Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Haemagogus are mosquitoes with diurnal habits that live preferentially in forest areas. In Brazil, they are considered the primary vectors of wild yellow fever. METHODS: The ecological relationships between Haemagogus spegazzinii, the environment, and some of its activities in the semiarid region of Rio Grande do Norte were analyzed by collecting eggs with ovitraps, actively searching in tree holes, capturing adults in Shannon traps, and conducting an investigation for viral infections. RESULTS: A total of 2420 eggs, 271 immature specimens (larvae and pupae), and 206 adults were collected. Egg collection depended on rainfall and relative humidity, with oviposition occurring between January and May. Larvae were found in five plant species, including Tabebuia aurea (craibeira), with 160 larvae collected. We observed shared breeding sites between Hg. spegazzinii and the following species: Aedes albopictus, Aedes terrens, Culex spp., and Toxorhynchites theobaldi. Adults exhibited greater activity between 5 pm and 6 pm, when 191 (92.7%) specimens were captured, while only 1 (0.5%) was collected between 7 pm and 8 pm. The relationship between Hg. spegazzinii and rainfall was significant, with positive correlations with accumulated rainfall 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 days before mosquito collection. We found that the species was infected with the DENV-2 virus. CONCLUSIONS: This work contributes new information on the bioecology of Hg. spegazzinii, with data on the main reproduction periods, oviposition, breeding sites, activity times, and the relationship between the species and meteorological variables in the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil.

Highlights

  • Haemagogus are mosquitoes with diurnal habits that live preferentially in forest areas

  • Among the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes are dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and malaria

  • Some species of the genera Haemagogus and Sabethes, which demonstrate a preference for tree canopies, are denominated arboreal[1]

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Summary

Introduction

Haemagogus are mosquitoes with diurnal habits that live preferentially in forest areas. Methods: The ecological relationships between Haemagogus spegazzinii, the environment, and some of its activities in the semiarid region of Rio Grande do Norte were analyzed by collecting eggs with ovitraps, actively searching in tree holes, capturing adults in Shannon traps, and conducting an investigation for viral infections. Conclusions: This work contributes new information on the bioecology of Hg. spegazzinii, with data on the main reproduction periods, oviposition, breeding sites, activity times, and the relationship between the species and meteorological variables in the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. Among the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes are dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and malaria. In tropical environments, such as in Brazil, mosquitoes can occupy different niches and stratifications. The most prevalent, had an incidence of 392 cases per 100,000 inhabitants this year of 2020, while, in the same period, chikungunya and Zika had incidences of 22.4 and 2.8 cases per 100,000, respectively[2]

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