Revisão taxonômica e filogenia da Seção Myzorhynchella de Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Anopheles é o gênero da família Culicidae mais estudado devido sua importância médica. Atualmente o gênero Anopheles compreende 472 espécies válidas que estão divididas em sete subgêneros. Os principais vetores de plasmódio da Malária no Brasil pertencem ao subgênero Nyssorhynchus, que inclui 39 espécies oficialmente reconhecidas e um número crescente de complexos de espécies crípticas que estão distribuídas em três Seções: Myzorhynchella, Albimanus e Argyritarsis. Atualmente a Seção Myzorhynchella é formada por seis espécies: An. lutzii, An. parvus, An. nigritarsis, An. guarani, An. antunesi e An. pristinus. Para o desenvolvimento da análise morfológica, observou-se material-tipo depositado em diferentes coleções, espécimes depositados na coleção entomológica da FSP/USP, além de outros obtidos em coletas realizadas durante o presente estudo em diferentes localidades do Brasil. As análises moleculares foram desenvolvidas a partir de espécimes obtidos nas coletas. Revisão taxonômica da Seção Myzorhynchella é apresentada, incluindo-se descrições de quatro novas espécies e redescrições das demais, informações sobre bionomia, importância médica, caracterização molecular, distribuição geográfica, estado de preservação do material-tipo, além de chaves de identificação de adultos, larva de quarto estádio e genitália masculina. Os resultados das análises filogenéticas utilizando sequências de ITS2, COI e Catalase indicam a existência de pelo menos doze espécies dentro da Seção Myzorhynchella, os espécimes que vêm sendo identificados como An. antunesi constitui um complexo formado por possíveis cinco espécies e aqueles de An. parvus e An. pristinus também podem representar complexos de espécies. As sequências de ITS2 podem ser utilizadas como marcador diagnóstico para espécies da Seção Myzorhynchella. Contudo, o estudo ainda demonstra que pouco se conhece sobre a diversidade de espécies de Anopheles que ocorrem em ambientes onde a malária ocorre em baixa endemicidade. Pelo número de espécies novas encontradas e pela escassez de trabalhos com espécies da Seção, fica evidente a necessidade de mais estudos.

Revisão da seção Spissipes de Culex (Melanoconion) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Apresenta-se estudo revisionário da Seção Spissipes de Culex (Melanoconion), onde são feitas descrições de formas adultas, incluídos as genitálias de ambos os sexos e o cibário das fêmeas. Sob o ponto de vista taxonômico, considera-se a existência atual de 22 espécies válidas das quais duas são consideradas como novas. Culex nicaroensis Duret foi retirada pois, a análise de suas características morfológicas permitiu alegar a conclusão de não pertencer ao subgênero Melanoconion, ficando sem reconhecimento subgenérico. Além disso, procedeu-se ao estabelecimento da sinonímia de Culex alvarezi Sutil Oramas, Pulido Florenzano & Amarista Menezes com Culex spissipes (Theobald). Levando em consideração vários caracteres das formas supramencionadas, pôde-se subdividir a Seção em grupos e subgrupos, mediante afinidades morfológicas que, à luz dos atuais conhecimentos, permite serem ponderadas. Sob o ponto de vista biogeográfico são apresentados os dados disponíveis, daí resultando mapas de distribuição. A importância epidemiológica desse grupo de culicídeos é apresentada mediante o levantamento dos conhecimentos obtidos até agora na literatura. Foram elaboradas chaves para identificação específica.

A morphological study of the Anopheles punctulatus group (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Solomon Islands, with a description of Anopheles (Cellia) irenicus Schmidt, sp.n.

A description of Anopheles (Cellia) irenicus Schmidt, sp.n. (formerly A. farauti No. 7) is provided. This species is one of six recorded from the Solomon Islands within the A. punctulatus group, which contains the major vectors of the causative agents of malaria and lymphatic filariasis in the southwest Pacific. Morphological markers are described for adult females, fourth-instar larvae and pupae that identify most specimens of A. irenicus. Keys are presented to distinguish members of the A. punctulatus group in the Solomon Islands.

Efficacy of a new self-supporting low-profile bednet for personal protection against Anopheles farauti (Diptera : Culicidae) in a village in Papua New Guinea

A new United States (U.S.) self-supporting low-profile bednet was designed by Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in collaboration with Breakthrough Technologies. The bednet incorporated permethrin-impregnated screening into a frame that erected automatically when removed from its bag. The new U.S. bednet was compared with the current Australian Defense Force (ADF) mosquito bednet at Buka Island, North Solomons Province, Papua New Guinea, in March 1999. At the time of the test, Anopheles farauti Laveran was the most abundant biting mosquito. Both bednet types provided > 97.8% protection compared with an unprotected collector. The untreated U.S. Army prototype bednet provided better protection than the untreated ADF bednet against mosquitoes entering the bednet during the night.

Spatial and temporal definition of Ochlerotatus camptorhynchus (Thomson) (Diptera : Culicidae) in the Gippsland Lakes system of eastern Victoria

The confirmed vector of Ross River virus, Ochlerotatus camptorhynchus (Thomson), is the dominant mosquito species inhabiting saline marshes in coastal Victoria. This paper re-examines previously published data on Oc. camptorhynchus, plus additional data collected since that time, and provides greater spatial and temporal definition of Oc. camptorhynchus numbers at seven sites across the Gippsland Lakes system of eastern Victoria. A total of 357 672 Oc. camptorhynchus was captured from 1188 trap-nights across the seven trap sites during trapping seasons from 1990 to 2001. The dominance of Oc. camptorhynchus across the seven sites averaged 75%, with significant differences in mean abundance of Oc. camptorhynchus found between all trap sites. Significant differences in monthly abundance of Oc. camptorhynchus were observed for Wellington Shire. Increase in populations of Oc. camptorhynchus was associated with increases in rainfall at all trap sites, higher minimum temperatures at two of the seven trap sites, and wind speed at one trap site. Prioritisation of mosquito control may be applied based on spatial and temporal factors according to the findings of this study.

Development time and survival of Verrallina funerea (Theobald) (Diptera : Culicidae) immatures and other brackish water mosquito species in southeast Queensland, Australia

Verrallina funerea (Theobald) is a brackish water mosquito that is recognised as an important pest and vector in southeast Queensland, Australia. Immature development time and survival of Ve. funerea was defined in the laboratory in response to a range of temperatures (17-34 degrees C) and salinities (0-35 parts per thousand (p.p.t)). The expression of autogeny in this species was also assessed. Salinity only had a slight effect on mean development time from hatching to adult emergence (7.0-7.4 d at salinities of 0, 17.5 and 31.5 p.p.t) and survival was uniformly high (97.5-99.0%). Mean development times were shorter at 26, 29 and 32 degrees C (7.0, 6.8 and 6.8 d, respectively) and longest at 17 degrees C (12.2 d). The threshold temperature (t) was 5.8 degrees C and the thermal constant (K) was 142.9 degree-days above t. Survival to adulthood decreased from > 95% (at 17-29 degrees C) to 78% (at 32 degrees C) and 0% (at 34 degrees C). No expression of autogeny was observed. Immature development times of Ve. funerea, Ochlerotatus vigilax (Skuse) and Oc. procax (Skuse) were then determined under field conditions at Maroochy Shire. Following tide and rain inundation, cohorts of newly hatched larvae were monitored daily by dipping, and time until pupation was noted. Tidal inundation triggered hatching of Ve. funerea and Oc. vigilax larvae whereas Oc. procax larvae were found only after rain inundation. Estimates of Ve. funerea and Oc. vigilax field development times were similar (8-9 d) while Oc. procax development time was slightly longer (9-10 d). Based on these survey results, control activities targeting Ve. funerea must be initiated 4 d (if using Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis de Barjac) or 5 d (if using s-methoprene) after inundation. However, Casuarina glauca Sieber canopy and branchlets covering breeding habitats may present a problem for the penetration of such treatments.

Toxicity of hexanic and methanolic fractions from copaifera reticulata ducke (Leguminosae – Caesalpinoidea) against Aedes aegypti Linnaeus (Diptera – Culicidae), in field assays

v. 45, n. 2, abr./jun. 2016.

Seasonal abundance and molecular identification of West Nile virus vectors, Culex pipens and Culex quinquefasciatus (diptera: culicidae) in Abeokuta, South-West, Nigeria.

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) infection, is an arbovirus infection with high morbidity and mortality, the vector responsible for both human and animal transmission is Culex pipens complex. Objective: To determine the species distribution and seasonal abundance of Culex pipens and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Methods: Mosquitoes belonging to the Culex pipens complex were captured in three different locations located within Abeokuta Metropolis between March 2012 and January 2013. Individual species were identified using morphometric methods. Amplification of the Ace2 gene by PCR confirmed morphormetric identification of the mosquitoes. Results: A total of 751 mosquitoes were captured. Culex quinquefaciatus recorded the highest distribution of vectors with 56.6% and Culex pipens 43.4% (P > 0.05). Idi aba community recorded the highest distribution of mosquito vectors with 42.9% (n=322) and Culex quinqueaciatus was more abundantly distributed with 183 mosquitoes. Aro community recorded 32% (n=240) of captured mosquitoes with Culex quinquefaciatus having a higher level of abundance and lastly Kemta with a distribution of 25.1% (n=189). Conclusion: Results from this study show that potential vectors of WNV abound within Abeokuta, putting residents at high risk of West Nile infection. We advocate for introduction of routine testing of WNV in Abeokuta and Nigeria. Keywords:

Potencial larvicida de extratos de plantas regionais no controle de larvas de Aedes Aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae)

Dengue, amongst the virus illnesses one can get by vectorial transmission, is the one that causes more impact in the morbidity and mortality of world s population. The resistance to the insecticides has caused difficulties to control of vector insect (Aedes aegypti) and has stimulated a search for vegetables with larvicidal activity. The biodiversity of Caatinga is barely known and it is potential of use even less. Some plants of this biome are commercialized in free fairs northeast of Brazil, because of its phytotherapics properties. The vegetables in this study had been selected by means of a questionnaire applied between grass salesmen and natives of the Serido region from Rio Grande do Norte state; culicids eggs had been acquired with traps and placed in container with water for the larva birth. Thirty larvae had been used in each group (a group control and five experimental groups), with four repetitions four times. The vegetables had been submitted to the processes of decoction, infusion and maceration in the standard concentration of 100g of the vegetable of study in 1l of H2O and analyzed after ½, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours for verification of the average lethal dose (LD50) from the groups with thirty larva. The LD50 was analyzed in different concentrations (50g/l, 100g/l, 150g/l, 200g/l e 300g/l) of Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart. 48 extracts of rind, leaf and stem of the seven vegetal species: Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart., Mimosa verrucosa Benth, Mimosa hostilis (Mart.) Benth., Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão, Ximenia americana L, Bumelia sartorum Mart Zizyphus joazeiro Mart, had been analyzed. The extracts proceeding from the three methods were submitted to the freezedrying, to evaluate and to quantify substances extracted in each process. The results had shown that Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart. and Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão are the species that are more distinguished as larvicidal after 24 hours of experiment, in all used processes of extraction in the assays. The Zizyphus joazeiro Mart species has not shown larvicidal activity in none of the assays. In relation to the extraction method, the decoction was the most efficient method in the mortality tax of the A. aegypti larvae