Feeding preferences of Culicidae mosquitoes in the Ribeira Valley, S.Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

Results of blood-meal identification for mosquitoes collected in 5 different Ribeira Valley (S.Paulo State, Brazil) environments are presented. Precipitin tests identified the sources of 1444 blood-meals. Aedes mosquitoes fed chiefly on mammals. Ae. scapularis showed a preference for cattle and horses. Ae. serratus also obtained meals from avian hosts. Leaving aside the anthropophilic Cx.quinquefasciatus, the other Culex (Culex) mosquitoes showed feeding pattern directed to avian hosts. On the whole Culex (Melanoconion) showed a largely eclectic pattern including all the host tested, amphibian, avian, mammalian and reptilian. Cx. ribeirensis and Cx. sacchettae showed results suggesting some mammal preference. Anthropophily was observed in several species, especially in Ae. scapularis, Cx. sacchettae and Cx. ribeirensis who showed a high rate of human blood in the indoor collections. The density of domestic mammals corresponded with the feeding patterns of Ae. scapularis. The behaviour of all these three species suggested that these mosquitoes are developing domiciliary habits.