Abstract A new species of Diolcogaster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is described and illustrated. Additionally, its position within the recently published key to New World species of the xanthaspis species-group (to which the described Diolcogaster belongs) is provided. The gregarious larval parasitoid Diolcogaster choi sp. nov. was collected in Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil. This natural enemy was recovered from a caterpillar of Hypercompe cunigunda (Stoll, 1781) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) that was feeding on plant of passionflower, Passiflora edulis Sims (Passifloraceae). The fauna of the xanthaspis group in the New World now includes five species, including the new species from Brazil described in this paper. Diolcogaster choi sp. nov. differs anatomically, and is morphologically diagnosed, from all other known member of the xanthaspis group of the genus Diolcogaster, to which it belongs. The species also differs in recorded host, and its DNA barcode appears to be distinctive among described Diolcogaster.

Leprosy is still a worldwide public health problem. Brazil and India show the highest prevalence rates of the disease. Natural infection of armadillos Dasypus novemcinctus with Mycobacterium leprae has been reported in some regions of the United States. Identification of bacilli is difficult, particularly due to its inability to grow in vitro. The use of molecular tools represents a fast and sensitive alternative method for diagnosis of mycobacteriosis. In the present study, the diagnostic methods used were bacilloscopy, histopathology, microbiology, and PCR using specific primers for M. leprae repetitive sequences. PCR were performed using genomic DNA extracted from 138 samples of liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and skin of 44 D. novemcinctus, Euphractus sexcinctus, Cabassous unicinctus, and C. tatouay armadillos from the Middle Western region of the state of São Paulo and from the experimental station of Embrapa Pantanal, located in Pantanal da Nhecolândia of Mato Grosso do Sul state. Also, the molecular analysis of 19 samples from internal organs of other road killed species of wild animals, such as Nasua nasua (ring-tailed coati), Procyon cancrivoros (hand-skinned), Cerdocyon thous (dog-pity-bush), Cavia aperea (restless cavy), Didelphis albiventris (skunk), Sphigurrus spinosus (hedgehog), and Gallictis vittata (ferret) showed PCR negative data. None of the 157 analyzed samples had shown natural mycobacterial infection. Only the armadillo inoculated with material collected from untreated multibacillary leprosy patient presented PCR positive and its genomic sequencing revealed 100% identity with M. leprae. According to these preliminary studies, based on the used methodology, it is possible to conclude that wild mammals seem not to play an important role in the epidemiology of leprosy in the Middle Western region of the São Paulo state and in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul state.

Este trabalho apresenta dados sobre a composição de espécies e o número de indivíduos encontrados em diferentes fases de formação de um bolsão de Ithomiinae investigado na estação seca de 2004 em uma floresta de galeria do Brasil central, e testa algumas hipóteses relacionadas à formação do bolsão. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que o bolsão constitui primariamente uma adaptação das borboletas às condições adversas da estação seca, tais como altas temperaturas e baixa umidade relativa do ar, e não como conseqüência de grande concentração de recursos alimentares dos adultos (flores visitadas para obtenção de néctar não foram encontradas na área do bolsão), ou simples defesa contra predadores visualmente orientados (contrariamente à predição testada, a freqüência de borboletas apresentando marcas de bicadas de aves sobre as asas aumentou significativamente ao longo do período de formação do bolsão, especialmente no caso de Mechanitis polymnia, a borboleta mais abundante). Outras hipóteses relacionadas à formação do bolsão são também discutidas.

This study provides information on the species composition and the number of butterflies in different phases of an ithomiine aggregation during the 2004 dry season in central Brazil, and tests some hypotheses concerning the pocket formation. The results obtained suggest that ithomiine pockets constitute primarily an adaptation of butterflies to the adverse climatic conditions of the dry season, such as high temperatures and low air relative humidity, rather than the occurrence of large concentrations of adult food resources (flowers visited for nectar were not found in the pocket site) or defense against visually hunting predators (contrary to the prediction tested, the frequency of butterflies bearing birds beak marks on the wings significantly increased along the period of pocket formation, especially in the case of Mechanitis polymnia, the most abundant species in the pocket). Other hypotheses concerning the pocket formation are also discussed.

A literatura científica sobre tamanduá-bandeira afirma que o animal dorme com sua cauda dobrada sobre o corpo para conservar a temperatura corporal. Entretanto, observações desta espécie em hábitats naturais indicam variações neste comportamento, dependendo da temperatura ambiente.

The scientific literature on giant anteaters states that the animal sleeps with its tail folded over its body to conserve body temperature. However, observations of this species in natural habitats indicate variations in this behavior, depending on the ambient temperature.

Registra-se a ocorrência de carrapatos em tamanduás-bandeira e tamanduás-mirim na região do pantanal sul mato-grossense entre os meses de março e novembro de 2001. As espécies identificadas foram Amblyomma cajennense (123 machos e 63 fêmeas), A. parvum (35 machos, 67 fêmeas) e A. nodosum (2 machos), um parasita específico de tamanduás em sua fase adulta. De um total de 20 tamanduás examinados no período de estudo, A . cajennense foi encontrado na maioria dos animais (15), seguido por A. parvum (9) e por A. nodosum (2).

The occurrence of ticks on anteaters in the Pantanal region, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, between March and February 2001 is described. Tick species identified were Amblyomma cajennense (123 males and 63 females), A. parvum (35 males, 67 females) and A. nodosum (2 males), species considered as specific of anteater in its adult phase. A . cajennense was found in the majority of animals (15) followed by A. parvum (9) and by A. nodosum (2) from a total of 20 anteaters examined in the study period.

The environmental transformations constitute the principal cause of changes in biodiversity. This make the comparative studies between natural and altered environments very important. This research compare the beetle fauna at the following areas: isolated forest fragment and pasture at the secondary stage of succession. Beetles were collected using four pitfall traps baited with cattle meat in each area, fortnightly from November 1998 to April 1999. A total of 17,721 individuals from 30 families of Coleóptera in forest and 6,597 individuals belanging to 32 families in pasture was collected. The Sorensen index was used to calculate similarity, and Shannon index to calculate diversity. The qualitative similarity found was 0.70 and the quantitative similarity was 0.48. The mean Shannon diversity index found was 1.90 for forest and 2.01 for pasture; these values were not significantly different by T test. It was concluded that the beetle decomposer fauna collected was representative in both environments, which also contributes in the decomposition process of organic matter, in soil fertilization and also in control ling egg and larvae populations of parasitic flies.

The environmental transformations constitute the principal cause of changes in biodiversity decrease. This make the comparative studies between natural and altered environments very important. This work compare the fauna of Scarabaeidae at the following areas: isolated forest fragment and pasture at the secondary stage of succession. Scarabs beetles were collected using four pitfall traps baited with cattle meat in each habitat, fortnightly from November 1998 to April 1999. It was collected a total of 3,113 individuals from 32 species in forest and 956 individuals from 27 species in pasture. The Sorensen index was used to calculate similarity, and Shannon index to calculate diversity. The qualitative similarity found was 0.64 and the quantitative similarity was 0.10. A relevant difference was found in the diversity of two localities, the value found in pasture was 1.75 and in forest was 2.44; these values were significantly different by T test (p<0.001). Our results suggest that the changes in forest area for pasture area caused losses concerning biodiversity of Scarabaeidae and the respective functions of these organisms in the ecosystem.