Adults Aedes albopictus and Ae. scapularis behavior (Diptera: Culidae) in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Aedes albopictus and Ae. scapularis were found living together in the Pedrinhas Village, Southeastern of São Paulo State, Brazil. This finding was a good opportunity to make observations about the mosquitoes' behavior. METHODS: From October 1996 to January 2000 observations were carried out through systematic collections with human bait, environment aspirations and Shannon trap utilization. Synanthropy was estimated by the Nuorteva index and synanthropic ratios. RESULTS: The 87 collections with human bait yield 872 females adults. Williams' means, multiplied by 100, were 118 and 21 for Ae. albopictus at the 7 AM-6PM and 6PM-8PM hours, respectively, 100 and 106 for Ae. scapularis at the same timetable but there was an evening peak. Through environmental aspirations, a total of 1,124 adults samples was collected, 226 Ae. albopictus samples and 898 Ae. scapularis samples. The period between the months of January-May was the one with higher yield for both mosquitoes. There was no Ae. albopictus in the Shannon trap operated inside the adjacent forest. Regarding the sinanthropy, that culicid showed the higher index values, while Ae. scapularis was ubiquitous. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained allows to form the hypothesis that Ae. scapularis females may have a diapause phase in the resting places and after that period they will retake the hematophagy habit. That might explain the higher activity at the humen bait during the dry months, corresponding to the period of July-October.