) OF ECUADOR, WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES

Descriptions, diagnoses, locality and temporal records, distributional maps, and illustrations of the 11 species of Ancognatha Erichson occurring in Ecuador are provided. Four new country records are reported for Ecuador, and a new species is described. A female lectotype at the Natural History Museum (London) for Ancognatha jamesoni Murray is designated. A key to the Ecuadorian species is included. Se proporcionan descripciones, diagnosis, localidades y meses de colecta, mapas de distribuci´on e ilustraciones de las 11 especies de Ancognatha Erichson que se encuentran en Ecuador. Se reportan cuatro registros nuevos para el pa´ıs y se describe una especie nueva. Se designa el lectotipo hembra de Ancognatha jamesoni Murray del Natural History Museum (Londres). Se incluye una clave para las especies ecuatorianas

Epidemiology of Chagas disease in Ecuador. A brief review

Chagas disease is a complex public health problem that has been underestimated in Ecuador. Here we review the relevant published information, and present unpublished and new data that help to understand the current Chagas disease epidemiological situation and its evolution in the country. Three main characteristics have been identified: (i) persistence of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in already known foci; (ii) a marked endemicity in some urban areas of Guayaquil; and (iii) the transformation of new Amazon foci into truly endemic areas. The situation in other suspect areas remains uncertain. Five Triatominae species have been implicated in the transmission of T. cruzi to people in Ecuador (Triatoma dimidiata, Rhodnius ecuadoriensis, R. pictipes, R. robustus and Panstrongylus geniculatus), but some others may also play a role in some areas (P. rufotuberculatus, P. howardi, T. carrioni and P. chinai). Other Triatominae reported seem to have little or no epidemiological relevance (T. venosa, T. dispar, Eratyrus mucronatus, E. cuspidatus, P. lignarius and Cavernicola pilosa). High frequency of acute cases and severe chronic disease has been observed. Although cardiomyopathy is more frequent, serious digestive disease is also present. It is estimated that around 120,000-200,000 people may be infected. 2.2 to 3.8 million people are estimated to live under transmission risk conditions

LARVAL DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE NEOTROPICAL GENUS \u3ci\u3ePLATYCOELIA\u3c/i\u3e (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE: RUTELINAE: ANOPLOGNATHINI)

The larvae of Platycoelia gaujoni Ohaus and Platycoelia lutescens Blanchard (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) are described. These are the first descriptions of Neotropical Anoplognathini larvae. The character states shared by larval Platycoelia and two previously described Australian Anoplognathini larvae are examined. Character states that separate known Anoplognathini larvae from other Rutelinae tribes are also discussed. Se describen las larvas de Platycoelia gaujoni Ohaus y Platycoelia lutescens Blanchard (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae). Esta es la primera descripcio´n de las larvas de Anoplognathini neotropicales. Se examinan los estados de los caracteres compartidos entre las larvas de Platycoelia y las larvas de dos especies australianas de Anoplognathini, previamente descritas. Se discuten los estados de los caracteres que distinguen a las larvas de los Anoplognathini conocidos de otras tribus de Rutelinae

Taxonomic review of \u3ci\u3ePlatycoelia lutescens\u3c/i\u3e Blanchard (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini) and a description of the use of this species as food by the people of the Ecuadorian highlands.

Platycoelia lutescens Blanchard (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini), a species that occurs in the Andes Mountains of South America, is redescribed. Platycoelia albescens (Bates) and P. baronis (Ohaus) are considered new synonyms of P. lutescens. A lectotype is designated for P. albescens. The use of this species as a food source by the people of the Ecuadorian highlands is discussed

Epidemiology of Chagas Disease in Ecuador. A Brief Review

Chagas disease is a complex public health problem that has been underestimated in Ecuador. Here we review the relevant published information, and present unpublished and new data that help to understand the current Chagas disease epidemiological situation and its evolution in the country. Three main characteristics have been identified: (i) persistence of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in already known foci; (ii) a marked endemicity in some urban areas of Guayaquil; and (iii) the transformation of new Amazon foci into truly endemic areas. The situation in other suspect areas remains uncertain. Five Triatominae species have been implicated in the transmission of T. cruzi to people in Ecuador (Triatoma dimidiata, Rhodnius ecuadoriensis, R. pictipes, R. robustus and Panstrongylus geniculatus), but some others may also play a role in some areas (P. rufotuberculatus, P. howardi, T. carrioni and P. chinai). Other Triatominae reported seem to have little or no epidemiological relevance (T. venosa, T. dispar, Eratyrus mucronatus, E. cuspidatus, P. lignarius and Cavernicola pilosa). High frequency of acute cases and severe chronic disease has been observed. Although cardiomyopathy is more frequent, serious digestive disease is also present. It is estimated that around 120,000-200,000 people may be infected. 2.2 to 3.8 million people are estimated to live under transmission risk conditions