Mosquito immatures in bamboo internodes in eastern Santa Catarina State, South Brazil (Diptera: Culicidae)

Resumo

Since mosquito immatures had been previously reported found in bamboo internodes in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, a study was conducted from January to March 2011 to evaluate the mosquito fauna associated with artificially drilled bamboos in eight localities in the eastern region of this state. Ninety-one mosquitoes of the following species were recorded: Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (1.1%), Culex soperi Antunes & Lane, 1937 (11.0%), Onirium personatum (Lutz, 1904) (6.6%), Sabethes aurescens (Lutz, 1905) (38.5%), Sa. identicus Dyar & Knab, 1907 (16.5%), Sa. intermedius Lutz, 1904 (3.3%), Sa. purpureus (Theobald, 1907) (1.1%), Trichoprosopon pallidiventer Lutz, 1905 (6.6%), Trichoprosopon soaresi Lane & Cerqueira, 1942 (2.2%) and Wyeomyia limai Lane & Cerqueira, 1942 (24.2%). The finding of Ae. albopictus in perforated bamboos and the diversified mosquito fauna, whose biology is mostly poorly known, indicates the need of more detailed studies. Bamboo internodes constitute an important breeding place for mosquitoes of several species in the studied area. Sabethes intermedius and Culex soperi are reported for the first time in the state.