Riqueza e Distribuição de Espécies de Borrachudos (Diptera: Simuliidae) na Região da Chapada Diamantina, BA

Taxonomically, blackflies (Simuliidae) are among the best-known aquatic insects in Brazil. However, information on their distribution is lacking for many regions. We sampled simuliids in 50 streams in the Chapada Diamantina region, State of Bahia, located in three distinct geographical areas, 20 at Lençóis, 18 at Mucugê, and 12 at Rio de Contas. We analyzed simuliid species richness and distribution in the Chapada Diamantina area as a whole, as well as in each of the three distinct geographical areas. We collected 20 species, three of which were not yet described and two were described after our sampling. The three areas are distinct in relation to environmental variables, mainly owing to differences in altitude and water pH. Four species were restricted to Rio de Contas, while four other species were restricted to Mucugê. Sixteen species were present in Mucugê and fifteen in Rio de Contas. Only twelve species were present in Lençóis, despite the higher sampling effort. Rio de Contas appears to be the area that harbors the highest species richness. Species richness was related to environmental factors only when evaluated on a small spatial scale (i.e. when each area was analyzed separately). Although we have not tested for causal relationships, our findings agree with other studies that showed that pH and altitude are important factors with which species richness and species distribution appear to be associated

Larval description of Simulium (Notolepria) cuasiexiguum and Simulium (Chirostilbia) obesum and new records of black fly species (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil

We describe the larval stage of Simulium cuasiexiguum Shelley, Luna Dias, Maia-Herzog & Lowry and Simulium obesum Vulcano and provide new distribution records of four black fly species in the State of São Paulo (Simulium cuasiexiguum, Simulium metallicum s.l. Bellardi, Simulium stellatum Gil Azevedo, Figueró & Maia-Herzog and Simulium oyapockense s.l. Floch & Abonnenc) and three species in the State of Minas Gerais (Simulium duodenicornium Pepinelli, Hamada & Trivinho-Strixino, Simulium obesum and Lutzsimulium pernigrum Lutz)

New records of Simuliidae (Diptera, Nematocera) in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Adult and immature Simuliidae were studied in 31 streams of 8 regions of the State of São Paulo. Among the 25 species collected, seven are new records for the State of São Paulo, and one of them, Simulium shewellianum Coscarón, 1985 for Brazil as well

Imaturos de Simuliidae (Diptera, Nematocera) e caracterização de seus criadouros no Parque Estadual Intervales, SP, Brasil

Larvas e pupas de Simuliidae foram coletadas em seis córregos do Parque Estadual Intervales em dois períodos (agosto/2001 e fevereiro/2002). Ao todo, 13 espécies foram identificadas. S. nogueirai e S. subclavibranchium foram as espécies mais freqüentes e abundantes. Um maior número de larvas e pupa foi coletado na estação chuvosa (fevereiro/2002) em substratos orgânicos (folhas, galhos e troncos).Larvae and pupae of Simuliidae species living in Parque Estadual Intervales streams were collected in two periods (August/2001 and February/2002) in six streams of the Rio Ribeira basin segment inside the biological reserve. Thirteen species were identified. S. nogueirai and S. subclavibranchium were the most frequent and abundant species. The Simuliidae abundance was higher in the wet season (February/2002) and in organic substrates (leaves, woods, stems)

Distribution of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil

Entre os anos de 2004 e 2008 foram realizadas coletas de Simuliidae em várias localidades no Estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil. No total, 66 córregos e rios das doze principais bacias hidrográficas do estado foram amostrados. Dezessete espécies foram coletadas, sendo que nove delas representam ocorrências novas para o estado (Simulium pertinax, S. jujuyense, S. rubrithorax, S. subnigrum, S. travassosi, S. spinibranchium, S. hirtipupa, S. lutzianum e S. anamariae), duplicando o número de espécies conhecidas no estado.We conducted a freshwater survey from 2004 to 2008 in several localities of Espírito Santo, Brazil. In total, 66 streams and rivers were sampled in the 12 hydrographic basins of the state. We collected and identified 17 species of which nine represent new records (Simulium pertinax, S. jujuyense, S. rubrithorax, S. subnigrum, S. travassosi, S. spinibranchium, S. hirtipupa, S. lutzianum e S. anamariae). These findings doubled the number of records of black fly species to the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil

Simulium (Inaequalium) marins, a new species of black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) from inselbergs in Brazil

A new species of black fly, Simulium (Inaequalium) marins (Diptera: Simuliidae), is described based on the male, female, pupa and larva. This new species was collected from two localities: a small stream on the Pico dos Marins, a high mountain with granite outcrops in Piquete County, state of São Paulo, and in a small stream in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Distribution of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil

Entre os anos de 2004 e 2008 foram realizadas coletas de Simuliidae em várias localidades no Estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil. No total, 66 córregos e rios das doze principais bacias hidrográficas do estado foram amostrados. Dezessete espécies foram coletadas, sendo que nove delas representam ocorrências novas para o estado (Simulium pertinax, S. jujuyense, S. rubrithorax, S. subnigrum, S. travassosi, S. spinibranchium, S. hirtipupa, S. lutzianum e S. anamariae), duplicando o número de espécies conhecidas no estado.We conducted a freshwater survey from 2004 to 2008 in several localities of Espírito Santo, Brazil. In total, 66 streams and rivers were sampled in the 12 hydrographic basins of the state. We collected and identified 17 species of which nine represent new records (Simulium pertinax, S. jujuyense, S. rubrithorax, S. subnigrum, S. travassosi, S. spinibranchium, S. hirtipupa, S. lutzianum e S. anamariae). These findings doubled the number of records of black fly species to the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil

Simuliidae (Diptera, Nematocera) do Estado de São Paulo

The lack of knowledge about ecology and taxonomy of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in several regions of Brazil restrict the advance of programs about population control, environmental impact assessment and conservation of biodiversity. With the aim of assessing the diversity of black fly species in the State of São Paulo, we realized collections in 151 localities, including from low order streams to the main rivers of all hydrographic basins in this State. We collected and identified 43 species, of which Simulium incrustatum, S. pertinax, S. subpallidum, S. nigrimanum and S. inaequale were the most frequent species in streams under anthropogenic influence and, consequently, had the widest geographic distribution in the State of São Paulo. Two other species were also frequent, S. subnigrum and S. subclavibranchium had its geographic distribution restrict to Atlantic Forest areas. Both species belong to the Inaequalium subgenus. The species within the Inaequalium subgenus usually live in forested streams. Four species from this subgenus showed morphological variations that became difficult its identification. The study of CO1 gene (DNA Barcode), morphological variations and geographic distribution allowed separated, partially, the boundaries among the following species: S. nahimi and S. subclavibranchium with well defined limits. S. subnigrum and S. nogueirai were not possible to distinguish and the results showed that may be a species complex.Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisLacunas no conhecimento sobre a ecologia e taxonomia de Simuliidae (Diptera: Nematocera) em diversas regiões do Brasil restringem o avanço nas práticas de controle populacional desses insetos hematófagos e potenciais vetores de parasitoses, em avaliações de impacto ambiental e em programas de conservação da biodiversidade. Com o objetivo de fazer um levantamento da diversidade de Simuliidae do Estado de São Paulo foram realizadas coletas em 151 córregos e rios abrangendo todas as Unidades de Gerenciamento Hídricos do Estado de São Paulo. No total foram coletadas 43 espécies de borrachudos. Simulium incrustatum, S. pertinax, S. subpallidum, S. nigrimanum e S. inaequale foram as espécies mais freqüentes em córregos sob influência antrópica e, conseqüentemente, apresentaram distribuição geográfica mais ampla no Estado. Duas outras espécies também freqüentes, S. subnigrum e S. subclavibranchium, tiveram sua distribuição restrita a remanescentes de Mata Atlântica. Ambas pertencem ao subgênero Inaequalium, cujas espécies são abundantes em córregos florestados. Estas, juntamente com outras duas espécies do subgênero (S. nahimi e S. nogueirai), apresentam variações morfológicas que dificultam sua identificação. Análises moleculares (DNA Barcode), morfológicas e de distribuição geográfica possibilitaram circunscrever os limites entre as espécies S. nahimi e S. subclavibranchium e inferir que S. subnigrum e S. nogueirai formam um complexo de espécies de difícil delimitação