Man-biting activity of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) albimanus and An. (Kerteszia) neivai (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Pacific Lowlands of Colombia

The daily man-biting activity of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) albimanus and An. (Kerteszia) neivai was determined in four ecologically distinct settlements of the Naya River, Department of Valle, Colombia. Differences were found among the settlements with respect to the mosquito species present, intradomiciliary and extradomiciliary biting activity and population densities.

Mepraia spinolai in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean Coast (Chile) - First insular record and feeding pattern on the Pan de Azúcar Island

In a field collection performed at Pan de Azúcar Island in Northern Chile, 95 specimens representing all instars of Mepraia spinolai were collected. The intestinal contents of 55 specimens were examined for Trypanosoma cruzi infection and were found to be negative. This is the first record of an insular habitat for M. spinolai, where the insects had fed mainly on seabirds (78%), some on marine mammals (5%), and some on reptiles (7%).

Anthropophilic biting behaviour of Anopheles (Kerteszia) neivai Howard, Dyar & Knab associated with Fishermen’s activities in a malaria-endemic area in the Colombian Pacific

On the southwest Pacific Coast of Colombia, a field study was initiated to determine the human-vector association between Anopheles (Kerteszia) neivai and fishermen, including their nearby houses. Mosquitoes were collected over 24-h periods from mangrove swamps, marshlands and fishing vessels in three locations, as well as in and around the houses of fishermen. A total of 6,382 mosquitoes were collected. An. neivai was most abundant in mangroves and fishing canoes (90.8%), while Anopheles albimanus was found indoors (82%) and outdoors (73%). One An. neivai and one An. albimanus collected during fishing activities in canoes were positive for Plasmodium vivax , whereas one female An. neivai collected in a mangrove was positive for P. vivax . In the mangroves and fishing canoes, An. neivai demonstrated biting activity throughout the day, peaking between 06:00 pm-07:00 pm and there were two minor peaks at dusk and dawn. These peaks coincided with fishing activities in the marshlands and mangroves, a situation that places the fishermen at risk of contracting malaria when they are performing their daily activities. It is recommended that protective measures be implemented to reduce the risk that fishermen will contract malaria.

A new species of Sycorax (Diptera, Psychodidae, Sycoracinae) from the Pacific coast of Colombia

Sycorax utriensis n. sp. is described and illustrated from a male specimen collected with a CDC light trap in the Parque Nacional Natural Ensenada de Utría, on the Pacific Coast of Colombia. Five species of Sycorax are now known from Colombia, S. andicola Young, 1979, S. colombiensis Young, 1979, S. fairchildi Young, 1979, S. trispinosa Young, 1979 and S. utriensis n. sp.

Nitrogênio e potássio via água de irrigação nas características de produção da bananeira 'Grand Naine'

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do nitrogênio e do potássio, aplicados via água de irrigação por microaspersão, sobre as características de produção da bananeira, cv. Grand Naine. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de 30, 180, 300, 420 e 570 kg ha-1 ano-1 de N e de 55, 330, 550, 770 e 1.045 kg ha-1 ano-1 de K2O, e testemunha, sem adubação, totalizando onze tratamentos, de acordo com o modelo da matriz experimental de Plan Puebla III. Foram avaliadas as características: massa média de fruto, massa média de cacho e produtividade, referentes ao primeiro e segundo ciclos de produção. No primeiro e segundo ciclos, a massa média de fruto, a massa média de cacho e a produtividade foram influenciadas apenas pelas doses de potássio. Os maiores valores de massa média de fruto (253,47 g), massa média de cacho (28 kg) e produtividade (55,42 t ha-1), no primeiro ciclo, foram obtidos com a aplicação de 938,31, 665,38 e 665,27 kg ha-1 de K2O, respectivamente. No segundo ciclo, os maiores valores em relação à massa média de fruto (174, 22 g), massa média de cacho (32,04 kg) e produtividade (60,08 t ha-1) foram alcançados com a aplicação de 725,50, 907,50 e 933,33 kg ha-1 de K2O, respectivamente. Não houve resposta das características avaliadas ao nitrogênio.