Update on Phlebotominae fauna from the Chaco region, Argentina

SZELAG EA; ANDRADE FILHO JD; ROSA JR; QUINTANA MG; SALOMÓN OD

Reims

Simposio; IX International Symposium on Phlebotominae Sandflies; 2016

Previous studies showed that the Phlebotominae fauna in Argentina consists of 31 species distributed in 14 of the 24 provinces.This work aims to provide an update on the Phlebotoinae fauna and species distribution in the Chacoan region.Biogeographically, the Chaco region is divided by its annual rainfall gradient into two clearly differentiated subregions: the Eastern region (Wet Chaco) and the Western region (Dry Chaco). The first presents a damp Atlantic rainfall pattern where biomes form parks and savanna with abundant rainfall in summer and fall. On the other hand, the Western region has a dry continental and semi-arid rainfall pattern. Captures were conducted monthly in the two biogeographic regions using CDC miniature light placed 1.5 m above the ground, and operating for 12 h (from 7 pm to 7 am). In Western Chaco region, captures were made during the period 2006?2008 for two consecutive nights each month in Nueva Población(S245801800?W612102500). In the Eastern Chaco region, captures were made monthly for overnight from 2009 to 2013 inthe towns of Margarita Belen (S272603400?W585401300), Colonia Benitez (S271901600?W585905300), Resistencia(S271604800?W59101100), Tres Isletas (S262002400?W602505200). In the Transitional Area (Wet Chaco/Dry Chaco) of Pampadel Indio (S2552029.900; W5949025.500), monthly collections for two consecutive nights were made from 2013 to 2015. At eachcollection site, three light traps were set, one intradomicilary, one extradomicilary and one in a nearby peridomestic habitat.Species previously recorded for Argentina: Brumptomyia avellari, Br. brumpti, Br. guimaraesi, Br. pintoi, Evandromyia evandroi, Ev. cortelezzii, Ev. sallesi, Expapillata firmatoi, Micropygomyia oswaldoi, Mi. peresi, Mi. quinquefer, Migonemyia migonei,Martinsmyia alphabetica, Nyssomyia neivai, Ny. whitmani, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Oligodontomyia spp., Pintomyia bianchigalatiae, Pi. fischeri, Pi. pessoai, Pi. misionensis, Pi. monticola, Pi. torresi, Pi. damascenoi, Psathyromyia pascalei, Pa.lanei, Pa. punctigeniculata, Pa. baratai, Pa. bigeniculata, Sciopemyia sordellii, Trichophoromyia auraensis. New records forArgentina: ? Ev. aldafalcaoae Margarita Belén: 1 male 06-II-2012; Resistencia: 1 male 04-XII-2013. Pampa del Indio: 1 male,2 females 10-I-2013; 1 male, 1 female 11-III-2014; 4 males, 3 females 09-IV-2015. Caught in peridomestic site (associated withkennels and pigsty), intradomestic site (veranda) and edge of forest. ? Ev. corumbaensis: Colonia Benítez: 1 male 19-III-2012;Resistencia: 2 males 09-IV-12 and 17-I-2013. Western biogeographic region ? Nueva Población: 7 males 21-XI-2006,09-I-2007, 21-III-2007, 01-X-2007 and 13-XII-2007; 8 females 25-IV-2007, 01-X-2007, 13-XII-2007 and 15-XII-2008, capturedin peridomestic and extradomestic sites. ? Ev. termitophila: Nueva Población: 1 male 10-X-2008; Tres Isletas: 1 female 04-IV-2011, captured in intradomestic site and peridomestic sites associated with a pigsty and a henhouse. New record forChaco: ? Pa. bigeniculata: Margarita Belen, 6 males 15-XII-2011, 2 males 27-III-2013 captured in peridomestic (pigstyand henhouse) and extradomestic sites. These new records extend the southern limit of known distribution for thesespecies, including the southernmost record on the continent, and also extend the total number of known species in the country to34.Financial support: Alberto J. Roemmers Argentina Foundation and Bunge & Born Foundation.