Navegando por Autor "Serrão, José Eduardo"
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Item Aedes aegypti larvae treated with spinosad produce adults with damaged midgut and reduced fecundity(Chemosphere, 2019-04) Fernandes, Kenner Morais; Tomé, Hudson Vaner Ventura; Miranda, Franciane Rosa; Gonçalves, Wagner Gonzaga; Pascini, Tales Vicari; Serrão, José Eduardo; Martins, Gustavo Ferreirapt-BRThe mosquito Aedes aegypti is the main vector of Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever viruses, which are responsible for high human morbidity and mortality. The fight against these pathogens is mainly based on the control of the insect vector with the use of insecticides. Among insecticides, spinosad bioinsecticide is efficient against A. aegypti larvae and may be an alternative for vector control. Here, we investigate the sublethal effects of spinosad during midgut metamorphosis of A. aegypti females and its cumulative effects on blood acquisition capacity and fecundity in adults. We studied the midgut because it is an important model organ directly related to blood acquisition and digestion. Treatment of larvae with spinosad induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and damage to the midgut cells at all stages of development and in adults. There was a reduction in the number of proliferating cells and the number of enteroendocrine cells in treated individuals. In addition, damage caused by spinosad led to a reduction in oviposition and egg viability of A. aegypti females. Finally, the exposure of mosquito larvae to sublethal concentrations of spinosad interfered with the development of the midgut, arresting the blood digestion and reproduction of adult females with blood digestion and reproduction difficulties.Item Aedes aegypti midgut remodeling during metamorphosis(Parasitology International, 2014-01-26) Fernande, Kenner Morais; Neves, Clóvis Andrade; Serrão, José Eduardo; Martins, Gustavo FerreiraThe Aedes aegypti midgut is restructured during metamorphosis; its epithelium is renewed by replacing the digestive and endocrine cells through stem or regenerative cell differentiation. Shortly after pupation (white pupae) begins, the larval digestive cells are histolized and show signs of degeneration, such as autophagic vacuoles and disintegrating microvilli. Simultaneously, differentiating cells derived from larval stem cells form an electron-dense layer that is visible 24 h after pupation begins. Forty-eight hours after pupation onset, the differentiating cells yield an electron-lucent cytoplasm rich in microvilli and organelles. Dividing stem cells were observed in the fourth instar larvae and during the first 24 h of pupation, which suggests that stem cells proliferate at the end of the larval period and during pupation. This study discusses various aspects of the changes during midgut remodeling for pupating A. aegypti.Item Aethalion reticulatum (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) feeding on Erythrina speciosa (Fabales: Fabaceae): First record of its host plant and damage characteristics(Florida Entomologist, 2015) Zanuncio, Antonio José Vinha; Serrão, José Eduardo; Pereira, Alexandre Igor Azevedo; Soares, Marcus Alvarenga; Wilcken, Carlos Frederico; Leite, Germano Leão Demolin; Zanuncio, José ColaErythrina speciosa Andrews (Fabales: Fabaceae) has multiple uses due to its medicinal properties, potential for recovering degraded areas, and excellent landscape effect, but insects that use this plant are poorly known. This paper reports, for the first time, the occurrence of Aethalion reticulatum (L., 1758) (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) on E. speciosa seedlings in nurseries at Sacra Família do Tinguá, Municipality of Engenheiro Paulo de Frontin, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Egg clutches of A. reticulatum were observed at the apex and on the median region of these seedlings, covered by a grayish brown substance, visually distinguished from the greenish color of the E. speciosa stem. Damage to this plant was characterized by hypertrophy and cracks at the apex of E. speciosa seedlings. Control measures for A. reticulatum, based on studies on other hosts, are presented.Item Alpha and beta diversity of Lepidoptera in eucalyptus plantations in the amazonian region of Brazil(Florida Entomologist, 2014-03) Zanuncio, José Cola; Lemes, Pedro Guilherme; Santos, Germi Porto; Wilcken, Carlos Frederico; Zaché, Bruno; Pinto, Rosenilson; Serrão, José EduardoThe Lepidoptera are among the insect groups with the greatest species diversity and ecological services. The distribution, abundance and variation in time and space of species in natural communities are important. The occurrence of pests (primary pest species) and those species with potential to cause damage (secondary pest species), plus other species, are studied in monitoring programs in forest plantations as groups I, II and III, respectively. The objective of this work was to study alpha and beta diversity patterns, and the effect of native forest in these indexes by monitoring Lepidoptera in eucalyptus plantations in the Amazonian region of Brazil. Surveys were conducted with light traps at 4 sites in this region. Alpha diversity was calculated with the Jackknife first-order procedure and beta diversity with the Jaccard index in order to estimate the dissimilarity per point and the effect of the distance between the native forest and the plantations on the Lepidoptera fauna. The richness showed 10 or 11 species of group I; 9 or 10 species of II and 378 to 409 species of III, without differences per group between regions. The curves of accumulated number of primary pest species stabilized between the 15th and 35th samplings and those for secondary pest species stabilized in the range from 20th to 70th samplings, with variations among sites. The estimation of richness for species of group III ranged from 50 to 100 species with a steep slope of the curve until approximately the 60th sampling with a slow increase and a tendency of stabilization in the 4 areas after this date. The primary pest species were the same in all areas and therefore their beta diversity was zero. The dissimilarity of secondary pests was similar between areas except for Felipe. Group III showed lower dissimilarity between Caracuru and Ponte Maria (14.88%) and highest values between Felipe and Pacanari (21.64%). The lower number of individuals of group I in Felipe and Ponte Maria and lower species richness of group III in Felipe can be explained by the proximity of eucalyptus plantations to the native forest. The knowledge of population dynamics and species richness of Lepidoptera defoliators is important for pest management. These indexes allow a better detection of species with a history of damage and decision making with the most appropriate preventive measures for each situation.Item Alterations in the fat body and midgut of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae following exposure to different insecticides(Micron, 2010-08) Serrão, José Eduardo; Alves, Stênio Nunes; Melo, Alan LaneThis study describes morphological alterations in the fat body and midgut of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae following exposure to different insecticides. To this end, both third and fourth instars of C. quinquefasciatus larvae were exposed for 30 and 60 min to organophosphate (50 ppb), pyrethroids (20 and 30 ppb), and avermectin derivates (1.5 and 54 ppb). Following incubation, pH measurements of the larvae gut were recorded. The fat body and midgut were also analyzed by light and transmission electron microscopy. These studies demonstrate a decrease in the pH of the larvae anterior midgut following exposure to all of the tested insecticides. Histochemical tests revealed a strong reaction for neutral lipids in the control group and a marked decrease in the group exposed to cypermethrin. Furthermore, a weak reaction with acidic lipids in larvae exposed to deltamethrin, temephos, ivermectin and abamectin was also observed. Insecticide-exposed larvae also exhibited cytoplasm granule differences, relative to control larvae. Finally, we noted a small reduction in microvilli size in the apex of digestive cells, although vesicles were found to be present. The destructive changes in the larvae were very similar regardless of the type of insecticide analyzed. These data suggest that alterations in the fat body and midgut are a common response to cellular intoxication.Item Antennal sensilla and sexual dimorphism of the parasitoid Trichospilus pupivorus (Hymenoptera: eulophidae)(Microscopy and Microanalysis, 2016-08) Silva, Isabel Moreira da; Pereira, Kleber de Sousa; Spranghers, Thomas; Zanuncio, José Cola; Serrão, José EduardoSensory structures (sensilla) of insects are present in high number in the antennae are important for perceiving environmental cues. Thus, sensilla play an important role in the localization, discrimination, and acceptance of a possible host by parasitoid insects. The sensilla, classified according to their shape, size, and distribution, may also show sexual dimorphism in insects. The types and distribution of antennal sensilla in female and male parasitoid Trichospilus pupivorus (Ferriere, 1930) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were evaluated. T. pupivorus females had longer antennae than males. Both males and females have ten sensilla types with higher abundance of placoid sensilla in females, which suggest a possible functional dimorphism.Item Aquaporins in the honeybee crop—a new function for an old organ(Protoplasma, 2014-04-23) Serrão, José Eduardo; Fialho, Maria do Carmo Queiroz; Azevedo, Dihego Oliveira; Zanuncio, José ColaNectar used by bees as a food source is collected and stored in the crop, where it is transported and converted into honey. The production of honey involves water uptake from nectar. However, the crop is a portion of the insect foregut that has been characterized solely as a food storage organ. Aquaporins are integral membrane proteins that function as specific canal for water transport and are abundant in tissues with high water permeability. In this study, we detected five predicted genes for aquaporins in the gut of the honeybee Apis mellifera. We evaluated the aquaporins’ localization in the crop by using an anti-aquaporin antibody produced against the peptide sequence from one of the expressed genes, which was detected in the crop epithelium, particularly in the apical portions of the cells. Furthermore, we also showed an increase in sugar concentration in a sucrose solution collected from the crop lumen a few minutes after feeding, indicating that water uptake occurs during storage of nectar in the crop, suggesting a previously unidentified function for the honeybee crop.Item As espécies de ephemeroptera (insecta) registradas para o Brasil(Biota Neotropica, 2004) Salles, Frederico Falcão; Serrão, José Eduardo; Hubbard, Michael D.; Da-Silva, Elidiomar RibeiroUma lista da fauna de Ephemeroptera do Brasil, com todas as espécies, gêneros e famílias registrados para o país é apresentada, incluindo os estados para os quais as espécies estão reportadas assim como a bibliografia pertinente. Comentários acerca do estado atual do conhecimento da fauna brasileira também são tecidos. Até o presente momento 10 famílias, 63 gêneros e 166 espécies estão registrados. As famílias Baetidae e Leptophlebiidae compreendem mais de 50% de todos os registros, enquanto as regiões Norte e Sudeste são significativamente melhor estudadas que as demais.Item Atlantic rainforest remnant harbors greater biotic diversity but reduced Lepidopteran populations compared to a Eucalyptus plantation(Florida Entomologist, 2013-09) Dall'Oglio, Onice Teresinha; Zanuncio, Teresinha Vinha; Tavares, Wagner De Souza; Serrão, José Eduardo; Wilcken, Carlos Frederico; Zanuncio, José ColaStudy of the dynamics and distribution of lepidopteran defoliators is important because some of them are major pests of eucalyptus. More than 3,000,000 ha of eucalyptus are now planted in Brazil even though the genus is not native there. The goal of this study was to document the frequency and constancy indexes of lepidopteran pests of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden (Myrtaceae) collected with 5 light traps (replicates) in different habitats. The first and second traps were installed in a eucalyptus plantation at 400 and 200 m, respectively, from the interface with a native vegetation area (Atlantic Rainforest); the third in the interface and the fourth and the fifth in native vegetation at 200 and 400 m, respectively, from the interface zone. The most frequent primary pest species were Stenalcidia grosica Schaus, 1901 (Geometridae) and Thyrinteina leucoceraea Rindge, 1961 (Geometridae) with greater frequencies in the eucalyptus plantation at 400 and 200 m from the interface with the na- tive vegetation. In the native vegetation at 200 m from the interface Oxydia vesulia Cramer, 1779 (Geometridae) (33.33%) was the most frequently collected primary pest species, and in the interface zone, Eupseudosoma involuta Sepp, 1855 (16.27%), and Eupseudosoma aberrans Schaus, 1905 (Arctiidae) (15.22%) were the most frequently collected primary pest species. Native vegetation areas of Atlantic Rainforest are more spatially heterogeneous and abundant in host plant species than eucalypt plantations and the high level of species diversity within native vegetation helps to provide natural biological control of herbivorous insects in nearby areas reforested with eucalyptus species.Item Attack behavior of Podisus rostralis (Heteroptera: Pentatomidade) adults on caterpillars of Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)(Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 2005-11) Lemos, Walkymário Paulo; Zanuncio, José Cola; Serrão, José EduardoAttack behavior of the predator Podisus rostralis (Stäl) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) adults on fourth instar Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) caterpillars was studied in laboratory conditions. Ten 24 hours old adults of this predator were observed during two hours with the following attack behavior: (1) Predator: prey finding; prey observation; touching prey with antenna; attack behavior; prey paralysis; predator retreat after attack; attack cessation; successive attacks; and (2) Prey: defense. The predator P. rostralis found its prey before attacking and it approached it with slow circular movements. The attack was usually made in the posterior part of the prey to reduce defense reaction. Larger size of prey in relation to the predator resulted difficult prey paralysis but it occurred in less than two hours.Item Belvosia sp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) Parasitizing Halysidota sp. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) caterpillars on Ficus benjamina (Moraceae) in Brazil(Florida Entomologist, 2004-03) Tavares, Wagner De Souza; Nunez, Enio; Serrão, José Eduardo; Soares, Marcus Alvarenga; Wilcken, Carlos Frederico; Zanuncio, José ColaFicus benjamina L. (Moraceae) is an exotic ornamental plant in Brazil. The aim of this study was to identify a defoliator and its parasitoid on F. benjamina plants in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil and to determine the number of pupae and the emergence of lepidopteran and a dipteran. Four Halysidota sp. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) groups, with 158, 144, 137 and 129 last-instar caterpillars aggregated on the trunks of 4 F. benjamina trees. These caterpillars were collected, held in plastic containers with ficus leaves until development and emergence were completed. Adults of 1 undescribed lepidopteran species (Halysidota) and 1 dipteran species [Belvosia (Tachinidae)] emerged from the Halysidota pupae. An average of 118 viable Halysidota pupae per group were formed, and an average of 62.5 Belvosia individuals emerged from these host pupae per Halysidota group. From a grand total of 472 Halysidota pupae only one adult emerged. Halysidota sp. damaged F. benjamina plants in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, but this defoliator was parasitized by Bel- vosia sp. The findings reported here indicate that Belvosia sp. appears to have the potential to reduce populations of Halysidota sp. and possibly protect F. benjamina in ornamental plantings.Item Biological and ecological consequences of Diolcogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing Agaraea minuta (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) and the effects on two Costus (Costaceae) plant species in Brazil(Florida Entomologist, 2012-12) Tavares, Wagner de Souza; Salgado-Neto, Geraldo; Legaspi, Jesusa Crisostomo; Ramalho, Francisco de Sousa; Serrão, José Eduardo; Zanuncio, José ColaCostus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw. and Costus spiralis (Jacq.) Roscoe var. spiralis (Costaceae) are economically important plants due to their pharmacological and medicinal properties and ornamental value. These plants are natives from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest and are fed upon by Agaraea minuta Schaus, 1892 (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). This study describes the damage done by A. minuta on C. spicatus and C. spiralis and the biological and ecological aspects of parasitism of A. minuta by Diolcogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Twenty stems of C. spicatus and C. spiralis with 100 last-instar caterpillars of A. minuta, were collected per plant in each of 2 years. The stem heights (F, P > 0.05), leaf lengths (F, P > 0.05), leaf widths (F, P > 0.05) and the number of leaves per stem (F, P > 0.05) of both plant species; number of pupae obtained from caterpillars of A. minuta (F, P > 0.05), adult emergence of this defoliator (F, P > 0.05) and of Diolcogaster sp. (F, P > 0.05) were similar during the 2 study periods. Agaraea minuta fed on C. spicatus and C. spiralis, and Diolcogaster sp. was shown to be a parasitoid suppressor of populations of this defoliator.Item Biological aspects of Dirphia moderata (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) on Eucalyptus cloeziana and Psidium guajava(Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 2007-04-10) Pereira, Fabricio Fagundes; Felipe, João Paulo de Mello; Canevari, Glauco da Cruz; Mielke, Olaf Hermann Hendrik; Zanuncio, José Cola; Serrão, José EduardoAn egg mass of Dirphia moderata Bouvier was collected around a branch of Eucalyptus cloeziana to register the occurrence and to study the biological aspects of this species fed with leaves of E. cloeziana or P. guajava at 25 ± 2º C, relative humidity of 60 ± 10% and photo phase of 12 h. The duration and viability of the larva stage of D. moderata was 56.01 days and 80.00% and 55.79 days and 72.5% for its caterpillars fed with the first and second host plants, respectively. The duration (days) and viability (%) of the pupae stage of this insect were 37.64 and 87.00 fed with E. cloeziana and 49.93 and 87.75 with P. guajava, respectively. The average longevity (days) was 6.79 and 8.85 for males and 10.48 and 10.09 for females with E. cloeziana and P. guajava, respectively. Each female of D. moderata laid 121.71 and 112.00 eggs with an incubation period (days) of 18.14 and 17.79 and viability (%) of 75.0 and 70.0 with the first and the second hosts, respectively.Item Can the understory affect the Hymenoptera parasitoids in a Eucalyptus plantation?(Public Library of Science One, 2016-03-08) Fernandes, Flávio Lemes; Rueda, Rosa Angélica Plata; Serrão, José Eduardo; Zanuncio, José Cola; Dall’Oglio, Onice Teresinha; Ribeiro, Rafael Coelho; Ramalho, Francisco de Souza; Wilcken, Carlos Frederico; Assis Júnior, Sebastião Lourenço deThe understory in forest plantations can increase richness and diversity of natural enemies due to greater plant species richness. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the presence of the understory and climatic season in the region (wet or dry) can increase the richness and abundance of Hymenoptera parasitoids in Eucalyptus plantations, in the municipality of Belo Oriente, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. In each eucalyptus cultivation (five areas of cultivation) ten Malaise traps were installed, five with the understory and five without it. A total of 9,639 individuals from 30 families of the Hymenoptera parasitoids were collected, with Mymaridae, Scelionidae, Encyrtidae and Braconidae being the most collected ones with 4,934, 1,212, 619 and 612 individuals, respectively. The eucalyptus stands with and without the understory showed percentage of individuals 45.65% and 54.35% collected, respectively. The understory did not represent a positive effect on the overall abundance of the individuals Hymenoptera in the E. grandis stands, but rather exerted a positive effect on the specific families of the parasitoids of this order.Item Cannibalism of Brontocoris tabidus and Podisus nigrispinus during periods of pre-release without food or fed with Eucalyptus cloeziana plants(Phytoparasitica, 2010-11-10) Zanuncio, José Cola; Pires, Evaldo Martins; Serrão, José EduardoPre-release techniques aim to increase the searching by the predators for their prey. Keeping bug predators for periods without food before their release can increase the search ability of these insects. However, this practice can increase the cannibalism during mass rearing. Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) and Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) were kept for 12, 24, 36 and 48 h without food or with only Eucalyptus cloeziana plants in order to verify the occurrence of cannibalism on adults and eggs. Insects kept for periods longer than 24 h showed higher cannibalism on adults and eggs and the presence of a E. cloeziana plant decreased the cannibalism during all the treatment periods. These predators preferred to attack first the eggs rather than the adults, probably because of the inability of the former to avoid predation. The pre-release period should not exceed 24 h and plants must be provided to the predators in order to reduce the occurrence of cannibalism and increase the predatory capacity of these natural enemies.Item Chemical composition of the intramandibular glands of the ant Neoponera villosa (Fabricius, 1804) (Hymenoptera: Ponerinae)(Chemoecology, 2014-10-11) Martins, Luiza Carla Barbosa; Nascimento, Fabio Santos do; Campos, Maria Cláudia Guidetti; Lima, Eraldo Rodrigues; Zanuncio, José Cola; Serrão, José EduardoProducts of exocrine glands modulate the behavior of social in sects. Among the exocrine glands, the function of intramandibular glands has not been well characterized in social Hymenoptera. To study the effects of exocrine gland secretions on the behavior of the ant, Neoponera villosa, identification of cuticular and intramandibular gland compounds was performed. Fifteen different compounds were identified in workers and queens of N. villosa. Linear alkanes C26, C27, C28, C30 and C36, as well as the methyl alkanes 13-, 11- MeC28, 3 MeC29, 13-, 11- MeC32, 13-, 11- MeC33, 13- MeC36, 13,17-; 15,19-DiMeC37 and 18-, 17-, 13-MeC38 and esters triacontyl acetate were found on the body and mandible surface of both workers and queens. The sterols, cholesterol and sitosterol were found only in the mandibles, with cholesterol present in both workers and queens, and sitosterol present only in queens. The results suggest that intramandibular gland compounds of N. villosa may play a role in worker activity. The presence of hydrocarbons and cholesterol in workers and sitosterol in the mandible of queens may be associated with caste profile.Item Chlorantraniliprole–mediated effects on survival, walking abilities, and respiration in the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei(Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2019-05-15) Plata-Rueda, Angelica; Martínez, Luis Carlos; Zanuncio, José Cola; Fernandes, Maria Elisa de Sena; Serrão, José Eduardo; Guedes, Raul Narciso CarvalhoHypothenemus hampei Ferrari (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is the main pest of coffee crops, and effective methods for pest management are needed urgently. Bioassays were conducted to assess the effects of the insecticide chlorantraniliprole on H. hampei adults. Toxicity, survivorship, larval production, respiration rate, and behavioral responses to six concentrations of chlorantraniliprole were evaluated. Chlorantraniliprole was toxic to H. hampei (LD50 = 0.49 mg mL−1 and LD90 = 1.21 mg mL−1). Survivorship was 98% in adults not exposed to chlorantraniliprole, decreasing to 52% in insects exposed to LD50 and 2% in insects treated with LD90. H. hampei showed reduced mobility on insecticide-treated surfaces. The insecticide promoted a decrease in the respiration rate of H. hampei for up to 3 h after exposure, altering behavioral responses and locomotor activity. Chlorantraniliprole was shown to have lethal and sublethal effects on H. hampei and, thus, can be used rotationally in integrated pest management programs to control of this pest in coffee crops and retard of insect resistance.Item Comparative morphology of the odoriferous system in three predatory stink bugs (Heteroptera: Asopinae)(Protoplasma, 2017-02-25) Martínez, Luis Carlos; Plata-Rueda, Angelica; Zanuncio, José Cola; Tavares, Wagner de Souza; Serrão, José EduardoThe metathoracic scent system in Heteroptera produces and releases defensive volatile compounds. The odor produced by predatory stink bugs differs from phytophagous bugs, suggesting a variation between the structure and function of the metathoracic scent system. The anatomy and ultrastructure of the external thoracic efferent system, scent gland, and reservoir in the stink bug predators Brontocoris tabidus, Podisus nigrispinus, and Supputius cincticeps (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae) were studied. External thoracic efferent systems of B. tabidus, P. nigrispinus, and S. cincticeps have anatomical differences in ostiole, peritreme, and evaporatorium. Scent glands have a secretory portion and a reservoir. The reservoir has irregular projections, and in B. tabidus, it is enlarged and heart shaped, whereas in P. nigrispinus and S. cincticeps it is flattened and semicircular. The secretory tissue of the scent gland has well-developed globular secretory cells that produce odorous compounds, and the reservoir has a single layer of cubical cells lined by a cuticular intima. Secretory cells are type III with an intracellular end apparatus, well-developed nucleus with decondensed chromatin, and cytoplasm rich in mitochondria, lysosomes, granules, and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. These findings suggest that there are differences in physiological function of the odoriferous system and the volatile compounds produced by the secretory cells, which may indicate variation in defensive behavior of these species.Item A comparative study of fat body morphology in five mosquito species(Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 2011-06-17) Martins, Gustavo Ferreira; Serrão, José Eduardo; Ramalho-Ortigão, José Marcelo; Pimenta, Paulo Filemon PaolucciThe insect fat body plays major roles in the intermediary metabolism, in the storage and transport of haemolymph compounds and in the innate immunity. Here, the overall structure of the fat body of five species of mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus, Aedes fluviatilis, Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles aquasalis and Anopheles darlingi) was compared through light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Generally for mosquitoes, the fat body consists of lobes projecting into the haemocoel and is formed by great cell masses consisting of trophocytes and oenocytes. Trophocytes are rich in lipid droplets and protein granules. Interestingly, brown pigment granules, likely ommochromes, were found exclusively in the trophocytes located within the thorax and near the dorsal integument of Anopheles, which is suggestive of the role these cells play in detoxification via ommochrome storage. This study provides a detailed comparative analysis of the fat body in five different mosquito species and represents a significant contribution towards the understanding of the structural-functional relationships associated with this organ.Item A comparative study of the ovaries in some Brazilian bees (Hymenoptera; Apoidea)(Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 2004) Martins, Gustavo Ferreira; Serrão, José EduardoThe present paper concerns the morphological features of ovaries in 33 species of bees with different social behavior patterns. The ovaries of bees were examined under light microscope. They are polytrophic-meroistic ovaries formed for an anterior germarium and a basal vitellarium. The germarium houses the germ cells and in the vitellarium there are follicles arranged linearly. In general the follicle is constituted by a nutritive chamber (a cluster of nurse cells) and an oocyte chamber, both covered by a single epithelial layer of follicular cells. The number of ovarioles per ovary and the number of mature oocyte per ovary were analyzed. Measurements of ovariole length, oocyte size, oocyte width, follicular epithelial height and the intertegular distance were made to support the comparative study. Statistical analysis showed that representatives of Meliponini and Apini have the largest ovaries. On the other hand, in solitary bees were found the bigger oocytes. Furthermore, our results suggest that there is a tendency for increase in ovary size and ovariole number, with increasing level of sociality.