title: [Biting behavior of Anopheles darlingi Root, 1926 (Diptera: Culicidae) and its association with malaria transmission in Villavicencio (Meta, Colombia)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anopheles darlingi is the main malaria vector in the neotropics. This species is recognized by its anthropophilic behavior and its high variability in biting activity throughout its distribution range.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the biting behavior of An. darlingi and to establish its association with malaria transmission in Villavicencio.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2008 and 2009, a cross sectional and a longitudinal entomological study were carried out in 5 localities with malaria transmission in Villavicencio. Mosquito collections included breeding sites search and human landing catches in houses. Collected mosquitoes were analyzed for Plasmodium using the ELISA standard protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2,772 mosquitoes were collected in the study. Anopheles darlingi was the most abundant anopheline species. The most common breeding sites for this species were marshes, streams, lakes and fish ponds. Anopheles darlingi was found at all times during the year with monthly average human biting rates between 2.2 y 55.5 mosquitos/person/night. This species was collected throughout the night, indoors and outdoors, and 47 to 81% of An. darling captured during twelve hours of observation (18:00 to 06:00) were collected between18:00 and 22:00. Anopheles darlingi was found positive for P. falciparum with a 0.05% rate and the entomological inoculation rate was estimated at 2.9 infective bites/person per year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anopheles darlingi was infected with P. falciparum, it was found all year long and it exhibited characteristics in biting behavior that favor human-vector contact, being a permanent risk for malaria transmission in Villavicencio.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Entomología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia.
authors.forename: Martha Liliana
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ahumada
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Entomología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia.
authors.forename: Paula Ximena
authors.initials: PX
authors.lastname: Pareja
authors.affiliation: Secretaría Seccional de Salud del Meta, Villavicencio, Colombia.
authors.forename: Luz Stella
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Buitrago
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C, Colombia.
authors.forename: Martha L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Quiñones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000502:physiology*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*