02137nas a2200157   4500008004800000020001400048245019100062210006900253260001300322300001200335490000700347520152800354100002801882700002701910856004201937       2006                        Portdguese    a1519-566X00aOccurrence and biological characteristics of parasitoid phorids (Diptera: Phoridae) of the leaf-cutting ant Atta laevigata (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Porto Nacional, TO, Brazil0 aOccurrence and biological characteristics of parasitoid phorids   cMay-June  a408-4110 v353 aThe purpose of this study was to verify the occurrence of parasitism in Atta laevigata (Smith) by phorids in Porto Nacional, Tocantins, Brazil and to evaluate some biological characteristics of those flies. From October/2002 to September/2003, at 15-day intervals, 22 samplings were carried out (149.5 [plus or minus] 82.9 workers each) comprising 3,704 ants. In the laboratory, the ants were distributed in groups of five individuals per petri dish and maintained at temperature of 25 PC and 80 5% of RH. They were fed daily with a 50% honey solution until death. The total of 106 workers (2.8%), collected with or without load (plant fragment), were parasitized by phorids: 72 workers (68%) were parasitized by Apocephalus vicosae Disney, 28 individuals (26.4%) by Neodohrniphora erthali Brown, and six (5.6%) by Apocephalus attophilus Borgmeier. The higher parasitism rates by A. vicosae (3.9-5.4%) were observed during the dry season (June-August), while the parasitism by N. erthali was lower than 2.3% throughout the year. The bigger workers were parasitized by bigger parasitoid N. erthali or by parasitoid with larger number of larvae A. attophilus. The occurrence of three phorid species in Tocantins broadens the distribution of these flies in Brazil. The development of A. vicosae larva within the thorax of the host as well as the rupture between the ant pronotum and propleuron so that the emergence of the fly can take place are characteristics not yet described on parasitism of leaf-cutting ants by phorids.1 aBraganca, Marcos, A. L.1 aMedeiros, Zodja, C. S.  u<Go to ISI>://ZOOREC:ZOOR14212071839 01217nas a2200157   4500008004500000245013200045210006900177260001800246300001200264490000700276520065100283100002800934700003300962700002200995856004201017       2003                        Engldsh  00aFirst record of phorid parasitoids (Diptera: Phoridae) of the leaf-cutting ant Atta bisphaerica Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)0 aFirst record of phorid parasitoids Diptera Phoridae of the leafc  cJanuary-March  a169-1710 v323 aPhoridae flies parasitize several ant species, including many Atta leaf-cutting ants. In this note, the attacks of three coexisting phorid species (Myrmosicarius grandicornis Borgmeier, Apocephalus attophilus Borgmeier and Neodorhniphora bragancai Brown) against Atta bisphaerica Forel workers in a pasture located in Vicosa County, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, are reported. The first two species of phorids are known to parasitize other leaf-cutting ants. N. bragancai, however, has been found only around A. bisphaerica nests. Each of these phorid species selects ants engaged in different tasks and oviposits in specific sites of the ant body.1 aBraganca, Marcos, A. L.1 aLucia, Terezinha, M. C. Dell1 aTonhasca, Athayde  u<Go to ISI>://ZOOREC:ZOOR13900042763 