An epidemiological link between biting flies and PF in southeastern Brazil is proposed, implying a possible role of the salivary proteins from these flies in PF etiopathogenesis.

We present a DNA barcoding study of Neotropical odonates from the Upper Plata basin, Brazil. A total of 38 species were collected in a transition region of “Cerrado” and Atlantic Forest, both regarded as biological hotspots, and 130 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcodes were generated for the collected specimens. The distinct gap between intraspecific (0–2%) and interspecific variation (15% and above) in COI, and resulting separation of Barcode Index Numbers (BIN), allowed for successful identification of specimens in 94% of cases. The 6% fail rate was due to a shared BIN between two separate nominal species. DNA barcoding, based on COI, thus seems to be a reliable and efficient tool for identifying Neotropical odonate specimens down to the species level. These results underscore the utility of DNA barcoding to aid specimen identification in diverse biological hotspots, areas that require urgent action regarding taxonomic surveys and biodiversity conservation.

ABSTRACT. Immature stages of Simuliidae (Diptera, Nematocera) and characterization of its habitats in the Parque Estadual Intervales, SP, Brazil. 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).

A geometric morphometric analysis was conducted on wing‐vein landmarks on exemplar species of the family Simuliidae of the following genera: Parasimulium, Gymnopais, Twinnia, Helodon, Prosimulium, Greniera, Stegopterna, Tlalocomyia, Cnephia, Ectemnia, Metacnephia, Austrosimulium, and Simulium. Generalized least squares superimposition was performed on landmarks, followed by a principal component analysis on resulting Procrustes distances. Patterns of shape change along the principal component axes were visualized using the thin‐plate spline. The analysis revealed wing shape diversity through (1) the insertion points of the subcosta and R1, resulting in the terminus of the costa exhibiting a trend towards a more apical position on the wing, and (2) the insertion point of the humeral cross vein, resulting in the anterior branch of the media exhibiting a trend toward a more basal position on the wing. Canonical variates analysis of Procrustes distances successfully assigned all exemplar species into their a priori taxonomic groupings. The diversity in wing shape reveals a trend towards decreased length of basal radial cell and increased costalization of anterior wing veins in the evolutionary transition from plesiomorphic prosimuliines to more derived simuliines. The functional significance of these evolutionary transitions is discussed. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London

The male, female, pupa and larva of Simulium litobranchium n. sp. are described and illustrated. This new species has 12 gill filaments, as do S. duodenicornium Pepinelli, Hamada & Trivinho-Strixino, S. guianense Wise, S. hirtipupa Lutz, S. perplexum Shelley, Maia-Herzog, Lunas Dias & Couch and S. scutistriatum Lutz, but it can be distinguished from these other species by a combination of characters observed at the pupal and adult stages. DNA barcoding showed that Simulium litobranchium n. sp. exhibits more than 4% nucleotide divergence in cytochrome oxidase I from three other closely related species in the Neotropical subgenus S. (Thyrsopelma). The new species was collected in the Brazilian states of Goiás and Minas Gerais and inhabits rivers 30–40 m in width in the Paraná River hydrographic basin. Females were not observed engaging in anthropophilic behavior.

-Podonomus Philippi was recently found in Brazilian inselbergs. In this study, we used sequences from the barcode region of cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) to assess Podonomus molecular diversity from mountains in Southeastern Brazil. Our results revealed the adult female and the larvae of Podonomus pepinellii Roque and Trivinho-Strixino, 2004 and extended the known geographical distribution of the species. Moreover, we found high molecular divergence in two populations located in the Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra do Espinhac¸o mountain range when compared with the only species recorded to Brazil, indicating the possibility of two more species to be described.

No abstract

Preliminary survey of genera and species of Baetidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from São Paulo State, with emphasis in the fauna sampled in low order forested stream.Although in Brazil, there has been an increasing number of studies on Baetidae in the last years, until the present study only three nominal species have been reported from the São Paulo State. Herein, we report the following taxa sampled in 15 low order forested streams from different macro-regions of São Paulo State: Americabaetis alphus, A. labiosus, A. longetron ResumoLevantamento preliminar dos gêneros e espécies de Baetidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) do Estado de São Paulo, com ênfase em coletas realizadas em córregos florestados de baixa ordem A despeito dos avanços alcançados recentemente com relação ao conhecimento faunístico de Baetidae no Brasil, assim como na Região Sudeste, até o presente trabalho somente três espécies nominais haviam sido registradas para o Estado de São Paulo. Baseados em coletas realizadas em quinze córregos de baixa ordem localizados em seis macro-regiões do estado, os seguintes táxons de Baetidae são reportados: Americabaetis alphus, A. labiosus, A. longetron