New and rare Schizomida (Arachnida: Hubbardiidae) from South America

One new genus and eight new species of Schizomida are described from South America: Adisomus duckei n.g., n.sp. from Brazil, Rowlandius sul n.sp. from Brazil, Surazomus arboreus n.sp. from Brazil, S. manaus n.sp. from Brazil, S. mirim n.sp. from Brazil, and S. rodriguesi n.sp. from Brazil; Hansenochrus guyanensis n.sp. from Guyana; and Surazomus boliviensis n.sp. from Bolivia. New records of Surazomus brasiliensis (KRAUS) are included and the female genitalia are illustrated

The occurrence of ecto-parasitic Leptus sp. mites on Africanised honey bees

Honey bee-mite-pathogen associations have led to the widespread collapse of Apis mellifera colonies in various parts of the world. The global trade in bees continues to expose honey bees to new pests and pathogens. Here we highlight to the beekeeping community a potential new mite-pathogen association. In South America ecto-parasitic Leptus mite larvae have been recorded parasitising adult honey bees and these mites are known to transmit Spiroplasma bacteria the causative agent of 'Mays disease' in bees. Here we provide new data and review past studies on Leptus mites and discuss the potential risk to A. mellifera this mite may pose in the future

Arachnida at "Reserva Ducke", Central Amazonia/Brazil

The class Arachnida contains 11 recent orders: Acari, Amblypygi, Araneae, Opiliones, Palpigradi, Pseudoscorpiones, Ricinulei, Schizomida, Scorpiones, Solifugae and Uropygi (Thelyphonida). In total, >570 families, >9165 genera and >93455 species are known world-wide. More than 136 families, >482 genera and >1547 described species occur in Amazonia. Data show, that almost one-fourth of the families presently known in the Arachnida and about 2% of the worlds described species are represented in Amazonia. In the forest reserve 'Reserva Ducke' near Manaus, the Acari-Oribatida represent 45 families, 72 genera and 35 described species, the Aranea 30 families, 143 genera and 295 described species, the Opiliones 5 families, 7 genera and 8 decribed species, the Scorpiones 2 families, 4 genera and 5 described species, the Pseudoscorpiones 6 families, 11 genera, and 15 described species, the Schizomida, 1 family, 2 genera and 2 described species, and the Amblypygi, Palpigradi, Solifugae and Uropygi (Thelyphonida) one species each. Most names are liste

Courtship, egg sac construction, and maternal care in Kukulcania hibernalis, with information on the courtship of Misionella mendensis (Araneae, Filistatidae)

Morphological and behavioural traits place Filistatidae basally within Araneomorphae, although some features, such as their continuing to moult after reaching adulthood, are reminiscent of mygalomorph spiders. This paper describes the courtship behaviour and other aspects of the reproductive biology of Kukulcania hibernalis and Misionella mendensis, and compares this information with that from related filistatid species and with Mygalomorphae. K. hibernalis has some unique behaviours during courtship (e.g. male lays threads on female web); other behaviours are probably widespread within Filistatidae (e.g. male uses the tarsi and metatarsi of one of his legs to rub the basal sections of the female’s legs and the sides of her cephalothorax). Some other behaviours seem more similar to Mygalomorphae than to those of other, more derived Araneomorphae. These include male construction of a large sperm web, and the positions of male and female facing each other during copulation, with the male holding the female cephalothorax lifted while insertions occur, similar to some mygalomorphs. The adult female K. hibernalis and the first instar spiderlings (outside the egg sac) feed simultaneously on the same prey, but spiderlings are also capable of cooperating during the attack of large prey. The courtship behaviour supports the hypothesis that places Filistatidae basally within Araneomorphae.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Biologí

Finding Balance in the Educational System: A Problem-Based Learning Experience

In the early 1990s the faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management became aware of the inability of students to integrate what they had learned and their inability to apply it (Zundel et al., 1994). Industry was telling them that they required graduates that were good problem solvers. At about the same time, faculty members were reading a book entitled Educating the Reflective Practitioner, by Donald Schon. The book suggests that professionals should be engaged in a process of thoughtfully doing things or reflection-in-action. As a result the faculty became interested in problem-based learning

Air dry Method For Studying Chromosomes Of Insects And Arachnids

Volume: 96Start Page: 114End Page: 11

Abundance and phenology of Schizomida (Archnida) from a primary upland forest in Central Amazonia.

There were 193 schizomids (hubbardids) collected from the soil (0-7 cm depth) during a 12 month study of a primary upland forest (37.5 +/- 16.8 ind/m(2)/month) near Manaus. They were represented by Surazomus brasiliensis (Kraus 1967) and an undescribed species of a new genus (96% and 4% of the total catch, respectively). About 68% of all specimens of S. brasiliensis inhabited the organic soil layer (0-3.5 cm depth) where monthly catches of juveniles were positively correlated with soil temperature. Females were twice as abundant as males. The lack of a distinct reproductive period and the presence of juveniles (in particular the first nymphal instar) and adults (both sexes) throughout the year indicate a plurivoltine mode of life. Few specimens were caught on the soil surface, and none were on tree trunks or in the canopy. Abundance of S. brasiliensis is compared to that of the Palpigradi (micro-whip scorpions) and Thelyphonida (vinegaroons) from the same study site

Paleozercon cavernicolus, n.gen., n.sp., fossil mite from a cave in the Southwestern U.S.A. (Acari, Gamasida: Zerconidae), with a key to Nearctic genera of Zerconidae

A new genus and species of zerconid mite, Paleozercon cavernicolus, is described from a cave in southeastern New Mexico, U.S.A. The mites were preserved (probably during the late Pleistocene) after being entrapped in mineralized waters and coated by calcium carbonate on the surface of an active stalagmite. This is the first record of a fossil zerconid as well as the first record of the family from a cave in the New World. A taxonomic key (based primarily on females) to the genera of Zerconidae from the Nearctic Region is provided

The ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of western Texas /

no.30-31 (1990

PALEOZERCON CAVERNICOLUS, N.GEN., N.SP., FOSSIL MITE FROM A CAVE IN THE SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A. (ACARI, GAMASIDA: ZERCONIDAE), WITH A KEY TO

ABSTRACT- A new genus and species of zerconid mite, Paleozercon cavemicolus, is described from a cave in southeastern New Mexico, U.S.A. The mites were preserved (probably during the late Pleistocene) after being entrapped in mineralized waters and coated by calcium carbonate on the surface of an active stalagmite. This is the first record of a fossil zerconid as well as the first record of the family from a cave in the New World. A taxonomic key (based primarily on females) to the genera of Zerconidae from the Nearctic Region is provided