Infestation levels of Culex (Phytotelmatomyia) mosquitoes inhabiting water-filled Eryngium pandanifolium (Apiaceae) under different sunlight condition.

MELANIA T JUNGES; DARÍO VEZZANI; ANIBAL EDUARDO CARBAJO

JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016 vol. 50 p. 2839 - 2847

0022-2933

Wateraccumulation in vegetal structures, known as phytotelmata, serves as aquatichabitats for many insects, including mosquitoes. Among them, Culex (Phytotelmatomyia) is composed bya few species highly specialized and poorly known. The objective of this studywas to evaluate the association between sunlight condition and the abundance ofimmature stages of Culex(Phytotelmatomyia) species in axils of Eryngiumpandanifolium. A forest patch with a dense population of E. pandanifolium in the Lower Delta ofthe Paraná River (Entre Ríos province, Argentina) was sampled twice amonth between December and May. A total of 880 plants were inspected in 220 samplezones defined as the combination of location within the patch and sunlightcondition. All individuals collected (n=521) belonged to Cx. (Phy.) hepperi (56%), Cx.(Phy.) castroi (40%), and Cx. (Phy.)renatoi (4%). According to generalized linear models, the habitatavailability (i.e. water presence) was positively associated to sun exposure,but not with the location within the patch. Mosquito presence and abundance were positively related only to watervolume. Coexistence of Cx. hepperiand Cx. castroi was more frequentthan expected by chance. Further studies to understand the effects of sunlightand plant architecture on water dynamics are needed.