The fauna of phlebotomines (Diptera, Psychodidae) in different phytogeographic regions of the state of Maranhão, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The fauna of phlebotomines (Diptera, Psychodidae) in different phytogeographic regions of the state of Maranhão, Brazil. Phlebotomine specimens were captured in domiciliary and forest environments in 47 municipalities between 1982 and 2005 with the aid of CDC light traps. A total of 91 species were found, of which four belonged to genus Brumptomyia and 87 to genus Lutzomyia, distributed among the following subgenera: Evandromyia (6), Lutzomyia (5), Micropygomyia (2), Nyssomyia (9), Pintomyia (2), Pressatia (3), Psathyromyia (6), Psychodopygus (14), Sciopemyia (4), Trichophoromyia (2), Viannamyia (2); species groups: Aragaoi (2), Baityi (1), Dreisbachi (1), Migonei (12), Oswaldoi (8), Pilosa (1), Saulensis (2), Verrucarum (4) and ungrouped (1). Species diversity was greatest in areas where there was dense evergreen seasonal forest (52 species), ombrophilous forest (31) and meridional cerrados (23) and lowest in areas with mixed forest (forest with babassu palms, cerrado and caatinga). The greatest similarity index was observed for restinga and open evergreen seasonal forest (J=0.48). Dense evergreen seasonal forest had greatest similarity with ombrophilous forest (J=0.38). The phlebotomine fauna was species rich and unevenly distributed in Maranhão, reflecting the phytogeographical complexity of the state, which is a result of the great variety of ecosystems and climate zones.KEYWORDS. Amazon; Babassu palm forests; Cerrado; Phlebotominae.RESUMO. Fauna de flebotomíneos (Diptera, Psychodidae) em municípios de diferentes fitorregiões, no estado do Maranhão, Brasil. Espécimes de flebotomíneos foram capturados nos anos de 1982 a 2005, em ambientes domiciliares e florestais de 47 municípios, com uso de armadilhas luminosas CDC. Foram encontradas 91 espécies, sendo quatro pertencentes ao gênero Brumptomyia e 87 ao gênero Lutzomyia, distribuídas nos seguintes subgêneros: Evandromyia (6), Lutzomyia (5), Micropygomyia (2), Nyssomyia (9), Pintomyia (2), Pressatia (3), Psathyromyia (6), Psychodopygus (14), Sciopemyia (4), Trychophoromyia (2), Viannamyia (2); grupo de espécies: Aragaoi (2), Baityi (1), Dreisbachi (1), Migonei (12), Oswaldoi (8), Pilosa (1), Saulensis (2), Verrucarum (4) e não agrupada (1). A diversidade de espécies foi maior nas áreas de floresta estacional perenifólia densa (52 espécies), floresta ombrófila (31) e cerrados meridionais (23), sendo menor nas áreas de matas mistas (floresta com babaçu, cerrado e caatinga). O maior índice de similaridade foi observado entre a restinga e a floresta estacional perenifólia aberta (J = 0,48). A floresta estacional perenifólia densa apresentou maior similaridade com a floresta ombrófila (J = 0,38). A fauna de flebotomíneos mostrou-se rica e distribuída de maneira heterogênea no Maranhão, concordando com a complexidade fitogeográfica do Estado, que se manifesta na riqueza de ecossistemas e de zonas climáticas.

An analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in counties located along road and railway corridors in the State of Maranhao, Brazil

“…The eastern region of the state (Line I) is also under the infl uence of the Amazon forest, combined with the transitional palm forest and Cerrado moving from west to east. These characteristics may explain why the incidence found in this region is higher than that recorded in the southwest of the state, which is dominated by Cerrado formations, as the climate is drier in the south 21,22 .…”

Vertical stratification of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in riparian forests between the Amazon and northeast Brazil

“…Brazilian studies of Lutzomyia in the upper strata of forests started in the 1970s in the state of Pará, eastern Amazon, and intensified in the 1980s in the state of Amazonas, central Amazon (Dias Lima et al ). However, in the state of Maranhão, none of the surveys of Lutzomyia conducted in forested areas (Rebêlo et al ) have studied its vertical distribution, although this method is useful for revealing new aspects of the behavior and habits of these dipterans. Therefore, the present study is the first to report the occurrence of Lutzomyia species at heights of over 1.5 m in the state of Maranhão.…”

“…Considering that in the state of Maranhão, Lu. antunesi is also abundant at ground level (Rebêlo et al ), the vertical transmission of CL can occur, as this vector is incriminated in the transmission of this disease in Brazil (Thies et al ).…”

First record of Hypsiboas geographicus (Spix, 1824) (Hylidae) and Physalaemus centralis Bokermann, 1962 (Leptodactylidae) for coastal ecosystems in the state of Maranhão, Brazil

“…The state of Maranhão is inserted in a wide and diverse biogeographic transition zone (Ab' Saber 1989) with the Amazon Rainforest in its western portion, patches of the Caatinga in the east, Cerrado in the center and northeast (IBGE 1984), and coastal ecosystems (restingas and mangroves) in the north and northeast. This allows the occurrence of a high biodiversity with communities sharing faunistic elements of different biomes (De Marco et al 2005;Rebêlo et al 2010;Dos Santos et al 2012;Rêgo and Albuquerque 2012;Campos et al 2013;Matavelli et al 2013aMatavelli et al , 2013bMatavelli et al , 2014.…”