In a study on putative vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Baturité, Ceará State Brazil, six sandfly species were identified: Lutzomya longipalpis, L. wellcomei, L. peresi, L. whitmani, L. shannoni and L. migonei. In general L. whitmani and L. migonei were the predominant species. They were collected in periodomiciliary areas and were attracted by man and equines L. whitmani was the most anthropophilic species. Studies using animals as bait showed that blood-feeding occurs throughout the night. Previously L. whitmani had been found infected with a Leishmania species of the braziliensis complex and L. migoney was infected with peripylarian flagellates. In combination these findings suggest that they may be responsible for periodomestic transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Lutzomyia intermedia was the predominant species. It was collected indoors but in much higher numbers outdoors, in the close vicinity of houses. In comparative captures it was found to feed more frequently on equines, and less frequently on man and dogs. Studies, using man and animals as baits, showed that blood-feeding started in the evening, and remained stable during the night, until early morning. June, August and October were the months of highest density.

Durante um ano completo efetuamos capturas de flebótomos em isca humana, simultaneamente no solo e na copa da floresta em plataforma a dez metros de altura. Lutzomyia fischeri foi a espécie mais numerosa na copa. L.sp. 1 (espécie ainda não descrita) também foi mais freqüente neste nivel; L.shannoni, apesar de ser mais ativa ao nivel do solo, compareceu várias vezes na copa; L.pessoai, L.ayrozai, L.davisi. L.sp.2 (espécie também não identificada), L.microps e L.monticola só picaram iscas situadas no solo; L.hirsuta esteve pouco representada na copa, porém sua maior densidade foi no solo, onde figura como espécie dominante nos meses mais frios e secos do ano. Dois aspectos devem ser enfatizados com relação à distribuição vertical: a acrodendrofilia de L. fischeri e, ao contrário, o fato de L.ayrozai alimentar-se exclusivamente ao nível do solo. Este comportamento de L.ayrozai e sua preferência em sugar nas partes mais baixas do corpo fazem supor que seus abrigos naturais sejam as folhas caídas no solo florestal. Dentre os fatores mesológicos que influenciam na estratificação dos flebótomos consideramos que a luminosidade seja preponderante, pois em noites mais claras (lua crescente ou cheia) a atividade foi nula, todos os flebotomíneos capturados na copa das árvores foram obtidos em noites mais escuras (lua nova ou minguante).

During one year (October, 1981 through September, 1982) captures of sandflies were simultaneously performed on human baits places on the ground and on a platform built at the canopy of a tree ten meters above the ground, in the National Park of Serra dos Órgãos, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Lutzomyia fischeri showed a decided preference to feed at the canopy, where it was the most numerous species. L. sp. 1 (a new hitherto undescribed, species) was also more frequent at the same level. L. shannoi was more ecletic, being captured mostly near the ground. All specimens of L. ayrozay (the most abundant species), L. pessoai, L. davisi, L. microps, L. monticola and L. sp. 2 (another non identified species) were only caught on baits at ground level. Few L. hirsuta (the second most numerous species) were obtained at the canopy, being the dominant sandfly near the ground during the cooler and drier months of the year. A point worth considering, besides the acrodendrophily of L. fischeri, is the preference of L. ayrozay to bite on the lower parts of the body, which leads us to suppose that its natural resting sites are fallen leaves on the ground, in the forest. Among the environmental factors which influence the stratification of the sandflies in the forest we regard luminosity to be predominent, as all specimens caught while feeding at the canopy were obtained in the darker nights (new moon and crescent) and none in the brighter nights (full moon and wane).