Mantiqueira Mountain Research Articles

The Widespread Occurrence of Anther Destruction by Trigona Bees in Melastomataceae

The Widespread Occurrence of Anther Destruction by Trigona Bees in Melastomataceae

865. A new temperature-altitude environmental chamber: Anon., Bull. Nat. Res. Council Can., Radio & Elect. Engng. Div., 12 (3), Oct. 1962, 1–5

Simulium (Chirostilbia) vitribasi n. sp. from the Mantiqueira mountain range, in São Paulo and Minas Gerais states, southeastern Brazil, is described and illustrated based on male, female, pupal and larval morphologies. The pupae of the new species is similar to the one of Simulium pertinax Kollar, one of the most voracious black fly species in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil and a target of control programs in these regions. But the pupa of the new species has a large basal fenestra in the gills that distinguishes it from all other S. (Chirostilibia) species. The other life stages of the new species also have morphological characters that distinguish it from the other species in the subgenus: male has scutum black, with patches of thick, golden hairs; female has scutum similar to that of the male, without banding or other markers, abdominal tergites I and II whitish and sternite VIII dark, heavily sclerotized; anal lobe almost as wide as long, with thin, long hairs on its outer margin; larva body cuticle has wide scale-like setae, with lobulated distal margins. Females were not observed biting humans during the fieldwork.