First Record of Anopheles oryzalimnetes, Anopheles argyritarsis, and Anopheles sawyeri (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Caatinga Biome, Semiarid Scrubland of Sergipe State, Brazil

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 52; no. 5; pp. 858 - 865
• Main Authors: Marteis, L. S, Sallum, M. A. M, Natal, D, Oliveira, T. M. P, Gama, R. A, Dolabella, S. S, Santos, R. L. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Entomological Society of America 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Animal Distribution; Animals; Anopheles - genetics; Anopheles - growth & development; Anopheles - physiology; Anopheles albitarsis; aquatic habitat; Biodiversity; Brazil; climatic factors; conservation areas; cytochrome-c oxidase; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; drought; ecosystems; Electron Transport Complex IV - genetics; Electron Transport Complex IV - metabolism; fauna; Female; flora; genes; habitat conservation; Insect Proteins - genetics; Insect Proteins - metabolism; Larva - genetics; Larva - growth & development; Larva - physiology; Male; Mitochondrial Proteins - genetics; Mitochondrial Proteins - metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; population; Pupa - genetics; Pupa - growth & development; Pupa - physiology; semiarid zones; Sequence Analysis, DNA; shrublands; Species Specificity; Brazil; semiarid; Anopheles; vector ecology; mosquito distribution; Caatinga
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv118

Caatinga is one of the least known biomes of Brazil in relation to biodiversity. The dry condition of semiarid areas has been associated in the past with low richness of fauna and flora, not encouraging studies in this region. There is a lack of mosquito records including anophelines. Thus, to investigate the biodiversity of Anopheles mosquitoes in the Caatinga biome, we collected immature mosquitoes in aquatic habitats in a conservation reserve located in the northwestern portion of Sergipe state. The captured specimens were initially identified as Anopheles albitarsis l.s. and Anopheles argyritarsis l.s. To confirm the morphological identification, sequences were generated by cytochrome oxidase subunit I mitocondrial gene. The results showed that the specimens belong to the species Anopheles oryzalimnetes, An. argyritarsis, and Anopheles sawyeri. These are the first records of these species in this region. The presence of Anopheles in the Caatinga biome, which is characterized by arid and semiarid climatic conditions, encourages the interest in the study of biological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations, selected over time, which allow these mosquito populations to survive through the long periods of drought that is characteristic of this region.