Claudio José Barros de Carvalho

Key to the adults of the most common forensic species of Diptera in South America

Flies (Diptera, blow flies, house flies, flesh flies, horse flies, cattle flies, deer flies, midges and mosquitoes) are among the four megadiverse insect orders. Several species quickly colonize human cadavers and are potentially useful in forensic studies. One of the major problems with carrion fly identification is the lack of taxonomists or available keys that can identify even the most common species sometimes resulting in erroneous identification. Here we present a key to the adults of 12 families of Diptera whose species are found on carrion, including human corpses. Also, a summary for the most common families of forensic importance in South America, along with a key to the most common species of Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Fanniidae and to the genera of Sarcophagidae are provided. Drawings of the most important characters for identification are also included.

A preliminary analysis of insects of medico-legal importance in Curitiba, State of Parana

A survey of the carrion fauna was made at two sites in Curitiba, State of Paraná, with the objective of describing the insects associated with carrion and setting up a preliminary data-base for medico-legal purposes in south Brazil. Vertebrate exclusion experiments were carried out in each season between 1994 and 1995 with a 250 g laboratory-bred rat (Rattus norvegicus). Five stages of decomposition were identified: fresh, bloated, decaying, dry and adipocere-like. Some species showed seasonal and site preference and so could be used to identify the probable place and season where death took place. Sarconesia chlorogaster (Diptera, Calliphoridae) was restricted to an open field site and to cooler months. Hemilucilia semidiaphana (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and Pattonella resona (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) were restricted to the forest site and warmer months. Phaenicia eximia (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and Oxyletrum discicolle (Coleoptera, Silphidae) were present at both sites throughout the year and could be useful for population level analysis. Dissochaetus murray (Coleoptera, Cholevidae) was present throughout the year at the forest site and was associated with the adipocere-like stage. Ants played an important role producing post-mortem injuries to the carcasses. Insects of 32 species are reported as being useful in community level approaches.

Systematics and biogeography of Polietina Schnabl & Dziedzicki (Diptera, Muscidae): Neotropical area relationships and Amazonia as a composite area

Abstract The genus Polietina Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911 (Diptera, Muscidae) groups 15 species distributed throughout the Neotropical region. Here, generic and specific diagnoses and a species identification key are provided, with cladistic and biogeographical analyses performed and results discussed. In the cladistic analysis, the application of equal, successive and implied character weighting schemes resulted in the single cladogram ((P. flavidicincta (P. rubella (P. concinna (P. orbitalis, P. wulpi)))) (P. steini ((P. flavithorax, P. major) (P. nigra, P. prima) (P. bicolor, P. minor, P. univittata)))). In the biogeographical analysis, the Brooks parsimony analysis was performed by experimenting several combinations of areas of endemism proposed previously in the literature, and one area cladogram ((Caribbean, north‐west Amazonia) (south‐east Amazonia (Chacoan, Paraná))) favours a previously proposed hypothesis of a composite history for Amazonia.

Classificação de Muscidae (Diptera): uma proposta através da análise cladístical

A cladistic analysis for 27 muscid genera is given, running the PAUP program (SWOFFORD, 1985). The 35 characters used in this study are polarized based on three outgroups of related families. A cladogram showing hypothetical phylogenetic relationships among genera and a discussion of the characters enable to propose a sequencial phylogenetic classification of Muscidae at tribal level. The following seven subfamilies and eight tribes are included: Achanthipterinae; Atherigoninae; Muscinae, with Muscini and Stomoxiini; Azeliinae, with Azeliini and Reinwardtiini; Phaoniinae; Mydaeinae, with Graphomyiini and Mydaeini and Coenosiinae, with Coenosiini and Limnophorini. Helina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 has not a defined position in the obtained cladogram to the considered levels. The neotropical species of Phaonia (aut.) must be separated in a new genus. The proposed classification is compared with contemporaneous classifications. The greatest congruence is found with that of SKIDMORE (1985).

Chave para adultos de dípteros (Muscidae, Fanniidae, Anthomyiidae) associados ao ambiente humano no Brasil

Key to adult flies of dipterous species (Muscidae, Fanniidae, Anthomyiidae) associated to human habitats in Brazil. An identification key for the main 33 species of Muscidae, Anthomyiidae and Fanniidae occurring in association to human habitats in Brazil is presented. Most of the characters used for identification of the species are illustrated. Based on literature records, a list of the 65 anthropic species known to Brazil is also included.

Pictorial identification key for species of Sarcophagidae (Diptera) of potential forensic importance in southern Brazil

Pictorial identification key for species of Sarcophagidae (Diptera) of potential forensic importance in southern Brazil. Species of the subfamily Sarcophaginae are important to forensic entomology due to their necrophagous habits. This contribution presents a pictorial key for the identification of 22 Sarcophaginae species in 10 genera that are commonly found in southern Brazil. Photographs of the main structures used in species identification, mainly from the male terminalia, are provided.

Moscas ectoparasitas (Diptera, Hippoboscoidea) de morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) do Estado do Paraná. II. Streblidae: chave pictórica para gêneros e espécies

A survey of batflies (Diptera, Streblidae) was done in Parana State, Brazil during 1998 and 1999. Twenty-tree species in 10 genera were recorded. Two species of streblid batflies, Paraeuctenodes longipes Pessoa & Guimaraes, 1936 and Metelasmus pseudopterus Coquillett, 1907, that have not been found in Parana State were included, because they have been recorded in Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo States. One species is new a record for Brazil: Trichobius jubatus Wenzel, 1976. In addition, twenty more species are new records for Parana State: Trichobius joblingi Wenzel, 1966; T. tiptoni Wenzel, 1976; T. furmani Wenzel, 1966; T. longipes (Rudow, 1871); Paratrichobius longicrus (Ribeiro, 1907); Megistopada aranea (Coquillett, 1899); M. proxima (Seguy, 1926); Aspidoptera falcata Wenzel, 1976; A. phyllostomatis (Perty, 1833); Exastinion clovisi (Pessoa & Guimaraes, 1936); Noctiliostrebla aitkeni Wenzel, 1966; Paradyschiria fusca Speiser; 1900; P. parvula Falcoz, 1931; Strebla chrotopteri Wenzel, 1976; S. diaemi Wenzel, 1966; S. guajiro (Garcia & Casal, 1965); S. mirabilis (Waterhouse, 1879), Paraeuctenodes similis Wenzel, 1976; Anastrebla caudiferae Wenzel, 1976; A. modestini Wenzel, 1966. The occurence of Paralrichabius longicrus on Pygoderma bilabiatum (Wagner, 1843), and Trichobius dugesioides dugesioides and Strebla mirabilis on Mimon bennettii (Gray, 1838) is reported for first time. Pictorial keys to species are presented and the gonopods of streblid batflies are illustrated.

Detection of areas of endemism on two spatial scales using Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE): the Neotropical region and the Atlantic Forest

4 Complete article, including its appendix, is available with the corresponding author Abstract: An important biological challenge today is the conservation of biodiversity. Biogeography, the study of the distribution patterns of organisms, is an important tool for this challenge. Endemism, the co-occurrence of several species unique to the same area, has important implications for the preservation of biodiversity, since many areas of endemism are also areas with large human impact. More rigorously defined, areas of endemism are historical units of distributional congruence of monophyletic taxa. These areas often assumed to be due to nonrandom historical events that favored conditions associated with high rates of speciation. Thus, understanding endemism and the delimitation of endemic areas has important implications for conservation. Today, most studies delimit areas of endemism by superimposing maps of distribution for various species. This approach suffers from arbitrary delimitations, however, when a great distributional data is used. In this paper we used the method of Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) based on georeferenced quadrats in order to delimit areas of endemism. This modality of the method is important due to its testable nature and can also be used to infer area relationships. We applied the method to raw distributional data from 19 unrelated taxa to delimit general patterns of endemism in the Neotropical Region and in the Atlantic forest domain using different grid scales. Neotropical areas found are comprised over the Panama region, northern Andean region and the Atlantic forest. Atlantic forest showed a major division into two distinct components (northern x southern). Endemic areas delimited using smaller scale grids on the Atlantic forest should be considered for conservation priorities once they showed endemism at regional and local scales. The results were also compared to other studies using different taxa and methods. Finally, some considerations on the analysis scale and future perspectives of the method are presented.

Revisão das espécies e posição sistemática de Palpibracus Rondani (Diptera, Muscidae)

A systematic revision of the species of Palpibracus Rondani, 1864 from South America is presented. This genus was formerly placed in Phaoniini but through the study of the chaetotaxy and the new characters or with reinterpretation of those already known, is here proposed its transferrence to Azeliinae, Reinwardtiini. Some remarks on this new systematic position are analysed. The following species are redescribed: P. apicalis, P. chilensis, P. confusus, P. fasciculatus, P. lancifer, P. nigriventris, P. pilosus, P. reynoldsi, P. separatus. P. similis, P. spicatus, P. trivittatus, P. univittatus and P. veneris. Palpibracus albuquerquei sp. n., from Angol, Chile, is described. A new combination for Phaonia peruviana Malloch, 1929 is proposed - Palpibracus peruvianus nov. comb. - and Darwinomyia angolensis Malloch, 1934 is considered as a new synonym. A key and maps of geographical distribution of the species are given.

Hippoboscidae (Diptera, Hippoboscoidea) no Estado do Paraná, Brasil: chaves de identificação, hospedeiros e distribuição geográfica

A survey of the louse flies species (Diptera, Hippoboscidae) in the State of Parana, Brazil was carried out. Keys to eight genera and 15 species found are given. The following species are recorded for the first time in Parana: Lipoptena (Lipoptenella) guimaraesi Bequaert, 1957; Stipolmetopoda legtersi Bequaert, 1955; Icosta (Ornithopomus) latifacies Bequaert, 1955; Icosta (Ornithpomus) rufiventris (Bigot, 1885); Icosta (Ardmoeca) albipennis (Say, 1823) and Olfersia bisulcata Macquart, 1847. Baryphthengus ruficapillus (Vieillot, 1818) (Momotidae) and Ciccaba virgata Carbin, 1849 (Strigidae) are new host records for Ornithoica vicina (Walker, 1849) and I. (Ardmoeca) albipennis; Chiroxiphia caudata (Shaw, 1793) and Schiffornis virescens (Lafresnaye, 1838) (Pipridae) for Ornithoctona fusciventris (Wiedemann, 1830) and Gallus gallus domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Phasianidae) for S. legtersi.