First Record of Anopheles oryzalimnetes, Anopheles argyritarsis, and Anopheles sawyeri (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Caatinga Biome, Semiarid Scrubland of Sergipe State, Brazil.
Caatinga is one of the least known biomes of Brazil in relation to biodiversity. The dry condition of semiarid areas has been associated in the past with low richness of fauna and flora, not encouraging studies in this region. There is a lack of mosquito records including anophelines. Thus, to investigate the biodiversity of Anopheles mosquitoes in the Caatinga biome, we collected immature mosquitoes in aquatic habitats in a conservation reserve located in the northwestern portion of Sergipe state. The captured specimens were initially identified as Anopheles albitarsis l.s. and Anopheles argyritarsis l.s. To confirm the morphological identification, sequences were generated by cytochrome oxidase subunit I mitocondrial gene. The results showed that the specimens belong to the species Anopheles oryzalimnetes, An. argyritarsis, and Anopheles sawyeri. These are the first records of these species in this region. The presence of Anopheles in the Caatinga biome, which is characterized by arid and semiarid climatic conditions, encourages the interest in the study of biological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations, selected over time, which allow these mosquito populations to survive through the long periods of drought that is characteristic of this region.
Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 715, 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
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Marteis
Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 715, 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
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Sallum
Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 715, 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
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Natal
Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 715, 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
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Oliveira
Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Salgado Filho, S/N, 59078-900, Natal, RN, Brasil.
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Gama
Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Avenida Marechal Rondon, S/N, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
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Dolabella
Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Avenida Marechal Rondon, S/N, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil. rlacorte@ufs.br.
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Santos
D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011679:Pupa / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
D019476:Insect Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
Anopheles; Caatinga; mosquito distribution; semiarid; vector ecology