Abstract It is essential to determine the basal pattern of different biomarkers for future evaluation of animal health and biomonitoring studies. Due to their great displacement capacity and to being at the top of their food chains, birds of prey are suitable for monitoring purposes. Furthermore, some birds of prey are adapted to using resources in urban places, providing information about this environment. Thus, this study determined the basal frequency of micronuclei and other nuclear alterations in peripheral blood erythrocytes of Falco peregrinus. Hematological and inorganic elements analysis were also performed. For this purpose, 13 individuals (7 females and 6 males) were sampled in private breeding grounds. Micronucleus, nuclear buds, nucleoplasmic bridges, notched nuclei, binucleated cells and nuclear tails were quantified. Inorganic elements detected included the macro-elements Ca, P, Mg, Na, Cl, S and K as well as the micro-elements Fe, Al and Zn. Our study found similar values compared to previous studies determining the reference ranges of hematologic parameters in falcons. The only different value was observed in the relative number of monocytes. Thus, this study is the first approach to obtaining reference values of cytogenetic damage in this species and could be useful for future comparisons in biomonitoring studies.

Alphitobius diaperinus, conhecido como cascudinho, é encontrado abundantemente nas instalações avícolas, e acarreta prejuízos zootécnicos e sanitários na avicultura industrial mundialmente. As formas de controle deste besouro estão baseadas exclusivamente no uso de inseticidas para os quais já existem vários relatos de populações resistentes forçando o emprego de métodos alternativos como o controle biológico, interferindo no ciclo de vida do inseto. Este estudo avaliou, em condições de laboratório, a mortalidade de larvas e adultos de A. diaperinus frente a diferentes temperaturas de aquecimento (45º, 50º, 55º e 60º C) e resfriamento (-10º, -13º e -18º C), na presença de maravalha (PM) e ausência de maravalha (AM), através do tempo letal de 100% dos insetos (TL100) em minutos em cada temperatura. A TL100 de larvas e adultos em 45º C foi de 36 e 38 AM e 42 e 57 PM, em 50º C foram 15 e 11 AM e 19 e 16 PM, para 55º C foi de 8 e 9 AM e 12 PM e em 60º C foi de 5 e 6 AM e 11 e 9 PM. Já em -10º C variou de 57 e 60 AM e 70 e 75 PM, em -13º C levou 52 e 55 AM e 60 e 64 PM e em -18º C levou 42 e 43 AM e 51 e 52 PM. Em todas as temperaturas avaliadas houve mortalidade dos insetos em tempo consideravelmente rápido e métodos de controle, através da temperatura, devem levar em consideração esses pontos para referência.

Alphitobius diaperinus, known as the lesser mealworm, is abundantly found in poultry houses, and causes losses in poultry worldwide. The ways to control this beetle are based exclusively on the use of insecticides, concerning which there are already several reports of resistant populations, thus forcing the use of alternative methods such as biological control, interfering in the life cycle of the insect. The present study evaluated, under laboratory conditions, the mortality of larvae and adults of A. diaperinus at different temperatures of heating (45º, 50º, 55º and 60º C) and cooling (-10º, -13º and -18º C) in the presence (PM) and absence of wood shavings (AM) by way of the lethal time of 100% of insects (TL100) in minutes at each temperature. The TL100 for larvae and adults at 45º C were 36 and 38 AM and 42 and 57 PM, at 50º C they were 15 and 11 AM and 19 and 16 PM, at 55º C they were 8 and 9 AM and 12 PM, and at 60º C they were 5 and 6 AM and 11 and 9 PM. At -10º C they were 57 and 60 AM and 70 and 75 PM, at -13º C they were 52 and 55 AM and 60 and 64 PM, and at -18º C they were 42 and 43 AM and 51 and 52 PM. At all temperatures, the mortality of the insects was quick; therefore methods of control by way of temperature should consider these points for reference.