Abstract
Simple SummaryAutomatic traps employing CO2 chemical attractants and BG-Lure® (Biogents AG, Regensburg, Germany) were evaluated as an alternative to insect nets, which is the standard method in Brazil for capturing mosquitoes that transmit sylvatic arboviruses. The collections were conducted during the day, in the forest canopy and ground strata, at an environmental reserve in the Atlantic Forest. From the 18 collections conducted, 3570 specimens from 52 taxa were obtained. Nets were the best way to capture insects. The yield was similar in traps with CO2 and traps using CO2 combined with BG-Lure®. CO2 traps can complement collections with nets; however, for species of epidemiological interest in the genera Haemagogus and Sabethes, insect nets are still the best method, especially in the canopy.Hand-held insect nets are the standard method for capturing vector mosquitoes of sylvatic arboviruses; however, occupational risks and biases due to individual skill and attractiveness are important limitations. The use of chemical attractants and automatic traps could be an alternative to resolve these limitations. This study compares the yields achieved using nets with those employing electrical traps with CO2 and BG-Lure®, near the ground and in the canopy strata (6.0 and 8.0 m high). The study was conducted at the Cantareira State Park, which is in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. In the 18 collections performed, 3570 specimens of 52 taxa were obtained. The most frequent species captured near the ground were Wyeomyia confusa and Limatus durhamii, whereas Sabethes albiprivus, Sabethes purpureus, and Haemagogus leucocelaenus were the most frequent in the canopy. The nets resulted in greater species richness and abundance, followed by the trap employing CO2. The combination of CO2 traps with BG-Lure® did not improve performance. The use of BG-Lure® alone resulted in low abundance and a low number of species. Our results demonstrate that the use of traps with CO2 can be complementary to collections with nets; however, for species of epidemiological interest such as those of the genera Haemagogus and Sabethes, especially in the canopy, the net remains the method of choice.
Highlights
A variety of techniques and equipment for entomological collection are used to survey and monitor dipterans of medical interest [1,2]
In Brazil, most studies using synthetic attractants have focused on urban environments and aimed to capture Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus [7,8,9]
The Cantareira State Park (CSP) is one of the environmental conservation units in the Green Belt of the City of São Paulo established to protect the remnants of the Atlantic Forest biome and the water sources of the main water supply system for the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo
Summary
A variety of techniques and equipment for entomological collection are used to survey and monitor dipterans of medical interest [1,2]. Collector bias and occupational risk (exposure to infections, accidents, and adverse environmental factors) are important limitations that must be considered in research and work routines [5]. Occupational risk is especially important when considering work in tree canopies, which is necessary due to the stratification of vector species in Brazilian tropical forests [6]. The use of synthetic attractants may be an alternative approach to reduce the risks associated with entomological captures. They may reduce collector bias due to individual skills and intrinsic attractiveness. In Brazil, most studies using synthetic attractants have focused on urban environments and aimed to capture Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus [7,8,9]. Carbon dioxide and other synthetic attractants, including octenol and lactic acid, have been used [10,11,12]
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