title: Mosquitoes in Bromeliads at Ground Level of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: the Relationship Between Mosquito Fauna, Water Volume, and Plant Type.
abstract: Water accumulating in the axils of bromeliads provides habitat for numerous invertebrates, frequently among them, immature mosquitoes. To evaluate mosquito richness in bromeliads and the relationship between mosquito presence and biotic and abiotic variables, we performed a study in the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mosquitoes of genusCulexwere the most abundant and varied in species richness, among which nine belonged to subgenusMicroculex,Culex(Microculex)neglectusLutz andCulex ocellatusTheobald being the most frequent species. Sabethines of generaWyeomyiaandRunchomyiawere found in low numbers.Wyeomyia(Spilonympha)airosaiLane and Cerqueira andWyeomyia(Spilonympha)finlayiLane and Cerqueira tend to proliferate in bromeliads of the genusBilbergiawhich hold less than 50 ml of water and grow either alone or withRunchomyia frontosa(Theobald). The larger the volume of water, the greater the chance of findingCulex,Anophelesas well asWyeomyia(Phoniomyia) species, which seems to be the more generalist as it is present in different bromeliad types with a large range of plant water holding capacities.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil, 4365, CEP 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: C A A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil, 4365, CEP 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lourenço-de-Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Computação Científica, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil, 4365, CEP 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Codeço
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil, 4365, CEP 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Motta
keywords: Wyeomyia; bromeliad; phytotelmata; rain forest