Description of the puparium of Hermetia teevani Curran (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) reared from roots of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).

The puparium of Hermetia teevani Curran is described, based on 173 specimens reared from cassava roots (Manihot esculenta), in laboratory under controlled conditions until the emergence of the adults. Hermetia teevani is the ninth species with immature stage known for Hermetia, in addition to being recorded for the first time for the Distrito Federal and State of Gois.

Alone in paradise: a new genus and species of Hirmoneurini tangle-veined flies (Diptera, Nemestrinidae) in South America.

A new genus and new species of tangle-veined flies of the tribe Hirmoneurini (Nemestrinidae), Bernardia xenomorpha gen. et sp. nov.

Two new species of Ptecticus Loew, 1855 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), from bat guano in a Colombian cave.

Genus Ptecticus is widespread distributed in the world, in the Neotropics 51 species have been documented and only four are recorded in Colombia so far. Herein we describe two new species, Ptecticus benecki sp. nov.

A Comprehensive Review of the Coffee Leaf Miner (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae)-A Major Pest for the Coffee Crop in Brazil and Others Neotropical Countries.

The coffee leaf miner (CLM) moth is a major threat to coffee production. Insect damage is related to the feeding behavior of the larvae on the leaf. During the immature life stages, the insect feeds in the mesophyll triggering necrosis and causing loss of photosynthetic capacity, defoliation and significant yield loss to coffee crops.

A Study of the Pupal Development of Five Forensically Important Flies (Diptera: Brachycera).

Holometabolous insects undergo complete metamorphosis, and hence, they have different phases of development (egg, larva, pupa, and adult), which occupy distinct ecological niches. The pupae of several fly species are surrounded by the puparium, which is a rigid structure, usually formed by the integument of the last larval instar. The puparium presents unique characteristics distinct from those of the larval and adult phases.

Artifacts Caused by Leaf-Cutting Ants of the Genus Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Postmortem Bite Injuries and the Tearing of Clothes.

Ants are one of the first insects to find an exposed cadaver and can be present during all stages of decomposition. Although these organisms are not commonly used in postmortem interval estimates, they are to be taken into account on criminal investigations involving human corpses, since they can leave bite marks that can be mistaken for antemortem or perimortem injuries, which could be misleading when ascertaining the occurrence of abuse or physical altercation during a crime. A few studies report the action of ants on human cadavers and even though leaf-cutting ants of the genus Atta are frequently encountered in succession studies that use animal carcasses, there are no records of these fungus-growing species on human corpses.

A new species of the genus Rachicerus Walker (Diptera: Xylophagidae), with notes on Messias Carrera's 1940 and 1945 types housed in Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo and in Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Five Rachicerus species are recorded in Brazil: Rachicerus lanei Carrera, 1940, R. oliverioi Carrera, 1940, R. lopesi Carrera, 1940, R.

Diel Activity and Effect of Carcass Decomposition on the Attractiveness to the Forensically Important Species Oxelytrum Discicolle (Coleoptera: Silphidae).

Oxelytrum discicolle is a carrion beetle commonly found in the Neotropical region, mainly associated with cadavers and carcasses. Information on behavior related to the likelihood of cadaver colonization is scarce. We performed two field experiments in peri-urban forest in Brazil in order to strengthen our knowledge on O.

Description of the puparium of (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) from Brazil.

The puparium of Hermetia pulchra is described, based on a single specimen reared in laboratory under controlled conditions until the emergence of an adult female. The puparium of H. pulchra was compared with puparium of H.

Description of the puparium and redescription of the imagoes of Chorophthalmyia brevicornis Lindner (Diptera: Stratiomyidae).

The puparium of Chorophthalmyia brevicornis is described for the first time, based on five puparia. Larvae of the species were reared in the laboratory under semi-controlled conditions until the emergence of the adults. In addition, to the description of the puparium we provide a redescription of the imagoes of C.

Shells and Bones: A Forensic Medicine Study of the Association of Terrestrial Snail Allopeas micra with Buried Human Remains in Brazil.

Little is known regarding the scavenger fauna associated with buried human corpses, particularly in clandestine burials. We report the presence of 20 shells of the terrestrial snail Allopeas micra, within hollow bones of human remains buried for 5 years, during the process of collecting DNA material. The fact that a large number of shells of A.

Intra-puparial development of the black soldier-fly, Hermetia illucens.

The intra-puparial development of the black soldier-fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), was studied based on 125 pupae under controlled conditions in laboratory. The 6(th) instar larvae were reared until they stopped feeding, and the prepupae were separated according to the reduction in larval length and degree of pigmentation and sclerotization of the cuticle.

A new species of the genus Micropeza Meigen (Diptera: Micropezidae) from Brazil.

The stilt-legged fly genus Micropeza contains 82 valid species. Currently 10 species are recorded in Brazil. Here we describe a new species, M.

Description of the male of Laneella perisi (Mariluis) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) n. comb.

The male Laneella perisi (Mariluis) n. comb. is described based on specimens collected in the Cordillera Oriental (1,370-1,450 m asl), Florencia-Suaza, Caquetá, Colombia.

Morphological and cytochemical aspects of spermatozoa in the genus Cochliomyia (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

The objective of this study was to characterize, structurally and ultrastructurally, the spermatozoa of the screwworm flies Cochliomyia hominivorax and Cochliomyia macellaria. To visualize the ultrastructure of microtubules and identify basic proteins, techniques such as the tannic acid fixation and the cytochemical method of ethanolic phosphotungstic acid (EPTA) were used. These methods of fixation are important because they reinforce the evidence of the protofilaments present in the microtubular wall and identify basic proteins, respectively.

Structure and ultrastructure of spermatozoa and spermiogenesis in three species of Lucilia Robineau-desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

Morphology of male internal reproductive organs, spermatozoa, and spermiogenesis of the blow-flies Lucilia cuprina, Lucilia eximia, and Lucilia peruviana is first described here, using light and transmission electron microscopy. Spermiogenesis follows the characteristics described for others insect species. The spermatozoa of L.

Myiasis by screw worm Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in a wild maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus (Mammalia: Canidae), in Brasília, Brazil.

In April 2009, a wild maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus, was captured in an area of cerrado in Brasília, DF, Brazil, with screw worm maggots in external wounds. Fifty larvae were bred in the laboratory and eight adults of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) emerged 10 days after pupation. This is the first report of a myiasis by C.

Structure and ultrastructure of spermatozoa of Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

The spermatozoa of Chrysomya megacephala are similar to those described for other Brachycera. In this species, the spermatozoa are long and thin, measuring about 590microm in length, of which the head region measures approximately 60microm. The head includes a monolayered acrosome with electron-lucid material, and the shape of the nucleus, in cross-sections, varies from circular to oval with completely condensed chromatin.

A checklist of Calliphoridae blowflies (Insecta, Diptera) associated with a pig carrion in central Brazil.

Although the Cerrado is the second major Brazilian biome, few studies have been undertaken about its entomofauna. Blowflies have an important role in forensic entomology, helping in the determination of postmortem intervals. The main goal of this exploratory study was to identify and to catalog the blowfly species associated with a pig carcass.

Coprophanaeus lancifer (Linnaeus, 1767) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) activity moves a man-size pig carcass: relevant data for forensic taphonomy.

Taphonomy is the study of many variables involving decomposition, preservation, dispersal, erosion, burial or exposition of dead organisms. Forensic Taphonomy examines how biotic or abiotic variables can change evidences in legal investigations. Many insects are closely associated with decomposition processes.

The black soldier-fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera, Stratiomyidae), used to estimate the postmortem interval in a case in Amapá State, Brazil.

The black soldier-fly (Hermetia illucens) is a generalist detritivore which is commonly present in corpses in later stages of decomposition and may be useful in forensic entomology. This paper describes the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) based on the life cycle of the black soldier-fly in a case in northern Brazil. A male child was abducted from his home and 42 days later his corpse was found in an advanced stage of decay.

[Record of Dasypus novemcinctus (Mammalia: Xenarthra) parasited by Tunga terasma (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) in Alegre, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil].

During a survey of Mycobacterium leprae in wild armadillos in the State of Espírito Santo, thirty-four armadillos were captured in the municipality of Alegre (20 degrees 45'S, 41 degrees 29'W, 150m). The armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus were examined by clinical and macroscopic examination. In four armadillos (11.

A forensic entomology case from the Amazon rain forest of Brazil.

The first case of application of forensic entomology in the Brazilian Amazonia is described. The corpses of 26 men were found in the rainforest in Rondonia State, Brazil. Fly larvae collected on the bodies during autopsy were identified as Paralucilia fulvinota (Diptera, Calliphoridae).