Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia

Association of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with bacteria in hospitals in the State of Santa Catarina

The objective of this study was to identify ant occurrence in hospital environments in the State of Santa Catarina, along with associated bacteria. Ants were collected monthly from five inpatient clinics in two hospitals in the municipality of Chapecó, from August 2003 to June 2004. They were collected under aseptic conditions using swabs moistened with sterile distilled water and put into test tubes containing BHI for microbiological analysis. After 24 hours, cultures were made in both 5% sheep blood and MacConkey agar, which were incubated for 24 hours at 35/37 degrees C. The Gram characterization, culture identification and biochemical characterization followed standardized rules for clinical microbiology. Seven species of ants were identified, of which the most frequent were Monomorium pharaonis (71.5%) and Solenopsis saevissima (57%), and nineteen species of bacteria was isolated from hospital A.

Diversidade de formigas na Floresta Nacional de Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brasil

A mirmecofauna da Floresta Nacional de Chapeco, Gleba I, foi estudada por coletas semanais realizadas de dezembro de 2003 a dezembro de 2004. Foram utilizadas armadilhas do tipo malaise, pit-fall, iscas com sardinha, iscas com glicose, rede de varredura, guarda-chuva entomologico e funil de Berlese. Tres constituicoes vegetais foram amostradas, sendo pinus, eucalipto e Floresta Ombrofila Mista e Floresta Estacional Decidual. Foram capturadas 137.019 especimes de nove subfamilias, 18 tribos, 36 generos e 121 especies. Os indices de diversidade de Margalef obtidos foram 9,9; 9,7 e 12,6; de Shannon e Wiener 3,0; 3,2 e 3,4 e de equitabilidade de 0,69; 0,73 e 0,74, para as areas com pinus, eucalipto e mata nativa, respectivamente. Estes resultados indicam uma distribuicao mais uniforme na comunidade da mata nativa, caracterizando-se como um importante reservatorio especies de formigas no Oeste catarinense.

Primeiro registro de Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore 1964, (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) em Eucalipto no Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Known as Red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei is a sucker insect of Australian origin whose attacks several eucalyptus species. Its presence in Brazil was reported for the first time in the Sao Paulo State in June, 2003. Later, its occurrence was also registered in Minas Gerais, Goias, Parana and Mato Grosso do Sul States. The nymphs possess yellowish color and they are protected under small shells while the adults have brown-orange to yellow-greenish color, and about three milimeters. Among the main damages that causes to the plants are the premature leaves fall and reduction of the photosynthetic area. In some cases it can occurs plant death. In Santa Catarina State it was found attacking some trees of Eucalyptus tereticornis in the courtyard of a company in the urban perimeter of the Chapeco town.

Primeiro registro de Tomoplagia reimoseri Hendel e Xanthaciura mallochi Aczél (Diptera: Tephritidae) para o Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil

The present research aimed to inventory the species of endophagous tephritids associated to Asteraceae capitula in Chapeco, Santa Catarina. Samples of capitula were collected every two weeks in Chapeco, from september 2005 to september 2006, concentrating efforts on spring and summer. The capitula were collected directly from the plants and conditioned in plastic bags. This research constitutes the first register of Tomoplagia reimoseri Hendel and Xanthaciura mallochi Aczel specimens collected from Asteraceae capitula in Chapeco, elevating to 72 the number of tephritid species registered to the State of Santa Catarina.

Primeiro registro da cochonilha Pendularia paraguariensis Granara de Willink, 1999 (Hemiptera: Coccidae) no Brasil

The presence of Pendularia paraguariensis Granara de WillinK, 1999 (Hemiptera: Coccidae) was reported for the first time in Brazil in the town of Chapeco, Santa Catarina State (27o05’47S, 52o37’06W), attacking Paraguay tea plants (Ilex paraguariensis), from September 2002 to January 2003. Other 32 Paraguay tea plantations were inspected and there was not occurrence of this insect. This cochineal can cause degeneration of the branches where they are due to the constant suction of the sap. The contour of the body is rounded oval (2.68mm x 2.60mm) and it has short and robust antennas with seven segments. This species is characterized by the presence and distribution of preoperculary pores and hypopygial arrows.