No abstract

Blood samples from 330 lizards of 19 species were collected to investigate the occurrence of haemoparasites. Samplings were performed in areas of upland (terrafi rme) forest adjacent to Manaus municipality, Amazonas, Brazil. Blood parasites were detected in 220 (66%) lizards of 12 species and comprised four major groups: Apicomplexa (including haemogregarines, piroplasms, and haemosporidians), trypanosomatids, microfi larid nematodes and viral or bacterial organisms. Order Haemosporida had the highest prevalence, with 118 (35%) animals from 11 species. For lizard species, Uranoscodon superciliosus was the most parasitised host, with 103 (87%; n = 118) positive individuals. This species also presented the highest parasite diversity, with the occurrence of six taxa. Despite the diffi culties attributed by many authors regarding the use of morphological characters for taxonomic resolution of haemoparasites, our lowcost approach using light microscopy recorded a high prevalence and diversity of blood parasite taxa in a relatively small number of host species. This report is the fi rst survey of haemoparasites in lizards in the study region. It revealed a high diversity of lizard haemoparasites and highlights the need to understand their impacts on hosts.

Three species of Corethrella Coquillett, 1902 from the state of Amazonas, Brazil are described as new to science based on female adult specimens. Corethrella cabocla Feijó, Belchior, Marialva & Pessoa sp. nov. possesses four large setae on the frons between the ventromedial area of ommatidia, a wide clypeus with 1–4 setae, a wing with the apex of R2 basal to the apex of M2 and with a midlength band, and with the abdomen entirely dark brown. Corethrella ielemdei Feijó, Ramires, Lima & Pessoa sp. nov. possesses an elongated coronal suture, four large setae on the frons between the ventromedial area of ommatidia, a clypeus squarish with 42–43 setae, a wing with the apex of R2 basal to the apex of M1 and with a midlength band and dark scales on the basal and subbasal areas of the anterior margin, legs with dark scales, and with the abdomen entirely dark brown. Corethrella menini Feijó, Picelli, Ríos-Velásquez & Pessoa sp. nov. possesses wings with the apex of R2 basal to the apex of M2 and a midlength band, with darker basal scales along all veins, basal band dark scales on C, Sc, R, M, and Cu and the abdomen entirely dark brown. With the addition of the new species, the numbers of frog-biting midges described in the Amazon basin, Brazil and in Neotropical region are now 31, 49 and 80 species, respectively.