Diversity of Anopheles spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) in an Amazonian Urban Area.

The genus Anopheles encompasses several species considered as vectors of human infecting Plasmodium. Environmental changes are responsible for behavior changes in these vectors and therefore the pattern of malaria transmission. To better understand the dynamics of malaria transmission, this study aimed at identify the species of adult anophelines found in a malaria endemic urban area of the Amazon region, Mâncio Lima, located in the Acre State Brazil. Using Shannon-type light traps installed at 11 collection points near fish ponds, a total of 116 anophelines were collected belonging to nine species. Anopheles darlingi Root 1926 and An. albitarsis s.l. Lynch-Arribalzaga 1878 were the most abundant and predominant species. Despite the low number of captured adult anophelines, the occurrence of An. darlingi throughout all urban area and the presence of secondary vectors reinforce the need of a permanent and continuous entomological surveillance.