Macroinvertebrates inhabiting the tank leaf terrestrial and epiphyte bromeliads at Reserva Adolpho Ducke, Manaus, Amazonas

The aim of this work was to investigate the diversity of macroinvertebrates and also verify if the abundance and diversity of Diptera were influenced by the abiotic factors. The samples were collected from the epiphytic and terrestrial bromeliads G. brasiliensis (1 and 3m) in wet and dry seasons at Reserva Adolpho Ducke analyzed total of 144 samples were analyzed from a total of 15,238 individuals collected. These conatined 14,097 insects and, among these, 8,258 were immature Diptera, represented by eight most abundant families: Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae and Culicidae. The relationship of Diptera diversity was influenced by the seasons and stratifications (p= 0.01); the abundance was influenced by the volume of water (p= 0.02) and the relationship between the season and volume of water in the terrestrial bromeliads was significant (p= 0.01). This study represented the first contribution to knowledge of community of macroinvertebrates associated to bromeliads G. brasiliensis in Central Amazon

Pupal respiratory complex of Tanypus carinatus sublette var. (Diptera: Chironomidae)

The thoracic respiratory organ of the pupa of the genus Tanypus is usually assumed to lack a plastron element. Little information has appealed in the literature regarding the active site(s) of respiration. However, it has been inferred that the aeropyle-like structure at the tip of the organ serves in that role. Detailed examination of Tanypus carinatus Sublette var. respiratory organs by means of the scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and light microscope indicates the presence of a respiratory complex, whose elements bear structural similarities to those of plastrons, and which covers the entire surface of the respiratory organ. The subsurface meshwork, which previously has been interpreted as only supportive in function, is shown to be tubular, and appears to be intimately connected with the plastron-like surface elements. Functional and evolutionary implications of this plastron-like arrangement are discussed