In Amazonia, the assemblages of several taxa differ significantly between upland terra firme and white-water flooded v arzea forests, but little is known about the diversity and distribution of bats in these two forest types. We compare the spatio-temporal patterns of bat assemblage composition and structure in adjacent terra firme and v arzea forests in the lower Purus River region of central Brazilian Amazonia. Bats were sampled using mist nets at five sites in each forest type during 40 nights (2400 net-hours). We captured 1069 bats representing 42 species and Phyllostomidae bats comprised 99.3 percent of all captures. The bat assemblages in v arzea and terra firme forests were significantly different, mainly due to a marked dissimilarity in species composition and in the number of captures during highwater season. In addition, bat assemblages within forest types differed significantly between seasons for both terra firme and v arzea. Frugivores dominated the bat assemblages in both forest types. Overall guild structure did not change between v arzea and terra firme or between seasons, but frugivore and animalivore abundance increased significantly in v arzea forest during the inundation. The difference in assemblage structure observed in the high-water season is probably caused by the annual v arzea flooding, which provides an effective barrier to the persistence of many understory bats. We also hypothesize that some bat species may undertake seasonal movements between forest types in response to fruit abundance, and our results further underline the importance of floodplain habitats for the conservation of species in the Amazon.

The present work was aimed at evaluating the in vitro efficacy of thymol on engorged and unengorged larvae of Rhipicephalus sanguineus. In order to perform the study, unengorged larvae were interleaved on filter paper (2 x 2 cm) recently sprayed with thymol in the following concentrations: 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%. For each concentration, ten repetitions of 50 larvae each were performed. A control group was established (water + DMSO) together with a positive control group (Amitraz), with ten repetitions each. Mortality was evaluated after 24 h. For the test with engorged larvae, the same thymol concentrations were used with the larvae being immersed for 5 min and mortality evaluated after 15 days. The values found for thymol efficacy for unengorged larvae were of 21.3%, 17.4%, 19.1%, 32.1%, 37.7% and for engorged larvae 3.0%, 0.0%, 3.0%, 97.0%, and 100.0% in concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% respectively. We have concluded that thymol had a deleterious effect on larvae of R. sanguineus, especially on engorged larvae for which 100% mortality was found in higher concentration.

The present work was aimed at evaluating the "in vitro" efficacy of different concentrations of thymol on engorged nymphs and females of Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The nymphs were separated in seven groups and immersed in different concentrations of thymol (0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) for 5 min. A control group was established (water + dimethylsulfoxide) together with a positive control group (Amitraz*), and mortality was evaluated after 15 days. In order to perform the experiment with females, the same methodology was used, and the following concentrations were tested: 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%. After 5 min of immersion, the engorged females were fixed on Petri dishes with the aid of a double-sided adhesive tape and kept in a climatized room regulated at 27 +/- 1 degrees C and UR >80 +/- 10%, and different parameters referring to the biology of the non-parasitary phase were evaluated daily. The values found for thymol efficacy on nymphs were 0.0%, 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100% in concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%, respectively. In the experiment with engorged females, thymol did not induce any significant alterations (p < 0.05) in the parameters of weight alteration, egg mass weight, pre-oviposition period, hatching percentage, egg production index and nutritional index; however, it affected the engorged females final weight in all treatments (p > 0.05). The concentration of thymol 2% was the one that showed a better efficacy (41%). It was concluded that thymol had a more accentuated deleterious effect on engorged nymphs, and it might be a promising supporting agent for the control of this ixodid.