Species Composition and Ecological Aspects of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Phytotelmata in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, Brazil

Phytotelmata are aquatic microenvironments formed by the accumulation of water and organic matter in cavities of plants. These microenvironments serve as breeding sites for various species of mosquitoes, including some of epidemiological importance. Our objective was to identify the mosquito fauna i...

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Main Authors: Walter Ceretti-Junior, Antonio Ralph Medeiros-Sousa, Marcia Bicudo de Paula, Eduardo Evangelista, Karolina Morales Barrio-Nuevo, Ramon Wilk-da-Silva, Rafael Oliveira-Christe, Mauro Toledo Marrelli
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/376
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author Walter Ceretti-Junior
Antonio Ralph Medeiros-Sousa
Marcia Bicudo de Paula
Eduardo Evangelista
Karolina Morales Barrio-Nuevo
Ramon Wilk-da-Silva
Rafael Oliveira-Christe
Mauro Toledo Marrelli
author_facet Walter Ceretti-Junior
Antonio Ralph Medeiros-Sousa
Marcia Bicudo de Paula
Eduardo Evangelista
Karolina Morales Barrio-Nuevo
Ramon Wilk-da-Silva
Rafael Oliveira-Christe
Mauro Toledo Marrelli
author_sort Walter Ceretti-Junior
collection DOAJ
description Phytotelmata are aquatic microenvironments formed by the accumulation of water and organic matter in cavities of plants. These microenvironments serve as breeding sites for various species of mosquitoes, including some of epidemiological importance. Our objective was to identify the mosquito fauna in these microenvironments and to analyze variations in mosquito fauna diversity between bromeliads, tree holes, and bamboo internodes in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo (CSP), Brazil, where there have been reports of yellow-fever epizootics in non-human primates and circulation of plasmodia. Collections were carried out monthly from February 2015 to April 2017. The bromeliads showed greater mosquito species richness and diversity than the tree holes and bamboo internodes, as well as a very different composition. Of the 11 genera collected and 49 taxa identified, <i>Culex</i> (<i>Carrolia</i>) <i>iridescens</i>, <i>Cx. ocellatus</i>, <i>Cx.</i> (<i>Microculex</i>) imitator, and <i>Anopheles</i> (<i>Kerteszia</i>) <i>cruzii</i> were the most abundant. The phytotelmata in the CSP showed significant differences in species richness, diversity, and composition and were found to support a diverse mosquito fauna to develop, including <i>An. cruzii</i> and the sylvatic yellow fever virus vector <i>Haemagogus leucocelaenus</i>. The finding of these epidemiologically important species highlights the key role played by phytotelma breeding sites as places of refuge and species maintenance for these vectors in green areas close to urban centers.
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spelling doaj-art-a94577f2bcba4c08ae3770290d421ca32025-08-20T02:18:11ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-04-0116437610.3390/insects16040376Species Composition and Ecological Aspects of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Phytotelmata in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, BrazilWalter Ceretti-Junior0Antonio Ralph Medeiros-Sousa1Marcia Bicudo de Paula2Eduardo Evangelista3Karolina Morales Barrio-Nuevo4Ramon Wilk-da-Silva5Rafael Oliveira-Christe6Mauro Toledo Marrelli7Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, BrazilDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, BrazilDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, BrazilDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, BrazilDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, BrazilDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, BrazilDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, BrazilDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, BrazilPhytotelmata are aquatic microenvironments formed by the accumulation of water and organic matter in cavities of plants. These microenvironments serve as breeding sites for various species of mosquitoes, including some of epidemiological importance. Our objective was to identify the mosquito fauna in these microenvironments and to analyze variations in mosquito fauna diversity between bromeliads, tree holes, and bamboo internodes in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo (CSP), Brazil, where there have been reports of yellow-fever epizootics in non-human primates and circulation of plasmodia. Collections were carried out monthly from February 2015 to April 2017. The bromeliads showed greater mosquito species richness and diversity than the tree holes and bamboo internodes, as well as a very different composition. Of the 11 genera collected and 49 taxa identified, <i>Culex</i> (<i>Carrolia</i>) <i>iridescens</i>, <i>Cx. ocellatus</i>, <i>Cx.</i> (<i>Microculex</i>) imitator, and <i>Anopheles</i> (<i>Kerteszia</i>) <i>cruzii</i> were the most abundant. The phytotelmata in the CSP showed significant differences in species richness, diversity, and composition and were found to support a diverse mosquito fauna to develop, including <i>An. cruzii</i> and the sylvatic yellow fever virus vector <i>Haemagogus leucocelaenus</i>. The finding of these epidemiologically important species highlights the key role played by phytotelma breeding sites as places of refuge and species maintenance for these vectors in green areas close to urban centers.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/376phytotelmatamosquitoesbiodiversitymosquito-borne pathogensCantareira State Park
spellingShingle Walter Ceretti-Junior
Antonio Ralph Medeiros-Sousa
Marcia Bicudo de Paula
Eduardo Evangelista
Karolina Morales Barrio-Nuevo
Ramon Wilk-da-Silva
Rafael Oliveira-Christe
Mauro Toledo Marrelli
Species Composition and Ecological Aspects of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Phytotelmata in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, Brazil
Insects
phytotelmata
mosquitoes
biodiversity
mosquito-borne pathogens
Cantareira State Park
title Species Composition and Ecological Aspects of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Phytotelmata in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, Brazil
title_full Species Composition and Ecological Aspects of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Phytotelmata in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, Brazil
title_fullStr Species Composition and Ecological Aspects of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Phytotelmata in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Species Composition and Ecological Aspects of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Phytotelmata in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, Brazil
title_short Species Composition and Ecological Aspects of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Phytotelmata in Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, Brazil
title_sort species composition and ecological aspects of immature mosquitoes diptera culicidae in phytotelmata in cantareira state park sao paulo brazil
topic phytotelmata
mosquitoes
biodiversity
mosquito-borne pathogens
Cantareira State Park
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/376
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