Occurrence Of Limatus durhamii (Diptera: Culicidae) In Artificial Containers In Remnants Of Atlantic Forest, São Paulo, Brazil

Limatus durhamii (Theobald, 1907) has wild habits with ecological plasticity in anthropized environments. Adults of Li. durhamii are active during the day and are found in the forests of South and Central America. This species has been found naturally infected with several arboviruses, such as the Guama virus, Maguari virus, Tucunduba virus and Caraparu virus, all belonging to Orthobunyavirus genus (Peribunyaviridae family). Those viruses cause nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, headache, arthralgia, myalgia asthenia, and chill. Immature forms of Li. durhamii develop in canopy and soil breeding sites, such as broken bamboo, tree holes, fruit peels, escargots, stone holes, snail shells and artificial containers. Immature forms (larvae and pupae) were collected monthly between from artificial containers in two remnants of the Atlantic Forest, the Capivari-Monos Protection Area (CMPA) and the Cantareira State Park (CSP). Both sites are located in the metropolitan region of São Paulo state and serve to shelter, protect, and ensure conservation of biodiversity in eastern Brazil. Suction samplers were used for collection procedures. A total of 1,428 larvae were collected. Plastic recipients were the containers with the highest abundance of immature forms of the Li. durhamii, with 579 specimens collected, followed by glass bottles (464) and metal cans (223). The occurrence of Li. durhamii in artificial containers was previously reported by other researchers. Its tolerance to the pressures caused by environmental impacts makes it the species of Sabethini better adapted to breed in artificial containers.