Culicidae Fauna (Diptera: Culicomorpha) of the Municipality of Mazagão, Amapá, in the Brazilian Amazon
The Amazon hosts one of the richest diversities of mosquitoes in the family Culicidae, which are key both as arbovirus vectors and as environmental bioindicators. However, the state of Amapá remains poorly studied regarding its mosquito fauna. This study aimed to characterize the diversity and seasonal composition of Culicidae in the municipality of Mazagão, Eastern Amazon, within a rural landscape influenced by human activity and extreme climatic events. Three sampling campaigns were conducted between 2023 and 2024, covering rainy, intermediary, and dry periods. Mosquitoes were collected using Protected Human Attraction (PHA) and CDC light traps at both ground and canopy strata. A total of 3500 specimens were obtained, representing 38 species across 15 genera. The intermediary period yielded the highest abundance and richness, whereas the dry season presented very low diversity, probably because of severe drought and forest fires. Dominant species included <i>Coquillettidia</i> (<i>Rhy.</i>) <i>venezuelensis</i>, <i>Cq. albicosta</i>, and <i>Mansonia titillans</i>. There were significant differences in community diversity between dry and wetter periods, underscoring the strong role of seasonality in shaping mosquito populations. These findings represent the entomofaunistic survey of the region, contributing to biodiversity knowledge and highlighting potential public health risks, thus reinforcing the need for continuous entomological monitoring.
Authors
- Rafael Espíndola do Nascimento (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7625-8150)
- Lívia Medeiros Neves Casseb (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8578-9984)
- Daniel Damous Dias (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3560-5499)
- Tiago Silva da Costa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6398-4364)
- Bruna Laís Sena do Nascimento (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8529-4751)
- Joaquim Pinto Nunes Neto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5981-0065)
- Raimundo Nonato Picanço Souto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8795-1217)
- Valéria Lima Carvalho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8385-8253)
Institutions
- Universidade do Estado do Pará (BR)
- Ministério da Saúde (BR)
- Universidade Federal do Amapá (BR)
- Instituto Evandro Chagas (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Insects
- Published
- 2025-10-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16101036
- Primary Topic
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00