Anopheles bellator is a primary malaria vector in the Atlantic Forest. Partial sequences of timeless and Clock genes were used to assess the genetic differentiation of five Brazilian populations, which showed strong population structure (e.g. high F ST values and fixed differences) in all pairwise comparisons between Bahia sample and the others from Paraná, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states. Also, the resulting phylogenetic trees clearly grouped the sequences from Bahia in a different cluster with high bootstrap values. Among southern and southeastern populations low levels of genetic differentiation were found suggesting a general stability of the genetic structure.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi analisar a variabilidade genética em populações de An. cruzii utilizando as técnicas PCR-RAPD e PCR-RFLP. As análises foram realizadas a partir de adultos da geração F1 de fêmeas coletadas nos estados de Santa Catarina (Florianópolis e São Francisco do Sul), Paraná (Morretes, Paranaguá e Guaratuba) e São Paulo (Cananéia). Na PCR-RAPD, sete iniciadores foram utilizados para comparação dentro e entre populações. Os perfis de restrição da região ITS2 e parte do genes 5.8S e 28S foram obtidos com as enzimas BstUI, HaeIII, TaqI, HhaI, Sau96I, HinfI, HincII e NruI. Utilizando-se a técnica PCR-RAPD, elevado número de bandas polimórficas foi detectado. As distâncias genéticas entre as populações variaram de 0,0214 a 0,0673, sugerindo que as amostras representam uma única espécie. O número de migrantes por geração (Nm) foi de 4,3, indicando a existência de fluxo gênico entre as populações. Os padrões de restrição da região ITS2 foram semelhantes para todas as amostras de An. cruzii, entretanto, os resultados obtidos com HhaI e NruI indicam que os indivíduos analisados apresentam seqüências diferentes daquelas disponíveis no GenBank para as populações de Peruíbe e Juquiazinho.

The aim of the present study was to examine genetic variability in populations of An. cruzii by employing PCR-RAPD and PCR-RFLP markers. All analyses were carried out using individuals of the F1 generation of wild caught females obtained in Santa Catarina State (Florianópolis and São Francisco do Sul), Paraná State (Morretes, Paranaguá and Guaratuba) and São Paulo State (Cananéia). In the PCR-RAPD experiments, seven primers were used for comparisons within and among populations. The restriction profile of the ITS2 including a fragment of both 5.8S and 28S regions of the rDNA was obtained with the enzymes BstUI, HaeIII, TaqI, HhaI, Sau96I, HinfI, HincII and NruI. The PCR-RAPD method detected a large number of polymorphic bands. Genetic distance among populations of An. cruzii varied from 0,0214 to 0,0673, suggesting that all individuals used in the analyses belong to a single species. The number of migrants per generation (Nm) was 4.3, showing the existence of gene flow among populations. The restriction profile of the ITS2, 5.8S and 28S gene regions was similar in all An. cruzii samples, whereas the results obtained by using HhaI and NruI are indicative that the individuals analyzed have nucleotide sequences distinct from those of An. cruzii samples from Peruíbe and Juquiazinho deposited in GenBank.

Fragmentos de mata no cenário urbano podem reunir condições favoráveis à reprodução de espécies de Culicidae. No Parque Regional do Iguaçu (Curitiba, Paraná) existe uma série de cavas ou lagoas contendo vegetação aquática que pode ser utilizada pelos imaturos das espécies de Mansoniini. A investigação foi desenvolvida com objetivo de conhecer as espécies de Mansonia Blanchard, 1901 que exercem hematofagia no período diurno em área de mata no interior do parque. As coletas dos mosquitos foram efetuadas de setembro de 1999 a agosto de 2000. Três espécies de Mansonia foram identificadas, com os seguintes percentuais relativos: 74,7% de M. fonsecai (Pinto, 1932), 10,7% de M. wilsoni (Barreto & Coutinho, 1944) e 8,3% de M. tittilans (Walker, 1848). Quanto ao horário de atividade, as espécies ocorreram durante todo o dia em ritmo similar, com as seguintes médias horárias 9,5, 1,3 e 1,0 para M. fonsecai, M. wilsoni e M. tittilans, respectivamente.

Vegetation islands surrounded by urban areas can provide favourable conditions to the development of Culicidae population. In Regional Iguaçu Park (Curitiba, Paraná) there are many lakes with aquatic plants that can be used by Mansoniini immatures. The aim of this investigation was to know the Mansonia Blanchard, 1901 species that are blood feeding during the day in a wood area inside the park. The mosquitoes captures were carried out from september, 1999 to august, 2000. Three species that belong to Mansonia were identified, and the percentages were: 74.7% de M. fonsecai (Pinto, 1932), 10.7% de M. wilsoni (Barreto & Coutinho, 1944) e 8.3% de M. tittilans (Walker, 1848). By the analysis of the activity hour, the species were collected during all the day in the same rhythm, and the hours mean were 9.5, 1.3 e 1.0, respectively.

Vegetation islands inside urban area can propitiate the formation of: a) adults refuge to many mosquitoes species, b) diversity of hosters, c) allows the proliferation of immature stages through naturals and artificial breeding, these ones were done by the interaction between antropic activity developed in these spaces or around areas. Considering the possibilities of contacts between the vector and the human population, the aim of this work was to verify the Culicidae species that can use man as blood source in the restricted areas of Botanical Garden, Curitiba. The capture of adults using the method of human bait at soil level, inside the forest, monthly during the period of October 13th 1998 to September 22nd 1999, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 312 Culicidae specimens were captured, and 15 species were found. The predomiant species belong to Culex (Culex) coronator Dyar & Knab, 1906 group. Others species found with potential epidemiological importance were: Haemagogus (Conopostegus) leucocelaenus (Dyar & Shannon, 1924), Ochlerotatus (Ochlerotatus) fluviatilis (Lutz, 1904) e Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) strodei Root, 1926.

Influence of temperature on longevity, fecundity, and haematophagic activity of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus Skuse, 1894 (Diptera, Culicidae) under laboratory condition. Based on adults of Aedes albopictus maintained under four constant temperatures, 15ºC, 20ºC, 25ºC and 30ºC, longevity of males and females, fecundity, eggs viability, number of days from emergence to the first bloodsucking, and duration of the preoviposition period were observed. The average of the longevity for female was 19.45, 59.35, 61.55 and 42.72 days, under 15ºC, 20ºC, 25ºC and 30ºC, respectively. The greatest average number of bloodsucking per female was 8.32, under 25ºC. The average number of eggs per female was 1.00, 73.91, 269.87 and 183.69, and the greatest rates of viable eggs per female was 25ºC and 30ºC. The haematophagic activities and the oviposition were significantly influenced by temperature.