ABSTRACT Sixteen species of the microcaddisfly Ochrotrichia Mosely, 1934 (Hydroptilidae) have been recorded so far in Brazil, mainly distributed in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. In order to reduce the Linnean and Wallacean shortfalls for the Ochrotrichia Brazilian fauna, we diagnose, describe, and illustrate three new species based on adult males from three protected and preserved areas of the Cerrado biome of Federal District (Central-West region), Minas Gerais (Southeast region) and Tocantins (North region) states; all of them named in honor of three great Brazilian entomologists viz., Ochrotrichia froehlichi sp. nov., Ochrotrichia machadoi sp. nov. and Ochrotrichia nessimiani sp. nov. They can be recognized mainly by the morphology of the tergum X, number, and position of the spine-like setae of the inferior appendages. This contribution represents the first record of Ochrotrichia for the Central-West region, increasing the number of species of this genus in Cerrado biome from one to four, and is the first report of a microcaddisfly for the Federal District. In addition, the genus is reported for the first time from Paraná, São Francisco, and Tocantins hydrographic basins. Finally, we provide a checklist of the Ochrotrichia species from Brazil.

RESUMO Nós criamos massas de ovos dos tricópteros Phylloicus amazonas (n = 2) e Phylloicus elektoros (n = 7) coletadas no campo até a fase adulta. A mediana do tempo de desenvolvimento do primeiro instar larval ao adulto foi de 229 dias para P. amazonas e 275 dias para P. elektoros, incluindo o tempo de desenvolvimento pupal (mediana de 13.5 e 16 dias, respectivamente). Fragmentadores têm sido frequentemente usados em estudos relacionados ao processamento de matéria orgânica em ecossistemas aquáticos. As informações biológicas fornecidas neste estudo podem ser úteis para o planejamento de estudos experimentais em campo ou em condições de laboratório.

ABSTRACT We reared field-collected egg masses of the caddisflies Phylloicus amazonas (n = 2) and Phylloicus elektoros (n = 7) to adulthood. First instar larvae of both species hatched up to five days after field collection. Median development time from first larval instar to adult was 229 days for P. amazonas and 275 for P. elektoros, including the pupal development time (median of 13.5 and 16 days, respectively). Shredder organisms have been used frequently in studies related to organic matter processing in freshwater ecosystems. The biological information reported in here may be useful for the design of experimental studies in the field or under laboratory conditions.

RESUMO Denopelopia amicitia Dantas, Hamada & Mendes foi descrita com base no macho e na pupa coletados na Amazônia brasileira. Aqui descrevemos e ilustramos a fêmea e a larva desta espécie. Em ambos os estágios, D. amicitia é similar à Denopelopia atria Roback & Rutter, que é a única espécie do gênero com todos os estágios de vida conhecidos até agora.

ABSTRACT Denopelopia amicitia Dantas, Hamada & Mendes was described based on the male and pupae collected in the Brazilian Amazon. Here we describe and illustrate the female and larva of this species. At both stages, D. amicitia is similar to Denopelopia atria Roback & Rutter, which is the only species in the genus with all life stages known until now.

RESUMO Fungos filamentosos tem sido alvo de estudos de bioprospecção devido à sua grande eficiencia em produzir enzimas extracelulares, as quais tem grande potencial para uso em bioindústrias. Neste estudo, fungos filamentosos foram isolados do intestino de larvas de insetos aquáticos da Amazônia, para avaliar sua atividade celulolítica. Foram coletadas 69 larvas de insetos aquáticos fragmentadores de três gêneros: Phylloicus (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae), Triplectides (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) e Stenochironomus (Diptera: Chironomidae) em dez igarapés de uma área protegida na Amazônia central brasileira. O crescimento dos fungos isolados foi feito em meio de cultura Ágar Batata Dextrose (BDA). Os isolados fúngicos foram transferidos para o meio sintético com Carboximetil celulose e utilizou-se vermelho Congo para determinar o índice enzimático. O halo de hidrólise, indicando a produção de celulases, foi observado em 175 isolados fúngicos (70% do total), dos quais 25 tiveram um índice enzimático ≥ 2,0 e pertencem a sete gêneros fúngicos. Os táxons fúngicos Cladosporium, Gliocephalotrichum, Penicillium, Pestalotiopsis, Talaromyces, Trichoderma e Umbelopsis foram isolados dos intestinos das larvas de Phylloicus, Triplectides e Stenochironomus e são tradicionalmente utilizados em aplicações biotecnológicas. Os resultados indicam um potencial celulolítco destes fungos associados ao intestino de insetos aquáticos amazônicos.

ABSTRACT Filamentous fungi have been targeted by bioprospecting studies because they are effective producers of extracellular enzymes that can potentially be used by the bioindustry. In this study, we isolated filamentous fungi from the guts of Amazonian aquatic insect larvae to evaluate their cellulolytic activity. We collected 69 larvae of shredder insects of three genera: Phylloicus (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae), Triplectides (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) and Stenochironomus (Diptera: Chironomidae) in ten streams from a protected area in the central Brazilian Amazon. Production of mycelia was elaborated in PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) medium. The isolates were transferred to a synthetic medium with carboxymethyl cellulose, and Congo red was used to determine the enzymatic index. The hydrolysis halo, indicating the production of cellulases, was observed in 175 fungal isolates (70% of the total), of which 25 had an enzymatic index ≥ 2.0 and belonged to seven fungal genera. The fungal taxa Cladosporium, Gliocephalotrichum, Penicillium, Pestalotiopsis, Talaromyces, Trichoderma and Umbelopsis were isolated from guts of Phylloicus, Triplectides and Stenochironomus, which are traditionally used in biotechnological applications. Our results indicate the cellulolytic potential of fungi associated with the guts of aquatic Amazonian insects.

Resumo: Aqui nós apresentamos a lista de espécies de libélulas presentes no estado do Amazonas, Brasil. Nós registramos 324 espécies e 101 gêneros, tornando o estado com o maior número de espécies de libélulas registradas no país. As famílias com maior número de espécies foram Coenagrionidae, com 32 gêneros e 101 espécies, seguido por Libellulidae, com 28 gêneros e 100 espécies e Gomphidae com 12 gêneros e 45 espécies. Regiões do estado do Amazonas permanecem pouco exploradas, como a parte sul e os municípios com grande extensão territorial, como São Gabriel da Cachoeira. Este trabalho reconhece a importância da diversidade biológica do estado do Amazonas e do bioma Amazônico para a riqueza de espécies de Odonata no Brasil e mostra que ainda existem muitas áreas não amostradas na maior floresta tropical do mundo.

Abstract: Here we provide a checklist of the odonates from Amazonas state, Brazil. We registered 324 species and 101 genera, making Amazonas the Brazilian state with the most Odonata species recorded. The families with the highest number of species were Coenagrionidae with 32 genera and 101 species, followed by Libellulidae with 28 genera and 100 species and Gomphidae with 12 genera and 45 species. Some regions of Amazonas state remain poorly explored, such as the southern area, and large municipalities, such as São Gabriel da Cachoeira. This work underlines the importance of the biological diversity from Amazonas state and the Amazonian Biome for Odonata species richness in Brazil and shows that many areas in the world’s largest tropical forest have not yet been sampled.

RESUMO Ablabesmyia cordeiroi Neubern foi descrita originalmente com base em machos coletados na região amazônica, portanto, a fêmea e os imaturos desta espécie são desconhecidos. No presente estudo, os estágios de pupa e larva de A. cordeiroi são descritos e ilustrados. Além disso, uma emenda à diagnose da larva de Ablabesmyia é fornecida.

ABSTRACT Abalesmyia cordeiroi Neubern was originally described based on adult males collected in the Amazon region; therefore, females and immatures of this species are unknown. In the present study, the pupal and larval stages of A. cordeiroi are described and illustrated. In addition, an amendment to the larval diagnosis of Ablabesmyia is provided.

Abstract Belostomatidae is a family of giant water bugs with 52 valid species in Brazil. Here, we list 33 valid species housed in the Invertebrates Collection of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - INPA, Manaus, Brazil. Of the total species examined, 26 had their distributional ranges increased (new records provided in parentheses): Belostoma amazonum Estévez & Polhemus (Mato Grosso and Roraima); B. aurivillianum (Montandon) (Rondônia); B. bosqi De Carlo (Maranhão); B. candidulum Montandon (Mato Grosso do Sul); B. carajaensis Ribeiro & Estévez (Amazonas); B. dallasi De Carlo (Bahia and Pará); B. dentatum (Mayr) (Roraima); B. denticolle Montandon (Roraima); B. dilatatum (Dufour) (Maranhão); B. discretum Montandon (Rio Grande do Sul); B. elongatum Montandon (Paraná); B. estevezae Ribeiro & Alecrim (Amazonas); B. fittkaui De Carlo (Roraima); B. gestroi Montandon (Pará); B. guianae Lauck (Brazil, in Roraima); B. micantulum (Stål) (Maranhão, Rio Grande do Norte, Rondônia and Roraima); B. minusculum (Uhler) (Brazil, in Amazonas, Pará and Rio Grande do Norte); B. parvum Estévez & Polhemus (Amazonas and Roraima); B. plebejum (Stål) (Roraima); B. pygmeum (Dufour) (Pará); B. ribeiroi De Carlo (Mato Grosso do Sul); B. stollii (Amyot & Serville) (Roraima); Horvathinia pelocoroides Montandon (Rondônia); Lethocerus annulipes (Herrich-Schaeffer) (Maranhão, Paraíba and Paraná); L. delpontei De Carlo (Amazonas and Pará) and L. maximus De Carlo (Acre, Amapá, Amazonas and Roraima). In addition, we provide a list of type and non-type specimens of Belostomatidae from INPA’s collection identified to the species level, photographs of these species and relevant taxonomic notes, when available.

ABSTRACT Anagrus amazonensis Triapitsyn, Querino & Feitosa (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae) is a parasitoid that uses aquatic insect eggs as a host for the development of its immature stages. The objectives of this study are to record the interaction between A. amazonensis and its hosts and the aquatic plants used by these hosts to lay their eggs. Field work was conducted in floodplain lakes and upland (terra firme) streams, in four municipalities in Amazonas State, Brazil, where aquatic plants were scanned for the presence of aquatic insect eggs. In the laboratory, eggs were maintained in plastic containers with water until the emergence of the parasitoid or of the first instar insect. A total of 1223 adults of A. amazonensis emerged from eggs of Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Odonata; these eggs were collected on 12 species of aquatic plants.

ABSTRACT Biomass is a fundamental measure for understanding the structure and functioning (e.g. fluxes of energy and nutrients in the food chain) of aquatic ecosystems. We aim to provide predictive models to estimate the biomass of Triplectides egleri Sattler, 1963, in a stream in Central Amazonia, based on body and case dimensions. We used body length, head-capsule width, interocular distance and case length and width to derive biomass estimations. Linear, exponential and power regression models were used to assess the relationship between biomass and body or case dimensions. All regression models used in the biomass estimation of T. egleri were significant. The best fit between biomass and body or case dimensions was obtained using the power model, followed by the exponential and linear models. Body length provided the best estimate of biomass. However, the dimensions of sclerotized structures (interocular distance and head-capsule width) also provided good biomass predictions, and may be useful in estimating biomass of preserved and/or damaged material. Case width was the dimension of the case that provided the best estimate of biomass. Despite the low relation, case width may be useful in studies that require low stress on individuals.

Aquatic invertebrate biomass estimations are often important in ecological and biological studies. Biomass may be determined by regression models between body and case dimensions and dry mass. Using linear, exponential and power regressions we analyzed the relationship between body and case dimensions and the biomass of Phylloicus elektoros Prather, 2003. Furthermore, we used cross-validation to evaluate the predictions of our models and of the models developed for Phylloicus sp. from southeastern Brazil. We measured four body dimensions (head capsule width, interocular distance, body and pronotum length) of 152 larvae and two case dimensions (width and length) of 45 cases. Case width provided better fit with biomass than case length in all model classes. Body length provided the best biomass prediction. Biomass predictions using models proposed in the literature were 75% lower than the observed values. The power model provided the best fit between body and case dimensions with biomass. However, exponential models also provided good biomass estimates. We observed a close fit between body and case dimensions and biomass, but the predictive power of the models was low (~40%). The predictive power of models proposed in the literature was much worse than those built from local data and thus we do not recommend their use to predict the biomass of organisms from different regions.

The aquatic habit and host plants of Paracles klagesi (Rothschild) (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae) in Brazil. The aquatic caterpillar Paracles klagesi (Rothschild, 1910) was collected from the headwaters of a stream in an ecotone between Cerrado and Babaçu forest in northeastern Brazil. The single caterpillar found was observed feeding on the macrophyte Tonina fluviatilis Aubl. (Eriocaulaceae) and other aquatic plants of the family Nymphaeaceae present in the area, but also accepted as food Elodea canadensis Michx. (Hydrocharitaceae) and Cabomba sp. (Cabombaceae) under laboratory conditions.

Fauna of Simuliidae (Diptera) from the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil: Distribution, new records and list of species. The fauna of Simuliidae in Brazil is composed of 87 species, 17 of which are recorded from the state of Espírito Santo. Entomological collections were carried out in 2010-2011 with the objective of increasing the knowledge of the species richness of this family in the state. Ninety three rivers and streams were sampled, each collection being carried out in a 50m transect. During the study period 30 species were collected, 13 of which represent new records for the state, 12 of the genus Simulium and one of the genus Lutzsimulium. Among these new state records one, Simulium lobatoi, also represents a new record from southeastern Brazil. The other newly recorded species are: Lutzsimulium hirticosta, Simulium distinctum, Simulium exiguum, Simulium oyapockense, Simulium botulibranchium, Simulium petropoliense, Simulium clavibranchium, Simulium rappae, Simulium minusculum, Simulium dinellii, Simulium ochraceum and Simulium scutistriatum.

Leptohyphidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) do Estado do Amazonas, Brasil: novos registros, nova combinação, nova espécie e chave de identificação para estágios ninfais. Os seguintes gêneros de Leptohyphidae ocorrem no estado do Amazonas: Amanahyphes Salles & Molineri, Leptohyphes Eaton, Tricorythodes Ulmer e Tricorythopsis Traver. A distribuição das espécies de Leptohyphidae no Estado do Amazonas é apresentada. Uma espécie nova, Tricorythodes yapekuna sp. nov., é descrita e pode ser diferenciada de outros Tricorythodes pelas (1) garras tarsais com um par de dentículos submarginais e sem dentículos marginais; (2) palpo maxilar biarticulado; (3) brânquia opercular uniformemente preta com exceção da margem apical; (4) fórmula branquial 2/3/3/3/2; e (5) margem lateral do abdome expandida nos segmentos III_VI. Uma combinação nova, Tricorythopsis rondoniensis (Dias, Cruz & Ferreira, 2009) comb. nov., é proposta e constitui o primeiro registro dessa espécie para o Estado do Amazonas. Uma chave dicotômica ilustrada para identificar ninfas de gêneros e espécies ocorrentes no Amazonas também é apresentada.

Leptohyphidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) of Amazonas state, Brazil: new records, new combination, new species and identification key for nymphal stages. The following genera of Leptohyphidae occur in the Amazonas state: Amanahyphes Salles & Molineri, Leptohyphes Eaton, Tricorythodes Ulmer and Tricorythopsis Traver. Distribution of Leptohyphidae species in Amazonas state is presented. A new species, Tricorythodes yapekuna sp. nov., is described and can be distinguished from other Tricorythodes by: (1) tarsal claws with pair of submarginal denticles and no marginal denticles; (2) bi-articulated maxillary palp; (3) opercular gill black except on apical margin; (4) gill formula 2/3/3/3/2; and (5) expanded lateral abdominal margin of segments III_VI. The new combination, Tricorythopsis rondoniensis (Dias, Cruz & Ferreira, 2009) comb. nov., is proposed and constitutes the first record of this species in the Amazonas State. An illustrated dichotomous key to identify nymphs of genera and species occurring in the Amazonas State is also presented.

The last-instar larva, pupa, male and female of Simulium virescens sp. nov. are described and illustrated. This species has a peculiar larva, which has an elongated head capsule and light-green colour. The first thoracic segment has tubercle on its dorsal region and the third thoracic segment has one pair of tubercles; the first to the fourth abdominal segments have one pair of tubercles on each segment. Until now this new species had only been collected at the type locality, which is on the middle stretch of the Correntina River in the southwestern portion of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Females were voraciously biting humans during the field work. This new species represents the second species of Simulium(Psilopelmia) in Brazil and the first registered outside of the Brazilian Amazon Region.

Baetidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) ocorrentes em Roraima, Brasil: novos registros e chaves para gêneros e espécies no estágio ninfal. Roraima é um dos estados de menor conhecimento acerca da família Baetidae no Brasil, com apenas quatro espécies formalmente registradas. Através de coletas realizadas principalmente nas regiões nordeste e sudeste de Roraima, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo ampliar o conhecimento a respeito da família no estado. Foram encontradas 32 espécies, sendo dessas, 14 novas ocorrências para a Região Norte e quatro novos registros para o Brasil (Camelobaetidius ortizi Dominique & Thomas, 2002, Cloeodes barituensis Nieto & Richard, 2008, Paracloeodes pacawara Nieto & Salles, 2006 e Waltzoyphius roberti Thomas & Peru, 2002). Exceto pelos gêneros Moribaetis Waltz & McCafferty, 1985, Tomedontus Lugo- Ortiz & McCafferty, 1995, Tupiara Salles Lugo-Ortiz, Da-Silva & Francischetti, 2003 e Varipes Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1998, todos os gêneros registrados para o Brasil foram encontrados. Um gênero e uma espécie de Cryptonympha encontrados são novos para a Ciência.

Baetidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) from Roraima, Brazil: new records and a key to genera and species at nymphal stage. Roraima is one of the Brazilian states where least is known regarding the family Baetidae; to date only four species have been recorded from the state. The aim of the present study is to improve knowledge of the family in Roraima based on collections that are mainly from northeastern and southeastern portions of the state. Thirty-two species were found; of this total, 14 are new records for the entire Northern Region of Brazil, and four species are new for the country (Camelobaetidius ortizi Dominique & Thomas, 2002, Cloeodes barituensis Nieto & Richard, 2008, Paracloeodes pacawara Nieto & Salles, 2006 and Waltzoyphius roberti Thomas & Peru, 2002). Except for Moribaetis Waltz & McCafferty, 1985, Tomedontus Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1995, Tupiara Salles, Lugo-Ortiz, Da-Silva & Francischetti, 2003 and Varipes Lugo-Ortiz & McCafferty, 1998, all of the remaining genera that had been recorded from Brazil were found. One genus and one Cryptonympha species were found to be new to science.