title: [Ecological aspects of Phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the urban area of Ponta Porã municipality, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to carry out an analysis of urban phlebotomine fauna and a survey of infestations (intradomiciliary and peridomiciliary) in Ponta Porã municipality State of Mato Grosso do Sul.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sand flies were collected with automatic CDC light traps, installed monthly on three consecutive nights, from 18 h to 6h, from September 2005 to September 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3,946 phlebotomines, representing eight species, were captured, among which was a large predominance of Lutzomyia longipalpis, presenting high indexes of frequency, constancy, abundance and dominance. Of the total, 82.9% were males and 17.1% females. The monthly average number (136.29 ± 152.01) of males captured being, much larger than that of females. Although the average number of phlebotomines in the intradomicile was much larger than that in the peridomicile, there was no significant statistical difference. A positive correlation was found between the abundance of phlebotomines and the average daily maximum temperature, precipitation and relative atmospheric humidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The predominance of Lutzomyia longipalpis in Ponta Porã municipality is a reason for concern as regards the possibility of outbreaks of visceral leishmaniasis in the area, because this species is the main Leishmania chagasi vector not only in Mato Grosso do Sul but also nationwide.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Regional de Entomologia, Núcleo Regional de Saúde, Secretaria de Estado de Saúde, Dourados, MS. psilvadealmeida@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Paulo Silva de
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Edima Ramos
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Minzão
authors.forename: Luiz Donizethe
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Minzão
authors.forename: Silvana Rosa da
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Ademar Dimas
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Odival
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Faccenda
authors.forename: José Dilermando
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Andrade Filho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D011156:Population Density; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000145:classification*; D012621:Seasons; D014505:Urban Population