Classification of immature stage habitats of Culicidae (Diptera) collected in Córdoba, Argentina

Abstract

In order to classify mosquito immature stage habitats, samples were taken in 42 localities of Córdoba Province, Argentina, representing the phytogeographic regions of Chaco, Espinal and Pampa. Immature stage habitats were described and classified according to the following criteria: natural or artificial; size; location related to light and neighboring houses; vegetation; water; permanence, movement, turbidity and pH. Four groups of species were associated based on the habitat similarity by means of cluster analysis: Aedes albifasciatus, Culex saltanensis, Cx. mollis, Cx. brethesi, Psorophora ciliata, Anopheles albitarsis, and Uranotaenia lowii (Group A); Cx. acharistus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. bidens, Cx. dolosus, Cx. maxi and Cx. apicinus (Group B); Cx. coronator, Cx. chidesteri, Mansonia titillans and Ps. ferox (Group C); Ae. fluviatilis and Ae. milleri (Group D). The principal component analysis (ordination method) pointed out that the different types of habitats, their nature (natural or artificial), plant species, water movement and depth are the main characters explaining the observed variation among the mosquito species. The distribution of mosquito species by phytogeographic region did not affect the species groups, since species belonging to different groups were collected in the same region.

Classification of immature mosquito species according to characteristics of the larval habitat in the subtropical province of Chaco, Argentina

“…quinquefasciatus was collected from artificial containers, deep pools, and ditches, the last containing abundant decaying organic matter, in accordance with other authors' reports (Lourenço-de-Oliveira et al 1986, Campos et al 1993, Almirón & Brewer 1996, Oria et al 1999. Lourenço-de-Oliveira et al (1986) collected a specimen in a natural rock excavation.…”

“…Cux. bidens has also been found in tires (Stein et al 2007) and in metal containers (Almirón & Brewer 1996). Almirón and Brewer (1996) found Oc.…”

“…Other authors have referred to shade and a lack of vegetation in the breeding habitats of Psorophora (Forattini 1965a, Campos et al 1995, Almirón & Brewer 1996. Psorophora ferox (Von Humbolt) was also found in mangroves and the backwaters of rivers (GarciaÁvila 1977) and Psorophora confinnis (Arribalzaga) was also collected from excavations in rock, concrete artificial containers, deep pools, rivers and tree holes (Forattini 1965b, Garcia-Ávila 1977, Clark-Gil & Darsie 1983.…”

“…The water chemistry of ditches in province of Buenos Aires and the anopheline larval habitats were studied (Campos et al 1993, Campos 1997. Almirón and Brewer (1996) characterised a variety of habitats where immature mosquitoes were collected in province of Cordoba on the basis of their physiognomic, physicochemical, biological and morphometric features and classified the mosquito species according to the similarity of their habitats. This study allowed the authors to group different genera and species possessing very different biological characteristics using data of biological and epidemiological interest.…”

Development of the immature stages of Culex (Culex) saltanensis Dyar (Diptera, Culicidae) under laboratory conditions

“…Almirón & Brewer (1996) collected C. saltanensis that had colonized natural habitats and artificial reservoirs in Córdoba Province, Argentina. Lourenço-de-Oliveira & Heyden (1986) observed that the species is predominantly ornithophilous, although eclectic when choosing its host.…”