Nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rDNA and partial sequences of the cytochrome coxidase subunit I (COI) mtDNA and white gene nDNA were obtained from specimens of Anopheles nuneztovari A collected in Macapá (state of Amapá), Óbidos, Prainha and Almeirim (state of Pará), Itacoatiara and Parintins (state of Amazonas), Brazil, and compared with previously published sequences of A. nuneztovari s.l. Results of the Bayesian phylogenetic analyses performed using either COI or combined ITS2, COI and white gene sequences suggest that An. nuneztovari B/C is distinct from specimens obtained in the Amazonas/Solimões River basin. Anopheles goeldii, currently in synonymy with An. nuneztovari, was described from individuals collected in Belterra (= Fordlândia) in the Tapajós River, state of Pará, Southern Amazonas River. Morphological comparisons of the characteristics of the male genitalia indicated that An. nuneztovari A and An. goeldii are similar but distinct from An. nuneztovariB/C by the apex of the aedeagus. In considering the results of the phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons, An. goeldii is resurrected from synonymy with An. nuneztovari. Additionally, Anopheles dunhamiis reported for the first time in Parintins. This species can be distinguished from An. goeldiiby characters of the male genitalia and molecular data.

Identification of Anopheles nuneztovari Gabaldón and An. goeldii Rozeboom and Gabaldón based on the male genitalia traits is discussed. An. goeldii is in the synonymy of An. nuneztovari, however, characters of the aedeagus of male genitalia distinguish both species. We hypothesize that An. goeldii may be a valid species, however, further studies using molecular characters, especially ITS2 rDNA sequences will be necessary to elucidate the taxonomic status of the species. An. konderi Galvão and Damasceno and An. forattinii Wilkerson and Sallum are registered for the first time in the state of Amapá.

A variabilidade genética entre indivíduos de Anopheles cruzii procedentes de mesma progênie foi estudada. As progênies foram obtidas a partir de mosquitos coletados em Morretes e Paranaguá (dois municípios do estado do Paraná, região sul do Brasil). DNA foi extraído de cada indivíduo das diferentes progênies e seis iniciadores foram utilizados na PCR. Nas análises, todos os iniciadores revelaram alto grau de polimorfismos. O estudo detalhado da variabilidade existente entre indivíduos de mesma progênie poderá auxiliar a resolver problemas taxonômicos nesse grupo, tendo em vista que diferentes padrões de fragmentos são utilizados para identificar espécies.

Genetic variation in broods of Anopheles cruzii was studied. Mosquitoes were collected in Morretes and Paranaguá (two municipalities in the State of Paraná, Southern Brazil) from which broods were reared. DNA was collected from these broods, from which six random-sequence primers were used in PCR. In within-brood analyses, all markers revealed a high-degree of polymorphisms within the broods. Detailed studies of the within-brood variability will help solve taxonomic problems in this group, since differences in fragment patterns are used to distinguish species.

Fêmeas adultas, larvas e pupas de A. cruzii Dyar & Knab, 1908 e A. homunculus Komp, 1937 são muito semelhantes morfologicamente, sendo difícil a identificação através dos caracteres taxonômicos tradicionais. Nesse estudo, RAPD e RFLP foram utilizados para facilitar a identificação dessas espécies. O DNA amplificado com os iniciadores OPY-05 e OPY-10, e a digestão da região ITS2 com as enzimas HaeIII e Sau96I geraram padrões espécie-específicos. Desta forma, através do uso desses marcadores moleculares, as duas espécies podem ser corretamente identificadas quando somente fêmeas, larvas ou pupas são coletadas, ou quando os indivíduos são danificados durante a coleta.

Adults females, larvae and pupae of A. cruzii Dyar & Knab, 1908 and A. homunculus Komp, 1937 are very similar morphologically, causing difficulty in their proper identification with traditional taxonomic characters. Here, RAPD and RFLP were used to resolve this problem of identification of these two species. Mosquito DNA, amplified with the random primers OPY-05 and OPY-10, and enzymatic digestion of the ITS2 region with HaeIII and Sau96I generated species-specific patterns. Thus, through the use of these molecular markers, these two species may be correctly identified when only females, larvae ou pupae are collected, or when individuals are damaged in the collection process.

Thermal requirements of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus Skuse, 1894 (Diptera, Culicidae) under laboratory conditions. Allochtonous species of Ae. albopictus in the American continent can be found in fourteen Brazilian states - about fifteen years had been elapsed since the first report of the presence of this species in Brazilian territory. Considering its potential epidemiological importance and its adaptation to several habitats, it was determined, for this species, the threshold temperature and the thermal constant for egg, larval and pupal stages under laboratory conditions under four constant temperatures and 12:12 hours light-dark photoperiod. The threshold temperature for the egg phase and for the first instar were quite similar: 9.07 ºC (K=214.46 degree days) and 9.23 ºC (K= 36.64 degree days), respectively. For 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar, the basal-temperature was higher, oscilating between 12.26 ºC and 13.95 ºC. The threshold temperature for the complete larval stage and for the pupal stage were 12.03 ºC (K= 99.48 degree days) and 11.87 ºC (K=32.40 degree days) for males and 11.95 ºC (K=110.11 degree days) and 11.60 ºC (K=35.30 degree days) for females, respectively.

Influence of temperature on longevity, fecundity, and haematophagic activity of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus Skuse, 1894 (Diptera, Culicidae) under laboratory condition. Based on adults of Aedes albopictus maintained under four constant temperatures, 15ºC, 20ºC, 25ºC and 30ºC, longevity of males and females, fecundity, eggs viability, number of days from emergence to the first bloodsucking, and duration of the preoviposition period were observed. The average of the longevity for female was 19.45, 59.35, 61.55 and 42.72 days, under 15ºC, 20ºC, 25ºC and 30ºC, respectively. The greatest average number of bloodsucking per female was 8.32, under 25ºC. The average number of eggs per female was 1.00, 73.91, 269.87 and 183.69, and the greatest rates of viable eggs per female was 25ºC and 30ºC. The haematophagic activities and the oviposition were significantly influenced by temperature.

Immature stages of Culicidae were collected in artificial containers in three conditions, between November 1997 and November 1998, in the rural area of São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil. Eight species were identified: Culex (Culex) eduardoi Casal & Garcia, 1968, Culex (Culex) acharistus Root, 1927, Culex (Culex) group coronator, Culex (Lutzia) bigoti Bellardi, 1962, Aedes (Protomacleaya) terrens (Walker, 1856), Limatus durhamii Theobald, 1901, Txorhynchites theobaldi (Dyar & Knab, 1906) and Phoniomyia sp. The Berger & Parker index was obtained for each condition and kind of container. These results were compared with those of Silva & Lozovei (1996) in the urban area of Curitiba. A greater number of species was observed in the rural area, with different dominance under each condition. The introduction of artificial containers can not show the number of Culicidae species that are present in an area, but it can indicate the species that show the greatest adaptability to environmental modifications produced by human activity.