Estrutura de comunidades de Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) em fragmento de Mangue Equatorial Amazônico

Abstract

The genus Culicoides belongs to the ceratopogonidae family and is composed of small hematophagous insects. These dipterans have significant epidemiological importance, as they transmit pathogens to humans and other animals. Its breeding sites occur close to water bodies and places rich in organic matter, being abundant in mangrove areas. However, there are no reports of the ecological relationships established between the biting midges and their natural hosts in the mangrove swamp on the island of São Luís. The aim of this study was to characterize the structure of the Culicoides community and to verify whether the use of vertebrate feces as bait interferes in the composition, richness, abundance and seasonality of species in a mangrove fragment on the island of São Luís. CDC light traps combined with vertebrate feces baits (bird, bovine, equine, primate and swine) were used, in addition to a control trap (without bait) to catch biting midges in a mangrove area on the island of São Luís. In total, 4087 individuals of 22 species were captured. The most abundant were C. furens (23.46%), C. leopoldoi (21.58%), C. ignacioi (16.98%), C. maruim (13.85%), C. iriartei (10, 57%), insignis (7.07%) and C. limai (3.03%). Species richness and abundance were higher in baits with primate feces (15 species; 26.84% of individuals) and swine (15; 25.3%). The least attractive were equine (12; 9.3%) and bovine (9; 11.52%) feces. Biting midges were more abundant in the rainy season (67%), while richness in the dry season (19 species). These results indicate that vertebrate baits have a great influence on the attraction of biting midges.