Observing Diurnal Habits of Nyssomyia whitmani (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the Urban Area of Maringa, Parana, Brazil

The diurnal habits of six species of pblebotomine in the urban area of Maringd, in the State of Parana, Brazil are described in this study. The specimen were collected during yellow fever surveillance activities, in a forest and at its fringe using an insect net and a glass tube containing cotton and chloroform for a total twelve hours monthly from June 2000 to May 2001, as well as on residences and henhouse walls on December 18th, 2003. A total of 323 females were captured in the forest and anthropic environments, where Ny whitmani accounted for 93.7 % and 92.0%, respectively. In the forest, the frequency ofp&botomines was higher from 6 a.m. to 12 a. m. (97.0%), with a peak between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. (59,1%), mainly in collections with the presence of non-human primates (September 2000 and May 2001). In the anthropic environment, the highest frequency was from 6 a. m. to 8 a. m. (96.0%). Considering the role of Ny. whitmani as an important vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Brazil and the overwhelming predominance of that sandfly in the urban area of Maringd, where a cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) outbreak has been reported, new cases of CL may occur and the Leishtnania spp may be transmitted even during me day.