This study contributes to knowledge of Anopheles species, including vectors of Plasmodium from the western Brazilian Amazon in Porto Velho, Rondônia State. The sampling area has undergone substantial environmental changes as a consequence of agricultural and hydroelectric projects, which have caused intensive deforestation and favored habitats for some mosquito species. The purpose of this study was to diagnose the occurrence of anopheline species from collections in three locations along an electric-power transmission line. Each locality was sampled three times from 2010 to 2011. The principal adult mosquitoes captured in Shannon trap were Anopheles darlingi, An. triannulatus, An. nuneztovari l.s., An.gilesi and An. costai. In addition, larvae were collected in ground breeding sites for Anopheles braziliensis, An. triannulatus, An. darlingi, An. deaneorum, An. marajoara, An. peryassui, An. nuneztovari l.s. and An. oswaldoi-konderi. Anopheles darlingi was the most common mosquito in the region. We discuss Culicidae systematics, fauna distribution, and aspects of malaria in altered habitats of the western Amazon.

No abstract

A new population of the Cone-billed Tanager Conothraupis mesoleuca, with information on the biology, behaviour and type locality of the species CARLOS ERNESTO CANDIA-GALLARDO, LUÍ S FÁ BIO SILVEIRA and ADRIANA AKEMI KUNIY SummaryThe 'Critically Endangered' Cone-billed Tanager Conothraupis mesoleuca was described in 1939, based on a single specimen collected in the state of Mato Grosso, western Brazil. Not seen again in the wild until 2003, this poorly-known species was rediscovered in Emas National Park, in the Brazilian state of Goiás. We describe here the discovery of a new population of Cone-billed Tanager in Chapada dos Parecis, along the upper Juruena River basin, in the state of Mato Grosso. The birds were always detected in (or near) flooded habitats along rivers. At least 40 individuals were found, but the population may be larger, since areas of potential habitat are available in the upper Juruena basin and these have not yet been surveyed. We also provide here the first information on the biology and behaviour of the species based on observations in Juruena and Emas, as well as a first description of the female. Historical documents and our records support our suggestion that ''Juruena'', i.e. the type locality of the Cone-billed Tanager, refers to the Juruena telegraph station (12 o 50'S, 58 o 55'W). Considering that the range of the species is being settled, research on different aspects of its biology are urgent. ResumoO tiê-bicudo Conothraupis mesoleuca, ave considerada criticamente ameaçada, foi descrito em 1939 com base em um ú nico espécime coletado no Mato Grosso. A espécie permaneceu sem novos registros até 2003, quando foi redescoberta no Parque Nacional das Emas, GO. Descrevemos aqui o achado de outra população da espécie na Chapada dos Parecis, ao longo da bacia do alto rio Juruena, MT. Nossos registros foram sempre realizados em (ou pró ximo de) ambientes ribeirinhos alagados. Encontramos pelo menos 40 indivíduos, mas a população pode ser maior, pois existem áreas de habitat potencial na bacia do alto Juruena que nunca foram visitadas por ornitó logos. Fornecemos aqui as primeiras informaçõ es sobre a biologia e comportamento da espécie, baseadas em observaçõ es realizadas no Juruena e em Emas, bem como uma descrição da fêmea. Documentos histó ricos e nossos registros suportam nossa sugestão de que ''Juruena'', i.e. a localidade-tipo da espécie, refere-se à Estação Telegráfica de Juruena (12 o 50'S, 58 o

No abstract

This study reports the factors which led a gated community located in Bragança Paulista (SP, Brazil), a non-endemic area for Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF), to be classified as a Risk Area for transmission of this disease, showing that an increasing resident population of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in the area was likely responsible for a proliferation of Amblyomma sculptum ticks and acted as an amplifying host for Rickettsia rickettsii, the main etiologic agent of BSF. We report management actions proposed to control the local tick burden and reduce BSF risk, including measures to control parasitic and free-living tick populations and exclusion of the resident capybara population. Analyses of tick population data and R. rickettsii serology tests indicate that these measures were effective, greatly reducing the environmental burden of Amblyomma sculptum ticks and reducing the BSF transmission risk at the area.