Culicidae (Diptera) selection of humans, chickens and rabbits in three different environments in the province of Chaco, Argentina

STEIN, M.; ZALAZAR, L.; WILLINER, JUANA; LUDUEÑA ALMEIDA, F. F.; ALMIRÓN, WALTER R.

MEMóRIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ.

FUNDACO OSWALDO CRUZ

Lugar: Rio de Janeiro; Año: 2013 vol. 108 p. 563 - 571

0074-0276

Studies were conducted to determine the selection of humans, chickens and rabbits by Culicidae in three differentenvironments in the province of Chaco, Argentina. Mosquitoes were collected fortnightly using cylindrical metaltraps containing animal bait (chickens and rabbits). The mosquitoes were collected between June 2001-May 2002.During the same period and with the same frequency, mosquitoes biting the human operators of the traps were collectedduring the first 15 min of exposure within different time intervals: from 09:00 am-11:00 am, 01:00 pm-03:00pm, 05:00 pm-07:00 pm and 09:00 pm-10:00 pm. A total of 19,430 mosquitoes of 49 species belonging to 10 generawere collected. Culex species mainly selected chicken bait and Wyeomyia species selected rabbit bait. Ochlerotatusand Psorophora species were more abundant in rabbit-baited traps. Anopheles triannulatus, Coquillettidia nigricans,Ochlerotatus scapularis, Mansonia titillans and Psorophora albigenu showed a strong attraction for humanbait. The Anopheles, Coquillettidia, Culex and Mansonia species were more active between 05:00 pm-09:00 pm,while Ochlerotatus, Psorophora, Haemagogus and Wyeomyia were most active from 09:00 am-07:00 pm. This studyprovides additional information about the biology and ecology of arbovirus vectors in Chaco.