Abstract Fonsechellus Silvestri and Oecidiophilus Silvestri consist of two Neotropical genera of termitophilous rove beetles, which have been poorly characterized due to the scarcity of material for studies. Herein, based on material collected in the seventies and housed in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, two new species associated with Atlantitermes guarinim Fontes and Diversitermes sp., are described and illustrated: Fonsechellus heterosetosus sp. nov. and Oecidiophilus cleidecostae sp. nov., respectively. The latter represents the first record of the genus to Brazil. Also, Fonsechellus fragilis and F. fontesi are redescribed, and a key for species identification is provided for the genus. The condition of the membranous wings of Fonsechellus is addressed and discussed, and the definition of both genera is expanded.

A introdução de Achatina fulica é assinalada em Itariri, SP, Brasil. Essa espécie de caramujo terrestre foi importada para cultivo, visando à comercialização para consumo humano como "escargot". O encontro de exemplares em vida livre mostra a dispersão de A. fulica e, conseqüentemente, o risco de transmissão de Angiostrongylus cantonensis, nematóide parasita do homem e de outros vertebrados. Além disso, o caramujo é uma praga importante da agricultura.

Achatina fulica, the intermediate snail host of angiostrongyliasis and also an agricultural pest, is being bred in Brazil for human consumption as "escargot". The snail has escaped from its artificial breeding sites and its dispersal in Itariri county, State of S. Paulo, is reported here for the first time. A. fulica is a transmitter of the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis, nematode which causes meningoencephalic angiostrongyliasis; the risks of human contamination are commented on.

A introdução de Achatina fulica é assinalada em Itariri, SP, Brasil. Essa espécie de caramujo terrestre foi importada para cultivo, visando à comercialização para consumo humano como "escargot". O encontro de exemplares em vida livre mostra a dispersão de A. fulica e, conseqüentemente, o risco de transmissão de Angiostrongylus cantonensis, nematóide parasita do homem e de outros vertebrados. Além disso, o caramujo é uma praga importante da agricultura.

Achatina fulica, the intermediate snail host of angiostrongyliasis and also an agricultural pest, is being bred in Brazil for human consumption as "escargot". The snail has escaped from its artificial breeding sites and its dispersal in Itariri county, State of S. Paulo, is reported here for the first time. A. fulica is a transmitter of the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis, nematode which causes meningoencephalic angiostrongyliasis; the risks of human contamination are commented on.

The morphology of the parts and the configuration in situ of the worker digestibe tube of the 8 soilfeeding genera with nasute solidiers from the Neotropical Region are studied. All genera showed a reduced or incomplete gizzard armature, a tubular first proctodeal segment terminating in the left half of the abdomen, an enteric valve armature with trilateral symmetry and often with strong spines, a paunch of two large sections separated by a constriction, and a long colon. In addition, a mixed segment at the mesenteron-proctodeal junction is absent in Convexitermes, Atlantitermes, Araujotermes, Coatitermes, Subulitermes and Agnathotermes, and present in Cyranotermes and Angularitermes, the latter having also a gizzard armature stronger than usual in the soilfeeding nasutes. The coiling of the gut and the morphology of some gut parts provide a good means for the identification of undissected workers of all genera.

The morphology of the mandibles of the alates and workers of the 8 soil-feeding genera with nasute soldiers from the Neotropical Region is studied. Three mandibular patterns are recognized : (1) Convexitermes, Atlantitermes, Araujotermes, Coatitermes, Subulitermes and Agnathotermes have mandibles with complete marginal dentition and no reduced teeth, (2) Angularitermes has mandibles with complete marginal dentition but two teeth are vestigial, and in (3) Cyronotermes the marginal dentition is incomplete. A set of other characteristics is associated with each of these mandibular patterns. Intraspecific variation are registered, either between the alate and the worker castes of all genera, as between the worker types of the dimorphic worker caste of the genera with complete and developed marginal dentition. Such dimorphism was previously unreported for the soil-feeding Nasutitermitinae; the soldier arises from one worker type.

Three new Neotropical genera of Nasutitermitinae, of the group with mandibulate soldiers, are described. Cyrilliotermes, gen. n., is related to Curvitermes and includes C. cupim, sp. n. (type species), C. jaci, sp. n., C. cashassa, sp. n., C. strictinasus (Mathews, 1977), comb, n., and C. angulariceps (Mathews, 1977), comb, n., both C. strictinasus and C. angulariceps being removed from Curvitermes. Alates and soldiers are described for C. cupim, from Brazil, and for C. cachassa, from Suriname, and soldiers for C. jaci, from Suriname; a new locality is reported for C. strictinasus. Embiratermes, gen. n., is related to Armitermes and include E. festivellus (Silvestri, 1901), comb. n. (type species), E. benjamini (Snyder, 1926), comb, n., E. brevinasus (Emerson & Banks, 1957), comb, n., E. chagresi (Snyder, 1925), comb, n., E. heterotypus Silvestri, 1901), comb, n., E. latidens (Emerson & Banks, 1957), comb, n., E. neotenicus (Holmgren, 1906), comb, n., E. silvestrii (Emerson, 1949), comb, n., E. snyderi (Emerson & Banks, 1957), comb, n., E. spissus (Emerson & Banks, 1957), comb, n., and E. transandinus (Araujo, 1977), comb, n., all removed from Armitermes. The creation of Embiratermes, besides being based on morphological characteristics of soldiers, workers and alates, is justified by the defensive behaviour of the soldiers, which is different from that of Armitermes soldiers. Ibitermes, gen. n., which seems to be related to Embiratermes, includes only I. curupira, sp. n., described from a series of soldiers and workers from Brazil. Keys based on the soldier caste are provided for the identification of the 11 genera with mandibulate soldiers of the Nasutitermitinae, and for the species of Rhynchotermes, Curvitermes and Cyrilliotermes. Curvitermes planioculus Mathews, 1977 is considered a junior synonym of C. minor (Silvestri, 1901), syn.n.