As part of our study on the ecology of Culicinae in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, state of Rio de Janeiro, we report here the preferential feeding hours of females for hematophagy. We have conducted, from March 1981 to February 1982, weekly captures on the human baits at soil level and at the tree canopy using different time schedules and during 24 consecutive hours. Abiotic variables, such as illumination, temperature and humidity were taken in consideration. Some species show clear diurnal preference for feeding on blood during the brightest hours of the day. Among these are Haemagogus leucocelaenus and Ha. capricornii, which are important vectors of Sylvan Yellow Fever in the North and Central-West Regions of Brazil, as well as the majority of the Sabethinae. Other species were captured in large quantities during sunset and first hours of the evening: Anopheles cruzii, the main carrier of Human and Simian Malarias in South Brazil, Culex nigripalpus and Trichoprosopon digitatum. Many species can be present at different times without preference for any specific period, but we did not find any truly ecletic species.
mosquitoes; hourly feeding preference