Mosquito species exhibit preferences for different vertical forest strata, which may influence arbovirus transmission dynamics in tropical environments. Arboreal mosquitoes such as Haemagogus and Sabethes are strongly associated with forest canopies and play an important role in the sylvatic transmission cycle of yellow fever virus (YFV). This study evaluated the diversity and abundance of acrodendrophilic Culicidae and assessed the efficiency of different larvitrap types for sampling immature mosquitoes in preserved and anthropized forest fragments in the Amazon. Field collections were conducted in the Rio Pardo rural settlement, municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil, between January and September 2021 during six sampling campaigns covering both dry and rainy seasons. Larvitraps made of bamboo internodes, plastic containers, and tires were installed in the forest canopy at approximately 12 m height and remained in the field for 15 days during each sampling period. A total of 160 immature specimens belonging to nine mosquito species of medical and veterinary importance were recorded. Haemagogus janthinomys, the primary vector of sylvatic yellow fever virus, was the most abundant species, followed by Limatus flavisetosus and Aedes albopictus, a secondary vector of dengue virus. Tire traps showed the highest colonization rates, whereas plastic containers exhibited greater species diversity and evenness. Community analyses did not reveal significant differences between areas with contrasting levels of deforestation. However, Hg. janthinomys and Sabethes spp. were predominantly associated with bamboo traps, reflecting their affinity for natural phytotelmata in the canopy. In contrast, Ae. albopictus was more frequent in anthropized environments and associated with artificial containers. Its occurrence in canopy traps suggests ecological plasticity in vertically stratified habitats under environmental disturbance. These findings contribute to the understanding of canopy mosquito ecology and provide relevant information for arbovirus surveillance strategies in the Amazon.
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Vertical habitat use and larvitrap efficiency for arbovirus vector mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in an Amazonian rural settlement.
Published:
26 June 2026
by MDPI
in 2026 International Online Conference on Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
session Vector-Borne Diseases
Abstract:
Keywords: Culicidae; arbovirus vectors; canopy mosquitoes; Amazon rainforest; larvitraps.