Avaliação da Morfologia dos Ovos de Fêmeas de Anastrepha sp.2 aff. fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) Preservadas em Etanol RESUMO -A morfologia dos ovos de Anastrepha sp.2 aff. fraterculus foi avaliada em amostras de ovaríolos maduros obtidos de fêmeas preservadas em etanol, de fêmeas recém-mortas e comparada com a de ovos recém-depositados. As características da ornamentação do córion, assim como da estrutura interna dos ovos recém-depositados também puderam ser observadas nos ovos dissecados das fêmeas. Fêmeas preservadas em etanol podem ser utilizadas para análise da morfologia dos ovos, possibilitando a inclusão de espécies, cujos ovos não são obtidos facilmente, nesse tipo de análise. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Córion, membrana vitelínica, ovárioABSTRACT -Features of eggshell morphology in Anastrepha sp.2 aff. fraterculus were evaluated in mature ovariole ova dissected from females preserved in ethanol, and from ovaries of fresh killed females in comparison to that of freshly laid eggs. The characteristics of sculpturing as well as of internal structure of the chorion in oviposited eggs could be observed in both samples of mature ovariole ova. Ethanol preserved females may be used as a source of eggs for morphological studies allowing this kind of analysis to species whose eggs are not readily obtained.

Introduction Individuals with visual impairments may use long canes for estimating distances and detecting gaps, obstacles, and texture patterns. The study presented here investigated whether length perception with canes is influenced by cane material. Methods Visually impaired, sighted-blindfolded, and sighted individuals (n = 30 for each group) participated in this study. Each group was divided into three subgroups (with 5 females and 5 males each) according to cane material. The canes (length = 80 cm, diameter = 1.5 cm) were made of wood, polyethene plastic, or aluminum. The participants were required to judge whether comparison stimuli were shorter than, equal to, or longer than the standard stimulus. Two sessions (for horizontal or vertical lines) were carried out on consecutive days. Results Cane material was not a significant factor influencing accuracy, F(2, 79) = 2.47, p = .091, and difference threshold, F(2, 79) = 2.01, p = .14, in length perception for the three groups of participants, but cane material interacted with orientation of stimuli, F(2, 79) = 3.24, p = .044. There were significant group differences for accuracy, F(2, 79) = 9.6, p <.001, and difference threshold, F(2, 79) = 8.8, p < .001, revealing that participants with visual impairments were better at discriminating length than sighted-blindfolded participants. Discussion Our results provide evidence that length perception with canes is not significantly influenced by cane material. The significant group differences for accuracy and difference threshold indicate that assessing visually impaired participants may be more adequate in studies aimed at investigating aspects related to long canes. Implications for practitioners Orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors can report that there is experimental evidence that cane material is not a significant factor in conveying spatial (length) information, although some evidence suggests that it is a significant factor in conveying tactile information such as the roughness of surface textures.