Intra-population plasticity of Anopheles darlingi's (Diptera, Culicidae) biting activity patterns in the state of Amapá, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the variation in Anopheles darlingi's biting activity compared to An. marajoara in the same locality and to biting activity data from other regions.


METHODS
Using human bait, eight observations of the biting activity of An. darlingi and An. marajoara were carried out during 1999 and 2000 in the municipality of São Raimundo do Pirativa, state of Amapá, Brazil. Each observation consisted of three consecutive 13-hour collections, close to full moon. There were shifts of collectors in the observation points and nocturnal periods.


RESULTS
An. darlingi revealed considerable plasticity of biting activity in contrast to An. marajoara, which showed well-defined crepuscular biting peaks. No significant correlation between density and biting activity was found, but a significant correlation existed between time and proportional crepuscular activity, indicating underlying ecological processes not yet understood. Two of the four available data sets having multiple observations at one locality showed considerable plasticity of this species' biting patterns as well.


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-population variation of biting activity can be as significant as inter-population variation. Some implications in malaria vector control and specific studies are also discussed.
Voorham
Jaco
J
Instituto de Pesquisas Científicas e Tecnológicas do Estado do Amapá (IEPA), Amapá, Brazil. voorham@uol.com.br
D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil; D004463:Ecology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D011156:Population Density; D013045:Species Specificity