ABSTRACT A sand fly survey was carried out as part of the environmental risk assessment surrounding the construction of a hydroelectric power plant at the Teles Pires River, at the boundary between the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Pará. In order to evaluate the diversity and similarity of the sand fly communities in sylvatic forest and domestic environments, sand flies were collected every three months for two years (January 2015 to July 2017). A total of 1,682 sand flies distributed in 14 genera and 59 species were collected. In the forest, 1,364 individuals distributed in 14 genera and 54 species were collected; the most abundant species were Psychodopygus davisi (Root, 1934) (16%) followed by Trichophoromyia sp. (12%) and Nyssomyia antunesi (Coutinho, 1939) (9%). In domestic environments, 318 individuals were collected from 10 genera and 29 species, with Evandromyia termitophila (Martins, Falcão & Silva, 1964) (37%) being the most abundant species, followed by Nyssomyia delsionatali Galati & Galvis, 2012 (8%) and Evandromyia walkeri (Newstead, 1914) (8%). Non-metric multidimensional scaling and non-parametric permutational multivariate analysis of variance of sand fly relative abundance and species occurrence indicated significant differences in the sand fly fauna between sylvatic forest and human-associated environments. New state-level occurrence records for eight species are also reported and Trichophoromyia dilermandoi sp. nov. is described. This new species can be distinguished from similar species by the rectangular shape of the paramere, the presence of 10-12 setae in the gonocoxite and the aedeagal ducts/sperm pump ratio of 5.7.

ABSTRACT Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are arthropods of medical importance because they can carry arboviruses. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology and metagenomic approaches conducted in mosquitoes have contributed to the discovery of many insect-specific viruses (ISVs), which have the potential to affect their vector competence. Mosquitoes were collected in urban parks in Sao Paulo city, Brazil and 20 pools with female mosquitoes were subjected to HTS by HiSeq 2500 sequencing system (Illumina). Long viral sequences (1,585-6,701 base pairs) were recovered from two pools of Aedes scapularis. BLASTx analyses revealed they had greater identity with segment L and S of Salarivirus and segment M of Furrundu phlebovirus, which encode, respectively, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRd), the nucleocapsid protein, and a polyprotein. Phylogenetic tree of the segment L and S of the Phenuiviridae Family showed our sequences grouped with unverified sequences of Furrundu phlebovirus, an unclassified ISV that belongs to the Hareavirales Order and was first reported in mosquitoes in the Brazilian Pantanal, the largest natural tropical wetland worldwide. We report the second detection of Furrundu phlebovirus in mosquitoes collected in urban parks, showing it could be in mosquitoes from natural places and in green areas in urban cities. We conclude that Furrundu phlebovirus possibly occurs in Aedes scapularis in green areas, in Sao Paulo. Further studies should elucidate the role of this virus in the vector competence of Aedes scapularis and its interaction with different arboviruses.

ABSTRACT Advances in deforestation and climate change directly cause changes in habits and the distribution of Culicidae across the globe, especially mosquitoes of medical importance and the main vectors of arboviruses. The viral metagenomics technique can be an important tool in characterizing viral diversity in mosquitoes. Thus, this study aimed to identify evidence of the effectiveness of the viral metagenomics technique in detecting arboviruses in mosquitoes. This is a systematic review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 protocol. The research was carried out using five electronic databases: LILACS, PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science, and included studies published in health and interdisciplinary fields, as well as complementary research on Google Scholar. Studies that used the viral metagenomics approach for the genomic evaluation of arboviruses found in mosquito samples were included; the results demonstrated the presence of viral diversity and the identification of the genome of probable pathogenic viruses. The protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) platform under the number CRD42024484713. Thus, 249 studies were identified via searches on electronic databases. According to the inclusion/exclusion criteria, only 23 studies met the objectives for the systematic review. In all studies, genomic sequencing was applied to detect viruses, mainly those related to insect-specific viruses (ISV) and arboviruses known to infect humans and animals, belonging to various viral families. Despite the challenges reagrdingthe absence of reference sequences in genomic databases, the effectiveness of the metagenomics technique in characterizing the mosquito virome is clear from the studies, which broadens the understanding of viral diversity.

Abstract Mycophagous midges of the subfamily Lestremiinae are widespread, yet their diversity in the Southern Hemisphere remains poorly understood. Six species in four genera were known to occur in South America: Anarete buscki Felt, 1915, Anaretella perfectaCarmo-Neto, Lamas & Urso-Guimarães, 2024, Insulestremia sinclairiJaschhof, 2004, Insulestremia amorimiCarmo-Neto, Lamas & Urso-Guimarães, 2021, Insulestremia amentiCarmo-Neto, Lamas & Urso-Guimarães, 2021, and Lestremia nigra Blanchard, 1852. This study consolidates recent findings on Lestremiinae in Brazil and neighboring countries, providing new faunistic records that summarizes the knowledge of their diversity. We present new records of seven species in four genera: Anarete Haliday, 1833 in Brazil, including the species A. buscki Felt, 1915 and A. johnsoni (Felt, 1908); ConaretePritchard, 1951 in Brazil and Paraguay, including C. elutaPritchard, 1951, C. texana Felt, 1912, and C. sicyoidea Li & Bu, 2002; Lestremia Macquart, 1826 in Brazil, represented by L. leucophaea Meigen, 1818; and Wasmanniella Kieffer, 1898 in Brazil and Peru. Notably, the Lestremiinae are now formally recorded for the first time in Paraguay and Peru, and Wasmanniella in the Neotropical Region. A key to the genera found in the Neotropical region is also presented.

Abstract The aim of this research was to evaluate the susceptibility of C. capitata to insecticides composed of malathion, deltamethrin and spinetoram associated with the food attractants Biofruit®, Cera Trap® and sugarcane molasses. The baits were formulated through mixtures of attractants and insecticides, at the concentration recommended by the manufacturer (C100) and a concentration corresponding to 80% of the recommended concentration (C80). After offering the baits, their toxicity was evaluated depending on the evaluation time. Higher susceptibility rates were found in formulations with malathion at C80, with a LT50 of 1 h, regardless of the attractant used. The baits formulated with spinetoram at C80 reached LT50 after 6 hours. The lowest susceptibility was observed in baits using deltamethrin, regardless of the concentration and attractant used. Toxic baits formulated with malathion and spinetoram remain efficient in controlling C. capitata, even with a 20% reduction in the concentration recommended by the manufacturer for each product and can be formulated with Biofruit®, Trap® Wax and sugar cane molasses without negative compromise of the expected result.

Resumo O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a suscetibilidade de C. capitata aos inseticidas compostos por malathion, deltametrina e espinetoram associados aos atrativos alimentares Biofruit®, Cera Trap® e melaço de cana-de-açúcar. As iscas foram formuladas através de misturas de atrativos e inseticidas, na concentração recomendada pelo fabricante (C100) e concentração correspondente a 80% da concentração recomendada (C80). Após oferta das iscas, avaliou-se sua toxicidade em função do momento de avaliação. Maiores taxas de suscetibilidade foram encontradas nas formulações com malathion a C80, com TL50 de 1 h, independente do atrativo utilizado. As iscas formuladas com espinetoram a C80 atingiram LT50 após 6 horas. A menor suscetibilidade foi observada nas iscas utilizando deltametrina, independente da concentração e do atrativo utilizado. As iscas tóxicas formuladas com malathion e espinetoram permanecem eficientes no controle de C. capitata, mesmo com redução de 20% na concentração recomendada pelo fabricante para cada produto e podem ser formuladas com Biofruit®, Trap® Wax e melaço-de-cana sem comprometimento negativo do resultado esperado.

Abstract The use of faunistic analysis has become a pillar of studies on diversity, conservation, and global change biology, serving as quantifiers of effects on areas and their conservation status. Using McPhail traps, we inventoried a natural and an agricultural ecosystem in the Cerrado of Bahia. We found 22,498 insects in the two study areas, distributed across nine orders and 56 families. The order with the greatest richness was Diptera, with 17 families identified. Formicidae (Hymenoptera) had the largest number of specimens collected with around 48% of the total, followed by Muscidae (Diptera), with 11%, and Sarcophagidae (Diptera) and Drosophilidae (Diptera), both with 10% each. The Diversity Indices for the native forest area were H’= 1.528 and J= 0.3897, and for the polyculture area H’= 2.108 and J=0.5715, thus demonstrating greater diversity in the polyculture area. However, after recalculating the diversity indices without Formicidae, the Shannon-Weaner and Pielou indices differed, considerably increasing the indices in the native area. Our study contributes to the knowledge of entomofauna in natural and agricultural ecosystems and estimates of species diversity indices.

Resumo O uso de análises faunísticas tornou-se um pilar dos estudos sobre diversidade, conservação e biologia das mudanças globais, servindo como quantificadores de efeitos sobre áreas e seu estado de conservação. Utilizando armadilhas McPhail, inventariamos um ecossistema natural e um agrícola no Cerrado da Bahia. Encontramos 22.498 insetos nas duas áreas de estudo, distribuídos em nove ordens e 56 famílias. A ordem com maior riqueza foi Diptera, com 17 famílias identificadas. Formicidae (Hymenoptera) teve o maior número de indivíduos coletados com cerca de 48% do total, seguida Muscidae (Diptera), com 11%, e Sarcophagidae (Diptera) e Drosophilidae (Diptera), ambas com 10% cada. Os Índices de Diversidade para a área de floresta nativa foram H’= 1,528 e J= 0,3897, e para a área de policultivo H’= 2,108 e J=0,5715, demonstrando assim maior diversidade na área de policultivo. Entretanto, após recalcular os índices de diversidade sem Formicidae, os índices de Shannon-Weaner e Pielou diferiram, com aumento considerável dos índices na área nativa. Nosso estudo contribui para o conhecimento da entomofauna em ecossistemas naturais e agrícolas, bem como para estimativas de índices de diversidade de espécies.

ABSTRACT Myiasis, a condition stemming from the parasitic infestation of Diptera fly larvae, constitutes a complication for cancer patients, particularly those with malignant skin wounds. The factors that contribute to myiasis include old age, inadequate hygiene, poor living conditions, vascular disease, and diabetes. Cases of myiasis in neoplastic wounds in the head and neck region are rare and guidelines or recommendations regarding the best treatment approach remain lacking. Herein, we describe a case of myiasis that developed into an extensive squamous cell carcinoma of the lip in an older male adult due to the delay in oncological treatment stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, especially those residing in rural areas, face a notable risk of developing oral myiasis. Therefore, it is imperative that patients and caregivers adopt strict preventive measures to avoid fly infestations in wounds. Maintaining optimal hygiene (including meticulous cleaning with antiseptic solutions before daily dressing changes) is essential to prevent myiasis. Adequate wound coverage is crucial, especially during warmer seasons.

Resumo Compreender os fatores ambientais que moldam a diversidade de macroinvertebrados é particularmente importante porque os rios nos neotrópicos são continuamente afetados por mudanças no uso da terra. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar como as variáveis ambientais associadas a diferentes níveis de atividade humana moldam a comunidade de macroinvertebrados no rio Ranchería. Várias variáveis ambientais foram medidas em cada uma das nove estações de amostragem distribuídas ao longo de três gradientes de atividade humana na bacia do rio Ranchería. O desenho de amostragem incluiu três estações na zona de elevação alta (P9, P8, P7; 595 a 308 metros acima do nível do mar), três na zona de elevação média (P6, P5, P4; 153 a 112 metros acima do nível do mar) e três na zona de baixa elevação (P3, P2, P1; 90 a 22 metros acima do nível do mar). Para os macroinvertebrados aquáticos, foram coletadas cinco amostras mensais de janeiro a maio de 2010 nestas nove estações. Um total de 4.615 indivíduos foram coletados, distribuídos em 16 ordens, 54 famílias e 83 táxons. Os táxons com maior abundância relativa foram Simulium (Diptera), Melanoides sp. (Thiaridae) e Orthocladiinae (Diptera: Chironomidae), com 20, 11 e 9% respectivamente. Constatou-se que os impactos antropogênicos moldam as variáveis ambientais e a estrutura das comunidades de macroinvertebrados na bacia do rio Ranchería.

Abstract Understanding the environmental factors that shape macroinvertebrate diversity is particularly important because rivers in the neotropics are continuously affected by changes in land use. The main objective of this work was to analyze how environmental variables associated with different levels of human activity shape the macroinvertebrate community in the Ranchería River. Various environmental variables were measured at each of the nine sampling stations distributed across three gradients of human activity in the Ranchería River Basin. The sampling design included three stations in the high elevation zone (P9, P8, P7; 595 to 308 masl), three in the medium elevation zone (P6, P5, P4; 153 to 112 masl), and three in the low elevation zone (P3, P2, P1; 90 to 22 masl). For aquatic macroinvertebrates, five monthly samples were taken from January to May 2010 from these nine stations. A total of 4,615 individuals were collected, distributed across 16 orders, 54 families, and 83 taxa. The taxa with the highest relative abundance were Simulium (Diptera), Melanoides sp. (Thiaridae), and Orthocladiinae (Diptera: Chironomidae), with 20, 11, and 9% respectively. It was found that anthropogenic impacts shape the environmental variables and the structure of macroinvertebrate communities in the Ranchería River Basin.

Abstract Brazil is a country with one of the greatest biodiversities in the world, in addition to the high diversity of biomes that directly influences the composition of fauna and flora. In this context, the analysis of the potential distribution of calliphorids in the Northeast can generate important information for forensic entomology and conservation biology. This study aims to identify the current and potential distribution of the main species of flies from the family Calliphoridae of forensic interest in the Northeast region of Brazil. For this purpose, field and bibliographic data were collected and analyzed. The obtained data were used to develop ecological models based on the MaxEnt model. The analyses showed that the exotic species Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) and Chrysomyia megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) are the most common species in Northeast environments, presenting a wide spatial distribution. On the other hand, native taxa have a more restricted distribution, except for the species Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775). The variables that most influenced the models were precipitation and wind. The ecological models presented in this study demonstrate an overlap in the distribution of exotic and native species, which may pose a risk of competition and future homogenization of assemblies.

BACKGROUND The works of Lutz & Neiva, published 115 years ago in the Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, are pioneering for the study of Neotropical Tabanidae. These studies emphasised the importance of biological collections and the description of species from the exploration of South American areas. Dasybasis Macquart, 1847 has traditionally been considered a large genus of tabanids restricted to the Australasian, Neotropical, and Andean regions. Dasybasis species exhibit a high degree of morphological similarity, making specific differentiation challenging. Moreover, some of these features are also present in other taxa, suggesting that they may not be homologous characters and should not be used to define the genus. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess the monophyly of Dasybasis and establish its major monophyletic groups. METHODS We conducted an implied weighting analysis using morphological characters, and wing landmarks from 91 terminal species. FINDINGS For the total evidence analyses, aligning with either Tabanus Linnaeus or Dasybasis appendiculata Macquart yielded slightly different trees. Classical morphology and total evidence topology aligned with D. appendiculata are the same, while differing from the total evidence topology aligned with Tabanus in two nodes. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that Dasybasis was not a monophyletic group, and that this name should be restricted to species with a distribution in Australasia; while Neotropical Dasybasis species are recovered in different clades. The genera Archiplatius, Pseudoselasoma, and Stypommia are revalidated. This study provides a revised phylogenetic framework for “Dasybasis” and related taxa, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of morphological character evolution within the tribe Diachlorini.

In 1909, Arthur Neiva published an article titled “Contribuição para os estudos dos dipteros. Observação sobre a biolojia e sistematica das anofelinas brasileiras e suas relações com o impaludismo”, highlighting the biology, ecology, and distribution of Anophelinae mosquitoes and the need for more taxonomic studies in Brazil. This came 11 years after Ronald Ross and Grassi demonstrated mosquito roles in transmitting Plasmodium to birds and humans. Despite considerable advances in the understanding of Anophelinae species, knowledge remains insufficient given the complexity of Brazil’s ecosystems, the intensified anthropogenic environmental changes since the mid-20th century, and the persistent public health challenges posed by malaria. This perspective article presents the distribution of Plasmodium vectors and potential vector species in Brazil using climate variables and a maximum entropy model. Geographical distribution maps of Anophelinae species, including putative species, are provided. The article also discusses the current knowledge of vector species distribution in relation to Brazil’s malaria elimination plan, along with the ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing vector distribution.

RESUMO Schizonyxhelea zoologica Huerta & Grogan, 2017, previamente conhecida da América do Norte (México), é relatada pela primeira vez na América do Sul (Brasil). Além disso, a fêmea dessa espécie é descrita e ilustrada pela primeira vez. As fêmeas foram coletadas em associação com machos em uma floresta preservada e em um fragmento florestal urbano, localizados no estado do Amazonas, Brasil. Schizonyxhelea zoologica é a quinta espécie do gênero registrada no Brasil e a primeira espécie do gênero documentada no Amazonas. Por fim, é apresentado um breve comentário sobre o ambiente em que os espécimes foram encontrados, bem como sua importância biogeográfica.

ABSTRACT Schizonyxhelea zoologica Huerta & Grogan, 2017, previously known from North America (Mexico), is reported for the first time in South America (Brazil). Additionally, the female of this species is described and illustrated for the first time. The females were collected in association with males in a preserved forest and an urban forest fragment, located in Amazonas State, Brazil. Schizonyxhelea zoologica is the fifth species of the genus recorded in Brazil, and the first species of the genus documented in Amazonas. Finally, a brief commentary on the environment in which the specimens were found, as well as their biogeographical importance, is provided.

ABSTRACT Due to the hematophagous habits of females, some species of black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) cause economic losses and health damages to humans and livestock. Several bioinsecticides based on the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) have been widely used to control the populations of these insects. This study evaluates the susceptibility of black fly larvae to a new Bti solid effervescent formulation, comparing it with a commercial standard formulation, Vectobac® liquid formulation, under laboratory conditions. Also, the diversity of Simuliidae, and aspects of the water quality, were analyzed from streams in the municipality of Cascavel, state of Paraná, Brazil. Larvae were collected from streams in the urban and rural areas of Cascavel. In laboratory, larvae were exposed of the Bti formulations. Eighteen hours after application of the formulations, larval mortality was evaluated. The control group did not exceed 20% mortality, for concentrations of 50 and 60 mg/L, the mean mortality rates were 50.6% and 64.2%, respectively, and neither differed significantly from the Vectobac®. Samples from streams showed external fecal contamination during the eight weeks of monitoring, and water quality parameters that could interfere with the efficacy of Bti application at the site. The following species of black flies were collected and identified in the two watersheds sampled: Simulium pertinax, S. subpallidum, S. nigrimanum, S. rubrithorax, S. perflavum, and S. inaequale. The bioecological aspects of the breeding site were investigated and are presented here. This is the first report of black fly species for the municipality of Cascavel. The potential of the solid effervescent formulation was proven under laboratory conditions and the bioecological evaluations demonstrated the relevance of environmental diagnosis and monitoring in the optimization of control protocols for Simuliidae.

ABSTRACT Understanding tri-trophic interactions and the relationship among plants, herbivores, and their natural enemies is fundamental to advancing theoretical and practical ecology. Parasitoidism is among those interactions where tri-trophic levels are usually developed, with hyperparasitism and kleptoparasitism as examples. This study explores the interaction between fig wasps of the genera Physothorax Mayr, 1885 and Sycophila Walker, 1871 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) and the gall midge Ficiomyia brasiliensis Urso-Guimarães, 2024 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) associated with Ficus citrifolia Mill. in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Through behavioral observations and larval dissections we document the “drill on drill” strategy where Sycophila females utilize oviposition holes drilled by Physothorax females on the fig surface to access the host gall midge immatures. This behavior suggests a sophisticated adaptation for reducing oviposition time and conserving energy. Additionally, Sycophila behavior aligns with kleptoparasitic and hyperparasitic strategies, indicating a complex evolutionary history and ecological interaction. Our findings provide insight into the intricate relationships among non-pollinating fig wasps and their hosts, contributing to the broader understanding of tri-trophic interactions in fig microcosm.