Anopheles darlingi is the principal neotropical malaria vector, responsible for more than a million cases of malaria per year on the American continent. Anopheles darlingi diverged from the African and Asian malaria vectors ∼100 million years ago (mya) and successfully adapted to the New World environment. Here we present an annotated reference A. darlingi genome, sequenced from a wild population of males and females collected in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 10 481 predicted protein-coding genes were annotated, 72% of which have their closest counterpart in Anopheles gambiae and 21% have highest similarity with other mosquito species. In spite of a long period of divergent evolution, conserved gene synteny was observed between A. darlingi and A. gambiae. More than 10 million single nucleotide polymorphisms and short indels with potential use as genetic markers were identified. Transposable elements correspond to 2.3% of the A. darlingi genome. Genes associated with hematophagy, immunity and insecticide resistance, directly involved in vector–human and vector–parasite interactions, were identified and discussed. This study represents the first effort to sequence the genome of a neotropical malaria vector, and opens a new window through which we can contemplate the evolutionary history of anopheline mosquitoes. It also provides valuable information that may lead to novel strategies to reduce malaria transmission on the South American continent. The A. darlingi genome is accessible at www.labinfo.lncc.br/index.php/anopheles-darlingi.

Resumo.A broca-do-café, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) é responsável por grandes prejuízos em plantios de café, causando perdas de produtividade aos cafeicultores e danos quantitativos e qualitativos aos grãos. O controle biológico da praga tem sido principalmente à base de fungos entomopatogênicos. Em Rondônia, Brasil, as informações acerca dos parasitoides de H. hampei são escassas. O parasitoide Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem é um inimigo natural da broca do café e já é utilizado como agente de controle biológico em países da África e da América Latina. Constatou-se a presença desse parasitoide em cafezais de Rondônia. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar os níveis de ocorrência e parasitismo do parasitóide em uma plantação de café no município de Ouro Preto D'Oeste, Estado de Rondônia. Foram analisados semanalmente frutos de café coletados diretamente das plantas e caídos sobre o solo, de janeiro a dezembro de 2004. Observou-se a ocorrência do parasitoide durante os meses de maior infestação da praga. Durante o período estudado, a taxa de parasitismo nos diferentes microambientes variou de 2 a 24%.Palavras-Chave: Ectoparasitoide; Ocorrência; Parasitismo; Vespa da Costa do Marfim. Parasitism in the Population of the Coffee Berry Borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) by the Parasitoid Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae)Abstract. The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) attacks coffee plantations, greatly decreasing the production of coffee plants, causing quantitative and qualitative damage to the grains. Biological control of this pest has focused mostly on entomopathogenic fungi. In the state of Rondonia, studies on parasitism levels of the parasitoids of H. hampei are scarce. The parasitoid Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem is a natural enemy of the coffee berry borer and is already used as an agent of biological control in countries of Africa and Latin America. The objective of the present study was to investigate the occurrence and parasitism levels of the parasitoid in a coffee plantation in the municipality of Ouro Preto D'Oeste, State of Rondonia. Coffee beans collected directly from the plants and on the ground were analyzed weekly from January to December 2004. Parasitoid occurred in months of the highest pest infestation. During the studied period, parasitism rate in different microenvironments ranged from 2 to 24%.

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