Description of the larva of Amblyomma calcaratum Neumann, 1899 (Acari: Ixodidae) by light and scanning electron microscopy.

The larval stage of Amblyomma calcaratum Neumann is described using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Unfed larvae were obtained from a colony of A. calcaratum originating from engorged females collected on Tamandua tetradactyla in the Jaraguá Mountain (23°40'S, 45°44'W), São Paulo County, Brazil. Eleven larvae were prepared and mounted on slides and observed under a light microscope equipped with a drawing tube. Three specimens were prepared for SEM. Several morphological characters are described, including the chaetotaxy of the idiosoma, palpi, and Haller's organ, as well as morphological features of the idiosoma, gnathosoma, and legs of A. calcaratum larvae. In addition, topographical and numerical patterns of integumentary structures on the larval idiosoma are described using a recently proposed nomenclature. On the idiosoma, setaes, lyrifissures, small glands, and large wax glands were found. These structures were observed isolated or associated over the entire idiosoma, except on the scutum, which lacks large wax glands. The topographical and numerical patterns of integumentary structures of the A. calcaratum larva showed only minor differences when compared with patterns of other Amblyomma larvae; however, a few key features can be used to differentiate A. calcaratum from other members of this genus.

Pattern of tick spatial distribution of a fragment of forest in an urban area, through a survey by co2 trap

ABSTRACT The study of the ixodofauna in fragments of woods in an urban area is important to the knowledge of species of tick and the dynamic among wild and domestic hosts, allowing to subsidize proposals for the conservation of the fauna and the control of zoonoses such as Brazilian spotted fever. To accomplish the survey, CO2 traps were built up in six different sites of the forest, during a oneyear period, totalizing 12 collections. The ixodids were collected by monitoring the traps and the adjacent vegetation during two hours and put in ethanol 70° GL. At the laboratory they were identified under the stereoscopic optics. At the end of a one-year period of study 2.122 ixodids were colleted, being 793 larvae (37,3%) and 1.277 nymphs (57,8%) of the genus Amblyomma and 102 were adults (4,9%) of the Amblyomma species. The most constant species was Amblyomma cajennense, present in 83,33% of the collections (71 specimen) followed by Amblyomma dubitatum, present in 50% (30 specimen), and Amblyomma calcaratum, 8,33% (one specimen). The observations showed that in the observed environment the populations of Ixodidae have an aggregate distribution, possibly because of the aggregate distribution of the resource, in the case wild hosts.

RESUMO O estudo da ixodofauna de fragmentos de mata em área urbana é fundamental para o conhecimento das espécies de carrapatos e para a dinâmica de transmissão entre hospedeiros silvestres e domésticos, gerando subsídios para propostas de conservação da fauna e controle de zoonoses como a Febre Maculosa Brasileira. Para o levantamento, quatro armadilhas de CO2 foram montadas em seis localidades na mata do Morro do Imperador, Juiz de Fora, MG, durante um ano, totalizando 12 coletas. Os ixodídeos foram coletados por monitoramento das armadilhas e vegetação adjacente durante o período de duas horas e acondicionados em etanol 70° GL. No laboratório, os carrapatos foram identificados sob esterioscopia. Ao final de um ano de estudo, foram coletados 2.122 ixodídeos, sendo 793 larvas (37,3%) e 1.277 ninfas (57, 8%) do gênero Amblyomma, além de 102 adultos (4,9%) do gênero Amblyomma. A espécie mais constante foiAmblyomma cajennense, presente em 83,33% das coletas (71 espécimes), seguido de Amblyomma dubitatum presente em 50% (30 espécimes) e Amblyomma calcaratum em 8,33% (um espécime). As observações mostram que, no ambiente estudado, os ixodídeos têm um padrão de distribuição agregado, possivelmente em função da distribuição agregada do recurso, no caso hospedeiros silvestres.

Amblyomma calcaratum parasitando tamanduá-bandeira (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) em São Paulo

Ocurrence of Amblyomma calcaratum parasitizing giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is described in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.