Evaluation of Methods for Collecting Mosquitoes (Culicidae: Diptera) in Canopy and Ground Strata in the Brazilian Savanna.

The hand-net is the standard method for capturing mosquitoes with sylvatic diurnal activity in disease outbreaks in Brazil. However, occupational risks and biases related to the collectors' abilities and attractiveness are important limitations. In this study, we compared hand-nets with automatic traps (CDC) associated to CO2 and BG-Lure® in the Vassununga State Park, a Brazilian Savanna protection area. The collections carried out over 27 days on the ground and the forest canopy. A total of 1555 mosquitoes were obtained in 20 taxa. The diversity index ranged between 1.12 and 1.79 and the dominance index from 0.22 to 0.40. The dominant species on the ground was Aedes scapularis (46.0%), and in the canopy, Hg. janthinomys/capricornii (31.9%). Haemagogus leucocelaenus was rare (n = 2). The hand-net resulted in the greatest diversity and abundance of species in both strata, followed by the traps associated with CO2. A low degree of similarity was observed between the hand-net on the ground compared to the other capture methods. The use of BG-Lure® alone resulted in a low number of specimens. In conclusion, the hand-net is still the method of choice for collecting arbovirus vectors in the diurnal period, especially yellow fever vectors.

Evaluation of Methods to Collect Diurnal Culicidae (Diptera) at Canopy and Ground Strata, in the Atlantic Forest Biome.

Hand-held insect nets are the standard method for capturing vector mosquitoes of sylvatic arboviruses; however, occupational risks and biases due to individual skill and attractiveness are important limitations. The use of chemical attractants and automatic traps could be an alternative to resolve these limitations. This study compares the yields achieved using nets with those employing electrical traps with CO2 and BG-Lure®, near the ground and in the canopy strata (6.0 and 8.0 m high). The study was conducted at the Cantareira State Park, which is in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. In the 18 collections performed, 3570 specimens of 52 taxa were obtained. The most frequent species captured near the ground were Wyeomyia confusa and Limatus durhamii, whereas Sabethes albiprivus, Sabethes purpureus, and Haemagogus leucocelaenus were the most frequent in the canopy. The nets resulted in greater species richness and abundance, followed by the trap employing CO2. The combination of CO2 traps with BG-Lure® did not improve performance. The use of BG-Lure® alone resulted in low abundance and a low number of species. Our results demonstrate that the use of traps with CO2 can be complementary to collections with nets; however, for species of epidemiological interest such as those of the genera Haemagogus and Sabethes, especially in the canopy, the net remains the method of choice.

Larvicidal activity of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck essential oils and their antagonistic effects with temephos in resistant populations of Aedes aegypti.

Environmentally friendly botanical larvicides are commonly considered as an alternative to synthetic larvicides against Aedes aegypti Linn. In addition, mosquito resistance to currently used larvicides has motivated research to find new compounds acting via different mechanisms of action, with the goal of controlling the spread of mosquitos. Essential oils have been widely studied for this purpose. This work aims to evaluate the larvicidal potential of Syzygium aromaticum and Citrus sinensis essential oils, either alone or in combination with temephos, on Ae. aegypti populations having different levels of organophosphate resistance. The 50% lethal concentration (LC50) of the essential oils alone and in combination with temephos and the influence of essential oils on vector oviposition were evaluated. The results revealed that essential oils exhibited similar larvicidal activity in resistant populations and susceptible populations. However, S. aromaticum and C. sinensis essential oils in combination with temephos did not decrease resistance profiles. The presence of the evaluated essential oils in oviposition sites significantly decreased the number of eggs compared to sites with tap water. Therefore, the evaluated essential oils are suitable for use in mosquito resistance management, whereas their combinations with temephos are not recommended. Additionally, repellency should be considered during formulation development to avoid mosquito deterrence.

Larvicidal activity of Syzygium aromaticum (L) Merr and Citrus sinensis (L) Osbeck essential oils and their antagonistic effects with temephos in resistant populations of Aedes aegypti

Environmentally friendly botanical larvicides are commonly considered as an alternative to synthetic larvicides against Aedes aegypti Linn. In addition, mosquito resistance to currently used larvicides has motivated research to find new compounds acting via different mechanisms of action, with the goal of controlling the spread of mosquitos. Essential oils have been widely studied for this purpose. This work aims to evaluate the larvicidal potential of Syzygium aromaticum and Citrus sinensis essential oils, either alone or in combination with temephos, on Ae. aegypti populations having different levels of organophosphate resistance. The 50% lethal concentration (LC50) of the essential oils alone and in combination with temephos and the influence of essential oils on vector oviposition were evaluated. The results revealed that essential oils exhibited similar larvicidal activity in resistant populations and susceptible populations. However, S. aromaticum and C. sinensis essential oils in combination with temephos did not decrease resistance profiles. The presence of the evaluated essential oils in oviposition sites significantly decreased the number of eggs compared to sites with tap water. Therefore, the evaluated essential oils are suitable for use in mosquito resistance management, whereas their combinations with temephos are not recommended. Additionally, repellency should be considered during formulation development to avoid mosquito deterrence.

Hábito alimentar de Aedes aegypti e Culex quinquefasciatus e sua implicação na capacidade reprodutiva / Feeding habits of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus and its implications on the reproductive capacity

O estudo de hábito alimentar de espécies vetoras de doenças, ou potencialmente vetoras, indica os organismos envolvidos na transmissão e manutenção das doenças. Com a expansão de áreas urbanas e consequente aglomeração humana, como acontece no município de Marília, criou-se ambiente propício para a criação de mosquitos adaptados à essa situação. Esse trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar o hábito alimentar de culicídeos capturados em área urbana do município de Marília e relacionar com o nível socioeconâmico. A técnica utilizada para a identificação do hábito alimentar foi o ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) considerando quatro hospedeiros (humano, cão, ave e roedor). Entre as espécies coletadas com maior frequência estavam os Aedes aegypti e Culex quinquefasciatus. Em laboratório foram testados os aspectos da capacidade reprodutiva para fêmeas dessas espécies, alimentadas artificialmente com sangue dos mesmos hospedeiros observados em campo. As espécies coexistem em toda a área mesmo em diferentes níveis socioeconâmicos. A não concorrência pode ser explicada por apresentarem perfis hematofágicos distintos. Diferentemente do Ae. aegypti, o Cx. quinquefasciatus é espécie eclética quanto as fontes de hematofagia, no entanto apresentou maior frequência de repastos sanguíneos em roedores. Os Ae. aegypti se mostraram essencialmente antropofílicos.

Paridade de Ochlerotatus scapularis em condições de laboratório e campo / Parity of Ochlerotatus scapularis in laboratory and field conditions

OBJETIVO: Identificar o estado de paridade em fêmeas de Ochlerotatus scapularis de campo e obtidas em condições de laboratório. MÉTODOS: Para obtenção das fêmeas de campo, foram realizadas coletas quinzenais no Vale do Ribeira utilizando-se a técnica da aspiração manual, de abril de 2003 a março de 2004. Em laboratório, 100 fêmeas (F1) de Ochlerotatus scapularis foram mantidas e observadas individualmente anotando-se o número de repastos realizados, duração do ciclo gonotrófico, tempo de sobrevivência e número de ovos colocados. A observação do estado de paridade e desenvolvimento ovariano foi feita pela dissecção dos ovários de 90 fêmeas por coleta, e de todas as fêmeas mantidas em laboratório. RESULTADOS: Das 100 fêmeas mantidas em laboratório e dissecadas, o diagnóstico de condição de paridade conferiu com os resultados constatados em 55 por cento dos casos, sendo subestimados em 37 por cento e superestimados em 2 por cento. Ainda em laboratório, de 106 ciclos gonotróficos completados, cerca de 55 por cento das fêmeas necessitaram de mais de um repasto sangüíneo antes de ovipor. A sobrevivência observada em laboratório foi de até 26 dias para a espécie. Foram dissecadas 1.180 fêmeas de Ochlerotatus scapularis do campo: 418 (35,4 por cento) foram consideradas nulíparas, 655 (55,5 por cento) uníparas, 46 (3,9 por cento) como bíparas e 61 (5,2 por cento) não puderam ser avaliadas. Noventa fêmeas apresentavam-se na fase III-V de Christophers e Mer. CONCLUSÕES: Pode-se confirmar a hipótese de discordância gonotrófica, com base nas observações de fêmeas de Ochlerotatus scapularis no campo e laboratório.