ABSTRACT Background: Mansonia mosquitoes transmit arboviruses to humans. This study describes the karyotypes and C-banding of Mansonia humeralis, Mansonia titillans, Mansonia pseudotitillans, and Mansonia indubitans. Methods: From the 202 larvae, the brain ganglia were dissected (n=120) for the preparation of slides. Twenty slides with well-distended chromosomes for each species (10 for karyotyping and 10 for C-banding) were selected for further study. Results: The haploid genome and the average lengths of the chromosomal arms differed in relation to the centromere between species, and intraspecific differences also occurred in the distribution of the C-bands. Conclusions: These results are useful for better understanding of the chromosomal variability of Mansonia mosquitoes.

ABSTRACT Background: Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of viruses, such as Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and dengue. In this context, a biomonitored chemical study was conducted to evaluate the activity of the crude extract of the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. against the larvae of Aedes aegypti. Methods: Crude extract, fractions, and isolated substances were evaluated in in-vitro assays against third-stage larvae of Aedes aegypti. Results: We isolated 3-nitropropionic acid with an LC50 of 15.172 ppm and LC90 of 18.178 ppm after 24 hours of larval exposure. Conclusions: The results indicated that 3-nitropropionic acid exerted larvicidal activity.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the construction of the Jirau hydroelectric plant on the anopheline species, in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil. For this, sampling was carried out in 23 locations in the pre (2004) and 23 after construction (2018) phases in the hydroelectric dam's coverage area, performed by human landing catch between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm. We found 14 anopheline species. In the pre-construction phase, An. darlingi (73%) was the most abundant and after construction An. braziliensis (31.5%) was the most abundant. The T test indicated that there were no differences in the indexes – diversity (H '), richness (Sjack 1), equitability (J’) and dominance (d) of anophelines species - evaluated between the phases (p > 0.05). The spatio-temporal distribution of An. darlingi proved to be wide, with the highest density values observed in March ( x ¯w = 27.1) in the pre-construction phase and in the months of May ( x ¯w = 4) and July ( x ¯w = 3.1), post-construction. Differences in hematophagic activity peaks were observed between species and between phases. According to the data obtained in this study, the construction of the hydroelectric plant had little influence on the composition of anopheline species, however changes were observed in the spatio-temporal distribution of the An. darlingi and in the pattern of hematophagic activity of the species, which directly influenced the dynamics of malaria in the region.

A compreensão sobre as complexas interações ecológicas envolvendo vespas-de-figo e suas plantas hospedeiras na Amazônia depende do conhecimento prévio sobre a distribuição e diversidade dessas vespas. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a composição e estrutura da comunidade de vespas associadas a quatro espécies de Ficus no município de Manaus, Amazonas. Foram coletados e analisados 600 sicônios de quatro espécies: Ficus obtusifolia Kunth; Ficus citrifolia Mill; F. americana subspecies guianensis Desv. forma mathewsii; and F. americana subspecies guianensis Desv. forma parkeriana. Análises estatísticas foram usadas para analisar a relação entre a diversidade de vespas-de-figo e o diâmetro do sicônio, e o efeito das vespas não-polnizadoras em relação ao número de polinizadoras e sementes. Foram encontradas 43 espécies de vespas-de-figo distribuídas em sete gêneros (Pegoscapus, Idarnes, Aepocerus, Physothorax, Anidarnes, Heterandrium , Eurytoma). Idarnes grupo carme foi o gênero de vespas não-polinizadora com maior numero de individuos com maior numero de sicônios infestado (7.409 vespas em 376 sicônios). Ao analisar a diversidade de vespas não-polinizadoras em relação ao diâmetro do figo observou-se diferença significativa entre as quatro espécies de figueiras. Ficus citrifolia e F. americana, subespécie guianensis, forma mathewsii apresentaram o diâmetro menor, porém uma maior diversidade de vespas-de-figo. Ficus obtusifolia foi a única espécie em que as vespas não-polinizadoras exerceram efeito negativo significativo tanto no número de Pegoscapus sp. quanto na produção de sementes.

An understanding of the complex ecological interaction between fig wasps and their host plants in Amazonia requires previous knowledge of their distribution and diversity. The objective of this study was to describe the composition and structure of the wasp community associated with four species of Ficus in the municipal area of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. A total of 600 syconia from four species were collected. The study species were: Ficus obtusifolia Kunth; Ficus citrifolia Mill; F. americana subspecies guianensis Desv. form mathewsii; and F. americana subspecies guianensis Desv. form parkeriana. Statistical analyses were used to examine the relationship between fig wasp diversity and syconium diameter, and the effect of non-pollinating wasps on numbers of pollinators and seeds. Forty three species of fig wasp were identified, distributed across seven genera (Pegoscapus, Idarnes, Aepocerus, Physothorax, Anidarnes, Heterandrium , Eurytoma). Idarnes (carme group) was the wasps genus non-pollinator with greatest number of individuals with the greatest number of infested syconia (7409 wasps in 376 syconia). Analysing non-pollinating wasp diversity in relation to fig diameter, a significant difference was observed between the four fig species. Ficus citrifolia and F. americana subspecies guianensis form mathewsii had the smallest diameter but the greatest diversity of fig wasp. Ficus obtusifolia was the only species in which the non-pollinating wasps had a significant negative effect on the number of Pegoscapus sp. and on seed production.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Aedes aegyptimass trapping using the sticky trap MosquiTRAP (MQT) by performing a cluster randomised controlled trial in Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil. After an initial questionnaire and baseline monitoring of adultAe. aegyptiabundance with BG-Sentinel (BGS) traps in six clusters, three clusters were randomly assigned to the intervention arm where each participating household received three MQTs for mass trapping during 17 months. The remaining three clusters (control arm) did not receive traps. The effect of mass trapping on adult Ae. aegyptiabundance was monitored fortnightly with BGS traps. During the last two months of the study, a serological survey was conducted. After the study, a second questionnaire was applied in the intervention arm. Entomological monitoring indicated that MQT mass trapping did not reduce adult Ae. aegyptiabundance. The serological survey indicated that recent dengue infections were equally frequent in the intervention and the control arm. Most participants responded positively to questions concerning user satisfaction. According to the results, there is no evidence that mass trapping with MQTs can be used as a part of dengue control programs. The use of this sticky trap is only recommendable for dengue vector monitoring.

A longitudinal study was conducted in Manaus, Brazil, to monitor changes of adult Aedes aegypti (L.) abundance. The objectives were to compare mosquito collections of two trap types, to characterise temporal changes of the mosquito population, to investigate the influence of meteorological variables on mosquito collections and to analyse the association between mosquito collections and dengue incidence. Mosquito monitoring was performed fortnightly using MosquiTRAPs (MQT) and BG-Sentinel (BGS) traps between December 2008-June 2010. The two traps revealed opposing temporal infestation patterns, with highest mosquito collections of MQTs during the dry season and highest collections of BGS during the rainy seasons. Several meteorological variables were significant predictors of mosquito collections in the BGS. The best predictor was the relative humidity, lagged two weeks (in a positive relationship). For MQT, only the number of rainy days in the previous week was significant (in a negative relationship). The correlation between monthly dengue incidence and mosquito abundance in BGS and MQT was moderately positive and negative, respectively. Catches of BGS traps reflected better the dynamic of dengue incidence. The findings help to understand the effects of meteorological variables on mosquito infestation indices of two different traps for adult dengue vectors in Manaus.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an important component for activating and attracting host-seeking mosquitoes. The BG-Sentinel(r) trap is a well-established monitoring tool for capturing Culicidae, but CO2 role for the trap effectiveness has not been evaluated in highly urbanised areas. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of BG-Sentinel traps baited with and without CO2 for capturing urban mosquitoes. Fifteen areas were selected within the city of Manaus, Brazil, where four BG-Sentinels were operated for 24 h, two of them with CO2 and two without CO2. Captured Aedes aegypti females were dissected for the determination of their parity status. A significantly higher proportion of traps (from 32-79%) were positive for female Ae. aegypti when using the BG-Sentinel with CO2 (χ2 = 11.0271, p ≤ 0.001). Catches of female Culex spp were six times higher in CO2 traps (Mann-Whitney U test = 190.5; p = 0.001). Parity rates were similar for both traps. This study showed that CO2 has primarily an enhancing effect on the efficacy of BG-Sentinel for capturing Culex spp in Manaus. For Ae. aegypti, the positivity rate of the trap was increased, when CO2 was added.