Surveys were conduced in 16 sites in the State of São Paulo to evaluate the phytoseid mite fauna on some of the most common grass species in that State: Brachiaria decumbens Stapf., Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf, Brachiaria ruziziensis R. Germ & C.V. Evrard, Melinis minutiflora Beauv., Panicum maximum Jacq. and Pennisetum purpureum Schumach. Twenty known species and one new species (Proprioseiopsis biologicus Lofego, Demite & Moraes sp. nov.) were found. Two species are reported for the first time in the American continent: Neoseiulus benjamini Schicha and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) neobakeri Prasad . Seven of the species collected have been reported in Brazil from different crops. The largest number of specimens and of species of phytoseiids was found on M. minutiflora. The results of this study indicate that grasses may play a role in agroecosystems and pasture lands, serving as reservoirs of phytoseiids that prey upon mite pests.
The Brazilian Atlantic Forest harbors the world's richest areas of land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida). Nevertheless, the number of undiscovered species from this biological unit remains seemingly high. Herein we describe Geoplana piriana Almeida & Carbayo, sp. nov. from the state of Rio de Janeiro, and Geoplana tingauna Kishimoto & Carbayo, sp. nov. from the state of Santa Catarina. Each species shows a dorsum with a unique color pattern among Geoplaninae species. Their internal morphology also differs: G. piriana sp. nov. shows a unique combination of features, including an extrabulbar, non-bifurcated prostatic vesicle, a non-folded male atrium, a horizontal, cylindrical penis papilla, a female atrium anteriorly narrowed, and lined with an epithelium with multilayered aspect. Geoplana tingauna sp. nov. possesses a prostatic vesicle constituted of a pair of branches opening into the very distal portion of a tubular, unpaired portion, a feature not seen in other Geoplaninae species
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.