This research represents a study in an Amazonian village that has similar structures to others Kichwa Amazonian villages of Ecuador. We evaluated the diversity, ecology, possibility of mosquitoes/ pathogens translocation from forest to urban area, and the vulnerability by potential mosquito vectors of diseases through an intensive and fast method done January 2017. Our analyses registered a high diversity of mosquitos in Limoncocha village (33 spp, H’ 2.76), which includes four new records of species for Ecuador. We propose the biological reserve and the lagoon are determinant environmental factors for the high mosquito diversity, plus the socio-economic characteristics related with a deficient water pipeline supply and lack of solid waste system. Furthermore, the high diversity of sylvan mosquitoes registered throughout the area, that include several potential vectors, suggest a moderate to high vulnerability for the transference of pathogens from the Biological Reserve to the urbanized area, which may increase the circulation of little-known arboviruses (Mayaro, Ilheus, St Louis encephalitis) across Ecuador.

This research represents the first attempt to assess the spatial and temporal distribution based on micro-meso scales on two species with different host preference habits (anthropophilic vs zoophilic), in the major Leishmaniasis endemic area in Ecuador, tourist locations, and Biosphere reserve. Phlebotomine species, Lutzomyia trapidoi (Fairchild) and Lutzomyia reburra (Fairchild and Hertig), were analyzed by trap/habitat/month/locality/altitude, through the Poisson generalized regression model. Our data reveal a bimodal pattern for both species related with low precipitations and preference for forest habitat. Altitude, proximity to the forest, and the river were the variables that determine the hypervolume of the spatial distribution of relative abundance, where the overlap of these two species increases the risk of translocation and circulation of the etiological agent of leishmaniasis in sylvatic environments to rural–tourist–biosphere reserve areas and vice versa. The ecological characteristics of these two phlebotomines could explain the permanence of the major active and endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the North-Western Ecuador a key aspect in tourism health-security in alternative tourism.

INTRODUCTION. Phytotelmata are a botanical group with water-impounding structures formed by non-aquatic plants, such as leaf axils, perforated internodes, stem holes or depressions, rot-holes in tree trunks or branches (tree-holes), flowers, open fruits, among others. These plants offer suitable conditions for aquatic or semi-aquatic animals, in particular arthropods. Immature mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are well represented among the inhabitants of phytotelmata. OBJECTIVE. Carry out a rapid assessment of the biodiversity of mosquitoes present in different land uses in the population and biological reserve of Limoncocha, to assess the vulnerability and risk of transmission of pathogens that cause emerging diseases. METHODS. Immature mosquitoes were collected in different phytotelmata including Ananas comosus leaf axils in a deforested area with small crops nearby of the Limoncocha Biological Reserve. RESULTS. Fourth instar larvae of Wyeomyia (Wyeomyia) medioalbipes Lutz were found in this plant to confirm their presence in the country and to the cultivated pineapples as phytotelmata in Ecuador. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. This is the first report for Ecuador of Ananas comosus as phytotelmata and the associated mosquito species. Additionally, the presence of Wy. medioalpes in the country is confirmed. This information is added in the epidemiological evaluation of vulnerability and risk for the transmission of pathogens with a biogeographical and ecological vision.

Two mosquito species, Culex (Culex) hepperi and Culex (Culex) maxi are reported for the first time for Bolivia, in Tarija department. Aedes (Ochlerotatus) stigmaticus and Mansonia (Mansonia) indubitans are the first records in Aniceto Arce province, in Tarija department, southern Bolivia. In addition, Aedes (Protomacleaya) alboapicus and Culex (Phytotelmatomyia) renatoi are reported for the first time in the northwestern region of Argentina. Anopheles (Nyssorrhynchus) nuneztovari s.l. is reported for the first time in Jujuy and Tucumán provinces, and Aedes (Ochlerotatus) raymundi and Anopheles (Anopheles) neomaculipalpus are the first reports in Tucumán province. The 3 species are extending their geographical distribution in these provinces. Data on the collection localities and comments about the medical relevance of some species are also presented.