Augusto Loureiro Henriques

Description of Muscotabanus gen. nov. and Muscotabanus rafaeli sp. nov. (Diptera: Tabanidae: Diachlorini) from Amazon Basin, Brazil

A new genus of Tabanidae mimetic of flies is described: Muscotabanus new genus, Muscotabanus rafaeli new species, based on 12 females collected in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. It is presented a discussion for separating the new genus from Diachlorini species which resemblance with sarcophagids flies. It is characterised by striped thorax, banded abdomen, long slender palpus subequal antenna length, labella predominantly membranous, except for a narrow sclerotised plate, basicosta bare, wing hyaline and stigma brown.

REVISÃO DO GÊNERO NEOTROPICAL Acanthocera MACQUART (DIPTERA: TABANIDAE)

The Neotropical genus AcanthoceraMacquart is redefined. 28 species are presented with synonymic list, figures, diagnosis and key to females. The subgenus NothocanthoceraFairchild of Dichelacerais transferred to Acanthocera,except for D. melanopteraHine and one species is described: A. distincta,n. sp. The subgenus MimodynerusEnderlein is synonymized with Acanthocera. A. hequaertiFairchild & Aitken is revalidated. A. lutzi(Enderlein) is synonymized with A. coarctata(Wiedemann). The female of polistiformisFairchild is described. A new lectotype is designated for A. tenuicornis.

Tabanidae (Diptera) no dossel da floresta amazônica atraídos por luz e descrição de machos de três espécies

Tabanids were collected at a height of 40 meters on a metallic tower, at Estacao Experimental de Silvicultura Tropical, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Samples were collected monthly from January to December of 2004, during three nights of lunar transition third quarter moon/ new moon from 06 p.m. to 06 a.m. Horse flies were captured on a vertical sheet illuminated by a 250-watts mixed mercury vapor light and 20-watts black-light (BLB) lamps. 216 specimens were collected, of which 135 were males and 81 were females belonging to 29 species. Males of three species with unknown males are described for the first time, namely: Catachlorops halteratus Krober, 1931, Leucotabanus janinae Fairchild, 1970 and Leucotabanus pauculus Fairchild, 1951.

Betrequia ocellata Oldroyd (Diptera, Tabanidae, Rhinomyzini) blood feeding on Caiman crocodilus (Linnaeus) (Crocodylia, Alligatoridae) in Manaus, Brazil

In Central Amazonia the tabanid Betrequia ocellala Oldroyd, 1970 was recorded for the first time blood feeding on caimans during an experiment in September/October 1996 at Ducke Reserve, Manaus, Brazil. Among different available hosts (Caiman, horse, duck and human) B. ocellata was observed only on Caiman crocodilus (Linnaeus, 1758), suggesting specific blood feeding on crocodilians. The adult flight season, diurnal blood feeding period and flight stratification are presented. Other tabanid species feeding or landing on caimans are also recorded.

Descrição do macho de Chlorotabanus leucochlorus Fairchild (Diptera, Tabanidae)

The male of Chlorotabanus leucochlorus Fairchild, 1961 is described for the first time. The species is known from northern Brazil, Suriname, Venezuela and eastern Peru. Seven males from various locations in the state of Amazonas, Brazil were examined. The material was deposited in the Invertebrate Collections of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia (INPA) and Zoological Collection Paulo Buhrnheim (UFAM), both in Manaus, Brazil.

Phorcotabanus cinereus (Wiedemann, 1821) (Diptera, Tabanidae), an ornithophilic species of Tabanid in Central Amazon, Brazil

In Central Amazon, Brazil, the tabanid Phorcotabanus cinereus (Wiedemann) was recorded attacking the native duck Cairina moschata (Linnaeus) (Anseriformes, Anatidae). The flight and behavior of the tabanid during the attacks and the hosts defenses were videotaped and analyzed in slow motion. The tabanid was recorded flying rapidly around the heads of the ducks before landing. Landing always took place on the beak, and then the tabanid walked to the fleshy caruncle on the basal part of the beak to bite and feed. Firstly the duck defends itself through lateral harsh head movements, and then, when it is being bitten, it defends itself by rubbing its head on the body, or dipping the head into water, when swimming. If disturbed, the fly resumed the same pattern of flight as before and would generally try to land again on the same host and bite in the same place. This feeding activity was observed predominantly between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm and always in open areas, near aquatic environments, from June 1996 to January 1997, the dry season in Central Amazon. To test the attractiveness of other animals to P. cinereus, mammals, caimans and domestic and wild birds were placed in suitable habitat and the response of P. cinereus observed. P. cinereus did not attack these animals, suggesting that this species has a preference for ducks, which are plentiful in the region.

Catalogue of type specimens of the Collection of Invertebrates of Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil. III. Hexapoda: Isoptera, Mantodea, Mecoptera, Orthoptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Zoraptera

E apresentado o catalogo dos especimes-tipo de Isoptera, Mantodea, Orthoptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera e Zoraptera depositados na Colecao de Invertebrados do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia (INPA), Manaus, Brasil, atualizado ate dezembro de 2007. E relacionado um total de sete holotipos e sete lotes de paratipos de nove especies de Isoptera; tres holotipos e um paratipo de tres especies de Mantodea; cinco holotipos e cinco lotes de paratipos de cinco especies de Mecoptera; oito holotipos e cinco lotes de paratipos de 11 especies de Orthoptera; tres holotipos, tres neotipos e dois lotes de paratipos de sete especies de Plecoptera; seis holotipos e sete lotes de paratipos de dez especies de Trichoptera; e dois holotipos e tres lotes de paratipos de tres especies de Zoraptera. Sao listados alfabeticamente em cada familia os nomes das especies, seguidos da citacao bibliografica, nome original do genero, categoria do tipo, numero de registro na colecao, dados de localidade e comentarios quando pertinentes.

Descrição de uma nova espécie de Chlorotabanus (Insecta, Diptera, Tabanidae) da Região Neotropical

We described a new species of Tabanidae (Diptera), Chlorotabanus flagellatus sp. nov., distributed in the Amazon region, in the States of Amazonas and Para. Diagnosis, discussion and illustrations of external and internal characters are provided.

O gênero Philipotabanus Fairchild (Insecta: Diptera: Tabanidae) na Amazônia, com chave para as fêmeas das espécies e descrição de P. obidensis sp. nov.

A key to eleven species and the three subgenera of Amazonian Philipotabanus Fairchild is presented. Philipotabanus (P.) obidensis sp. nov., from Para State, is described for the first time. Diagnosis, figures and distribution are presented for all species.

Tabanidae (Diptera) of the American Museum of Natural History Collection

A checklist of Tabanidae in the American Museum of Natural History was compiled. Over 9,000 specimens were studied. The currently accepted taxa names have been listed based on general catalogs and recent publications. Where possible, modern locality names are given and determiners of each species are provided. A total of 882 species are listed in alphabetical order; including 52 primary and 219 secondary types. The collection includes a substantial global representation of species records for this family.