Ecological aspects of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera, Culicidae) adult population in shelters at the Parque Ecologico do Tiete, Sao Paulo, SP

Ecological aspects of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera, Culicidae) adult population in shelters at the Parque Ecologico do Tiete, Sao Paulo, SP. The study aimed to understand ecological aspects of Cidex quinquefascia tits adult population in shelters along the year. Sampling of adults were carried out monthly during one year on a riverside vegetation. The insects were captured with a mechanical aspirator. Males and females were sorted and quantified; the degree of ovarian development was identified according to Sella's criterion. Meteorological data were correlated with the seasonal variations in the mosquito population. 8298 Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were collected. 6313 (76%) were males and 1985 (24%), females. 90,1% of the females had an empty abdomen, 7,4% had blood and 2,5% had mature eggs. The correlation between number of mosquitoes versus temperature and rainfall was weak. The high proportion of males can be explained by female dispersal and by the tendency of males for staying in the shelters. It was observed that the riverside vegetation permits the accumulation of mosquitoes and represents a shelter for them.