title: Mosquitoes of the Caatinga: 1. Adults stage survey and the emerge of seven news species endemic of a dry tropical forest in Brazil.
abstract: The Caatinga is the least known Brazilian biome in terms of the diversity of Culicidae. No systematic study of the diversity or ecology of the mosquitoes of this biome is available, despite the importance of vector diseases in Brazil. The present study addressed the mosquito biodiversity in the Caatinga biome by sampling adult populations. Specimens were sampled monthly from March 2013 to September 2014 in a Caatinga conservation unit located in the Brazilian semiarid zone. Mosquito collections were carried out in Shannon traps from late afternoon to early evening, and manual aspiration was used to capture diurnal species as well. A total of 4,692 mosquitoes were collected. The most dominant and constant species were all undescribed species belonging to the genera Wyeomyia and Runchomyia, which together represented 80% of the specimens. The most abundant species of epidemiological importance was Haemagogus (Con.) leucocelaenus. The abundance of mosquitoes was positively associated with the relative humidity and temperature recorded during the month preceding the collection date. In the Caatinga, the diversity of adult mosquitoes was associated with the availability (quantity and diversity) of natural larval habitats found in the different phytophysiognomies of the biome, which vary according to temperature and humidity. The number of species unknown to science reflects the levels of endemism that exist in the study area, and reinforces the need to further taxonomic investigation in the biome.
authors.affiliation: Colegiado de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Av. José de Sá Maniçoba, S/N, Centro, 56304-917, Petrolina, PE, Brazil. Electronic address: leticia.marteis@univasf.edu.br.
authors.forename: Letícia Silva
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Marteis
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 715, 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Delsio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Natal
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 715, 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Anice Mureb
authors.initials: MAM
authors.lastname: Sallum
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 715, 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônio Ralph
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Medeiros-Sousa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 715, 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiane Marques Porangaba
authors.initials: TMP
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Avenida Marechal Rondon, S/N, 49100-000, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roseli
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: La Corte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil; D009033:Culicidae / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D065928:Forests; D007814:Larva; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Caatinga; Culicidae; Diversity; Vector ecology