A New Phytotelm Plant,Crinum moorei(Asparagales: Amaryllidaceae), for the Americas and Its Mosquito Inhabitant (Diptera: Culicidae) in Ecuador

Abstract

Summary A new phytotelm plant for the Americas is recorded for San Miguel de los Bancos, Pichincha Province, Ecuador. In the leaf axils of Crinum moorei Hook. f. (Amaryllidaceae) were collected larvae and pupae of a common mosquito, Wyeomyia (Dendromyia) complosa (Dyar) (Diptera: Culicidae: Sabethini). This plant is a South African native, introduced into several countries, but never reported as a habitat for immature mosquitoes. We provide notes about its botanical and ecological characteristics, and also of the mosquito associated at this locality.

Diversity patterns of hematophagous insects in Atlantic forest fragments and human-modified areas of southern Bahia, Brazil

“…However, these mosquitoes are found more commonly in areas of old‐growth or secondary‐growth forest with little human alteration and may be considered environmental health bioindicators (Paula et al 2015). Culicids should be considered one of the most important emerging and re‐emerging disease vectors (Navarro et al 2015) to be investigated because of their high abundances and ongoing arbovirus outbreaks in humans and wild animals (Vasconcelos and Calisher 2016).…”

“…Many species of hematophagous insects, particularly species in the families Ceratopogonidae, Culicidae, Psychodidae, and Simuliidae, are vectors of important tropical diseases (Vasconcelos and Calisher 2016, Cardoso et al 2017, Harbach 2017. Considering the emerging arbovirus outbreaks in recent years throughout the world (Figueiredo and Figueiredo 2014, Figueiredo and Figueiredo 2015, Vasconcelos and Calisher 2016, knowledge of disease vector distribution and biodiversity is essential to identify potential areas of high risk for pathogen transmission and to conduct assessments of environmental health in protected and anthropogenically disturbed areas (Navarro et al 2015).…”

New Phytotelm plant for Ecuador, Ananas comosus L. Merr. (Bromeliaceae) a its Wyeomyia species inhabitant (Diptera, Culicidae)

“…Recently, a new phytotelmata from the Americas (Crinum moorei, Amaryllidaceae, introduced from South Africa) was reported in Ecuador [4]. However, to date the pineapple had not been recorded as phytotelmata in any mosquitoes related work since the pioneering studies of Levi-Castillo [28]- [30] to the recent and most extensive ones dedicated to the biodiversity of mosquitoes and phytotelmata in the country [4], [27], [31]- [36].…”

“…The singular of phytotelmata in English is phytotelma (or phytotelm), while in plural is phytotelmata (or phytotelms). The term has been adopted in Spanish as "fitotelma" or "fitotelmata" [4]. This botanical group are water-impounding structures formed by non-aquatic plants, such as leaf axils (Bromeliaceae and Araceae), perforated internodes (bamboo), stem holes or depressions, rot-holes in tree trunks or branches (tree-holes), modified leaves (Heliconia), flowers (Marantaceae), open fruits (cacao pods and coconuts) and fallen leaves (spathes of palms and Musaceae).…”

<b>Trends in the scientific production on aquatic microhabitats phytotelmata: a scientometric study

“…Bromeliads and bamboo are well-studied plants for they accumulate phytotelmata by keeping in these water reservoirs some complex trophic chains (Torreias & Ferreira-Kepler, 2011). Navarro, Enriquez, Vaca, and Benitez-Ortiz (2013) also state that the main plant families in the neotropics that accumulate phytotelmata are: Bromeliaceae, Poaceae, Apiaceae, Sarraceniaceae, Araceae, Heliconiaceae, Marantaceae, Musaceae, Strelitziaceae and Zingiberaceae. The Apiaceae family can be found almost everywhere, being represented by about 455 genus and 3,600 to 3,751 species, which are grouped into three subfamilies: Apioideae (404 genus, 2,827 to 2,936 species) seen predominantely in the Northern Hemisphere; Saniculoideae, with about nine genera (304 to 325 species), of cosmopolitan distribution, found in the Southern Hemisphere; and Hydrocotyloideae with 42 genera, 469 to 490 species, found mostly in the Southern Hemisphere.…”