Trichomycetes (Zygomycota) in the Digestive Tract of Arthropods in Amazonas, Brazil

Eight species of Harpellales and three species of Eccrinales (Zygomycota: Trichomycetes) were found associated with the digestive tract of arthropods from terrestrial and aquatic environments in the central Amazon region of Brazil. New species of Harpellales include: Harpella amazonica, Smittium brasiliense, Genistellospora tropicalis in Simuliidae larvae and Stachylina paucispora in Chironomidae larvae. Axenic cultures of S. brasiliense were obtained. Probable new species of Enterobryus (Eccrinales), Harpella, and Stachylina (Harpellales) are described but not named. Also reported are the previously known species of Eccrinales, Passalomyces compressus and Leidyomyces attenuatus in adult Coleoptera (Passalidae), and Smittium culisetae and Smittium aciculare (Harpellales) in Culicidae and Simuliidae larvae, respectively. Comments on the distribution of some of these fungi and their hosts in the Neotropics are provided

Diversity of biting midges Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), potential vectors of disease, in different environments in an Amazonian rural settlement, Brazil

The Culicoides transmit a variety of pathogens. Our aim was to survey the Culicoides species occurring in an Amazonian rural settlement, comparing abundance, richness, and diversity in different environments. METHODS: Culicoides were captured using CDC light traps. The Shannon-Wiener (H') and Rényi indices were used to compare species diversity and evenness between environments, the equitability (J') index was used to calculate the uniformity of distribution among species, and similarity was estimated using the Jaccard similarity index. A permutational multivariate analysis of variance was applied to assess the influence of environment on species composition. A non-metric dimensional scale was used to represent the diversity profiles of each environment in a multidimensional space. RESULTS: 6.078 Culicoides were captured, representing 84 species (45 valid species/39 morphotypes). H' values showed the following gradient: forest > capoeira > peridomicile > forest edge. The equitability J' was greater in capoeira and forests compared to peridomiciles and the forest edge. The population compositions of each environment differed statistically, but rarefaction estimates indicate that environments of the same type possessed similar levels of richness. Species of medical and veterinary importance were found primarily in peridomiciles: C. paraensis, vector of Oropouche virus; C. insignis and C. pusillus, vectors of Bluetongue virus; C. filariferus, C. flavivenula, C. foxi, and C. ignacioi, found carrying Leishmania DNA. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that diversity was higher in natural environments than in anthropized environments, while abundance and richness were highest in the most anthropized environment. These findings suggest that strictly wild Culicoides can adapt to anthropized environments

Anthropic effects on sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) abundance and diversity in an Amazonian rural settlement, Brazil

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are responsible for the transmission of protozoan parasites that cause leishmaniases. They are found predominantly in forests, but some species exploit environments that have been subject to deforestation and subsequent human colonization. Studies conducted in Brazil over the past 30 years show that some species are adapting to peri-urban and urban settings. We evaluated sand fly diversity and abundance in the rural settlement of Rio Pardo, Presidente Figueiredo Municipality, Amazonas State, Brazil. Settlement households were divided into four categories. These categories were determined by the human population density and the degree of deforestation in the immediate area. We used CDC light traps to sample the area surrounding 24 households (6 households in each category). Samples were taken on six occasions during September-November 2009 and June-August 2010. A total of 3074 sand fly specimens were collected, including 1163 females and 1911 males. These were classified into 13 genera and 52 species. The greatest abundance of sand flies and the greatest richness of species were observed in areas where human population density was highest. Our results show that changes in the human occupancy and vegetation management in rural settlements may affect the population dynamics and distribution of sand fly species, thereby affecting the local transmission of cutaneous leishmaniases. © 2014 The Authors

Anopheles darlingi polytene chromosomes: Revised maps including newly described inversions and evidence for population structure in Manaus

Salivary gland polytene chromosomes of 4th instar Anopheles darlingi Root were examined from multiple locations in the Brazilian Amazon. Minor modifications were made to existing polytene photomaps. These included changes to the breakpoint positions of several previously described paracentric inversions and descriptions of four new paracentric inversions, two on the right arm of chromosome 3 and two on the left arm of chromosome 3 that were found in multiple locations. A total of 18 inversions on the X (n = 1) chromosome, chromosome 2 (n = 7) and 3 (n = 11) were scored for 83 individuals from Manaus, Macapá and Porto Velho municipalities. The frequency of 2Ra inversion karyotypes in Manaus shows significant deficiency of heterozygotes (p < 0.0009). No significant linkage disequilibrium was found between inversions on chromosome 2 and 3. We hypothesize that at least two sympatric subpopulations exist within the An. darlingi population at Manaus based on inversion frequencies. © Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Ministério da Saúde 2016

First survey of Simuliidae (Diptera) from the North of Ceará State, Brazil, with description of a new species and identification keys for the immature stages

The first survey of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Ceará State, Brazil, resulted in the discovery of a new species, Inaequalium maranguapense, for which larvae, pupae, and pharate females are described. This new species was found in a small stream in a mountainous region near the coast. The female has a cibarium lacking the typical central elevation of the genus; the pupa has four gill filaments inflated proximally and arising from the same point; the larva has rectal papillae typically comprised of simple lobes. The following additional species were collected from Ceará State: Chirostilbia acarayense, Ectemnaspis perflava, E. nr. kabanayense, Hemicnetha rubrithorax, H. brachyclada, I. subnigrum, and Psaroniocompsa incrustata. The cibarium of E. perflava is redescribed. Identification keys to the larvae and pupae of black flies from the study area are provided. Copyright © 2005 Magnolia Press

First survey of Simuliidae (Diptera) from the North of Ceará State, Brazil, with description of a new species and identification keys for the immature stages

The first survey of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Ceará State, Brazil, resulted in the discovery of a new species, Inaequalium maranguapense, for which larvae, pupae, and pharate females are described. This new species was found in a small stream in a mountainous region near the coast. The female has a cibarium lacking the typical central elevation of the genus; the pupa has four gill filaments inflated proximally and arising from the same point; the larva has rectal papillae typically comprised of simple lobes. The following additional species were collected from Ceará State: Chirostilbia acarayense, Ectemnaspis perflava, E. nr. kabanayense, Hemicnetha rubrithorax, H. brachyclada, I. subnigrum, and Psaroniocompsa incrustata. The cibarium of E. perflava is redescribed. Identification keys to the larvae and pupae of black flies from the study area are provided. Copyright © 2005 Magnolia Press

A new species of Araucnephia (Diptera: Simuliidae) from the Northeast Region of Brazil

We describe and illustrate the pupa, larva, and both adults of a new species in the genus Araucnephia Wygodzinsky & Coscarón, 1973 (A. cearensis nov. sp.). The species was found in a highland area in Ceará State, Northeast Brazil. The pupa can be separated from those of other Araucnephia pupae based on the number of gill filaments, which range from 25 to 35 branches (versus 9 or 14), and by it being completely encased by the cocoon. The larva can be separated from those of other Araucnephia based on the presence of a median accessory anal sclerite. Adults are typical of the genus. This species extends the northern range of the genus Araucnephia, which is postulated to be Gondwanan in origin. Copyright © 2012 · Magnolia Press

Immature stages of two species of Evandromyia (Aldamyia) and the systematic importance of larval mouthparts within Psychodidae (Diptera, Phlebotominae, Psychodinae)

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are vectors of Leishmania, Bartonella and several arboviruses. Sand fly taxonomy has been mainly based on adult morphological characters and few larval characters have been used. In this work the egg and all larval instars of Evandromyia carmelinoi (= Lutzomyia carmelinoi migonei group of authors) are described, as well as the fourth instar of E. lenti, two morphologically similar species. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy were used to describe the species. The sand flies E. carmelinoi and E. lenti can be differentiated most readily by the antennae and the shoulder accessory b setae on the thoracic segments. Some information on the mouthpart morphology of Phlebotominae and Psychodinae that could be useful for future phylogenetic and systematic studies is also provided. Copyright © 2008 - Magnolia Press