title: Anthropophily of Lutzomyia wellcomei (Diptera: Psychodidae) in an Atlantic Forest Conservation Unit in Northeast Brazil.
abstract: Lutzomyia wellcomei (Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson) (Diptera: Psychodidae) can act as an important vector of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis This study presents the results of collections carried out in a fragment of Atlantic Forest in a Conservation Unit of Rio Grande do Norte state. Collections occurred over 12 consecutive months using Shannon and CDC traps. A total of 777 sand flies from eight species were collected: Lutzomyia walkeri (Newstead), Lutzomyia evandroi (Costa Lima & Antunes), Lutzomyia wellcomei (Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson), Lutzomyia sordellii (Shannon & Del Ponte), Lutzomyia brasiliensis (Costa Lima), Lutzomyia lenti (Mangabeira), Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva), and Lutzomyia abonnenci (Floch & Chassignet). Lutzomyia wellcomei was the most abundant species using the Shannon trap (97%) and L. walkeri in the CDC trap (81%). It is important to note the abundance of L. wellcomei in Shannon trap collections, which favors the capture of anthropophilic species. Lutzomyia wellcomei was only present in months where rainfall was above 100 mm, confirming it as a species adapted to wetter months.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59.078-970, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (mpgpinheiro@gmail.com; jhilariotavares@gmail.com; cassiolsi@gmail.com; mffmximenes@yahoo.com.br).
authors.forename: Marcos Paulo Gomes
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59.078-970, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (mpgpinheiro@gmail.com; jhilariotavares@gmail.com; cassiolsi@gmail.com; mffmximenes@yahoo.com.br).
authors.forename: José Hilário Tavares da
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59.078-970, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (mpgpinheiro@gmail.com; jhilariotavares@gmail.com; cassiolsi@gmail.com; mffmximenes@yahoo.com.br).
authors.forename: Cássio Lázaro Silva
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Inacio
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59.078-970, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (mpgpinheiro@gmail.com; jhilariotavares@gmail.com; cassiolsi@gmail.com; mffmximenes@yahoo.com.br) mffmximenes@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima Freire de Melo
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ximenes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000502:physiology; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000635:transmission; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons
keywords: Atlantic forest; Lutzomyia wellcomei; Phlebotominae; public health