[Ecology of Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) whitmani in an urban area in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
To study the fauna, hours of activity and seasonality of phlebotomines in forest animal habitats in the Ingá Park, on the urban perimeter of the municipality of Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil.


METHODS
Phlebotomines were collected on the urban perimeter using Shannon traps from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and Falcão traps from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight, on two nights per month from October 1998 to September 2000. The Shannon traps were installed close to forest animal habitats and on the banks of the Moscados stream; the Falcão traps were placed in shelters for captive birds, forest mammals and reptiles.


RESULTS
The Shannon traps yielded 13,656 phlebotomines, with predominance of Lutzomyia whitmani (98.7%). The Falcão traps yielded 4,040 phlebotomines, with L. whitmani again predominating (96.3%). L. whitmani was most frequently found between 12:00 midnight and 2:00 a.m. in the Shannon traps. This species was most frequently collected in the months of August (55.1%) in the Shannon traps, and in March 1999 (19.2%), November 1999 (15.9%) and August 2000 (20.6%) in the Falcão traps. More phlebotomines were collected in Falcão traps installed in shelters for captive mammals (84.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a clear predominance of L. whitmani in the Ing Park. The greatest frequency of L. whitmani was in August from Shannon traps, and in March and November from Falcão traps. The peak activity of L. whitmani took place between 12:00 midnight and 2:00 a.m.
Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil. ueslei@wnet.com.br
Ueslei
U
Teodoro
Dayane
D
Alberton
João Balduíno
JB
Kühl
Elcio Silvestre
ES
dos Santos
Demilson Rodrigues
DR
dos Santos
Ademar Rodrigues
AR
dos Santos
Otílio de
Od
Oliveira
Thaís Gomes Verzignassi
TG
Silveira
Maria Valdrinez Campana
MV
Lonardoni
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D010691:Phlebotomus; D011576:Psychodidae; D012621:Seasons; D014197:Trees; D014504:Urban Health