Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) after the rainy season in the Itatupã-Baquiá Sustainable Development Reserve, Gurupá, Pará State, Brazil

Abstract

The hematophagous Ceratopogonidae species (biting midges or sand flies) are vulgarly known as maruins, mosquitinhos pólvora and mosquitinhos de mangue. Some of these species may cause severe problems to humans and their pets due to the voracity of their bites during blood sucking. They are potential vectors of infectious agents and may cause severe skin irritation and lesions, especially in more sensitive individuals. This article aims to broaden the knowledge on hematophagous Ceratopogonidae in the Brazilian Amazon through observations and study of the host-seeking behavior of the species in search of blood feeding on humans. It focuses on the species that occur in the Itatupã-Baquiá Sustainable Development Reserve, located in the municipality of Gurupá, Pará State. We used human baits and CDC light traps as sampling methods. A total of 1,71 8 specimens of midges were collected. All of them belonged to the genus Culicoides and were distributed into nine species, as follows: C. acotylus Lutz, C. batesi Wirth & Blanton, C. foxi Ortíz, C. insinuatus Ortíz & León, C. iriartei Fox, C. leopoldoi Ortíz, C. limai Barretto, C. paramaruim Wirth & Blanton and Culicoides sp. C. insinuatus was considered the most important species for individuals from the Itatupã-Baquiá Reserve because it searches for blood feedings in periods humans are more active, both in peridomestic and intradomestic areas, which causes great inconvenience to the individuals affected and their pets.