Mosquito species collected in a fragmented of the Atlantic forest bioma in the southern of Brazil

Abstract

Mosquitoes are important vectors of various pathogens, such as yellow fever, dengue, Chikungunya virus and malaria. Lately, some of these diseases are emerging in the southern of Brazil due to the spread of their vectors probably by the intense forest fragmentation. Thus, the goal of this study was to survey mosquito species in a fragmented environment. Mosquitoes were collected in an area of fragmented vegetation in Atlantic forest biome in the southern of Brazil (Municipality – Paulo Lopes, Santa Catarina state). Collections were developed in the afternoon, crepuscule and night, in January and February 2013. Eight-hundred eighty-two specimens, distributed in two subfamilies, 14 genera and 33 species were obtained, among all Ochlerotatus scapularis was the predominant species (62%). Also, the presence of Anopheles cruzii and Aedes albopictus must be emphasized, due to their epidemiological importance. The mosquito fauna is very diversified, indicating the availability of several breeding places.