Mosquito Communities in Nova Iguaçu Natural Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT. In order to gather information on the culicid fauna of Nova Iguaçu Municipal Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, adult and immature stages were collected with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention miniature light traps, and dippers and suction tubes, respectively. In all, 828 adult and 990 immature specimens were collected belonging to 12 genera. Among the species collected were Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. fluviatilis, Ae. scapularis, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, and Psorophora ferox that are considered of potential medical importance. Culicids used a variety of larval habitats and bred under diverse ecological conditions, mostly in natural water containers formed by bamboo, bromeliad, ground depression, rock pool, stream, tree hole, and in artificial containers such as abandoned bathtub, car carcass, abandoned sink, plastic cup, waste tire, and water tank. Species richness and diversity increased from lower to higher forest cover and was highest in sites with highest diversity and high number of larval habitats.

Tree hole mosquito species composition and relative abundances differ between urban and adjacent forest habitats in northwestern Argentina

“…Urbanization is one of the most severe land uses, causing significant changes in the environment, creating a mosaic of patches with different types of coverage (Alberti & Marzluff, 2004). In Brazil, mosquito species richness and diversity increased from lower to higher forest cover and was highest in sites with highest diversity and number of larval habitats (Correa et al, 2014). Similarly, in Kenya, Africa, a significantly lower mean number of mosquito species per sample was recorded in a peridomestic zone compared with two forested habitats (Lounibos, 1981).…”

Culicidae Community Composition and Temporal Dynamics in Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve, Cachoeiras de Macacu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…For example, Guimarães et al [ 34 ] collected 45 mosquito species from 13 genera in forest environments in Itaguaí, Rio de Janeiro, although only 50% of the species were the same as those collected in REGUA. In Nova Iguaçu Municipal Park, within the Gericinó-Mendanha natural protection area, also in Rio de Janeiro State, 31 species from 12 genera were reported [ 5 ], 45% of which were the same as those found in REGUA. This is consistent with the highly heterogeneous environment of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and the associated high occurrence of endemism [ 35 ].…”

“…A rich diversity of species from the Culicidae family (Order: Diptera) with considerable spatial variability in composition has been recorded in the Atlantic Forest. For example, 22 species were collected from bromeliads belonging to the genera Nidularium and Vrisea in Serra do Mar [ 3 ]; 91 taxa were recorded in degraded and remnant forests in the Municipality of São Paulo, Brazil [ 4 ], and 31 mosquito species belonging to 12 genera were collected in Nova Iguaçu Natural Park, Rio de Janeiro [ 5 ]. The Atlantic forest is topographically complex, which creates a diverse array of microclimates and environmental conditions that may affect the availability and suitability of mosquito habitats, resulting in substantial spatial variation in Culicidae assemblages within this ecoregion [ 6 ], [ 3 ], [ 5 ].…”

Distribution of the Mosquito Communities (Diptera: Culicidae) in Oviposition Traps Introduced into the Atlantic Forest in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…T he Atlantic Forest comprises a set of forest formations that have a rich diversity of mosquito species with considerable spatial variability. The topographic complexity of this environment allows the existence of a broad spectrum of microclimates and environmental conditions that influence the availability and sustainability of mosquito habitats (Alencar et al 2011 , Marques et al 2012 , Correa et al 2014 ).…”