title: Infestation of Brazilian Peridomiciliary Areas by Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Humid and Semihumid Climates.
abstract: This study investigates Culicoides infestation in peridomestic environments in two villages in Maranhão, one with hot and humid climate and the other with semihumid climate. We evaluated the composition, richness, abundance, and seasonality of species. We captured insects using CDC light traps installed in animal shelters once a month, from 6 pm to 6 am, for 24 mo (May 2012 to April 2014). In this study, 17 species were found. Of these, 10 occurred simultaneously in two areas; six were found only in hot and humid area, while one occurred only in the semihumid area. Species richness was higher in the hot and humid climate (16 species) than in the semihumid (11 species). The rank of abundance was uneven across areas: C. foxi, C. insignis, C. filariferus, C. ignacioi, and C. flavivenula were dominant in the hot and humid area, and C. ignacioi, C. foxi, C. filariferus, C. insignis, and C. boliviensis in the semihumid. Midges were more abundant in the rainy season in both areas. This result reveals a diversified fauna of midges, with variable abundance of rank according to the area, prevailing in the rainy season and in the Amazon area. It also highlights the need for health monitoring in order to contain the infestation by these insects in peridomestic environments, taking into account that some species can be effective vectors of arboviruses in the Amazon and northeastern Maranhão.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses 1966, Campus do Bacanga, 65080-805, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil (mariza_bandeira@hotmail.com; moraes2entomologia@yahoo.com.br; brito.g.a@hotmail.com; macariorebelo@uol.com.br).
authors.forename: M C A
authors.initials: MCA
authors.lastname: Bandeira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Entomologia e Vetores, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, 65.080-805 São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil (adripenha@gmail.com).
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Da Penha
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses 1966, Campus do Bacanga, 65080-805, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil (mariza_bandeira@hotmail.com; moraes2entomologia@yahoo.com.br; brito.g.a@hotmail.com; macariorebelo@uol.com.br).
authors.forename: J L P
authors.initials: JLP
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses 1966, Campus do Bacanga, 65080-805, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil (mariza_bandeira@hotmail.com; moraes2entomologia@yahoo.com.br; brito.g.a@hotmail.com; macariorebelo@uol.com.br).
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses 1966, Campus do Bacanga, 65080-805, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil (mariza_bandeira@hotmail.com; moraes2entomologia@yahoo.com.br; brito.g.a@hotmail.com; macariorebelo@uol.com.br).|Laboratório de Entomologia e Vetores, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, 65.080-805 São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil (adripenha@gmail.com).
authors.forename: J M M
authors.initials: JMM
authors.lastname: Rebêlo
keywords: biological vector; biting midges; climatic region; hematophagous insect