ARS | Publication request: Batkoa apiculata (Thaxter) Humber affecting Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) in the municipality of Una, Southern Bahia, Brazil

Submitted to: Entomotropica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 1, 2009
Publication Date: October 3, 2011
Citation: Sanchez, S., Humber, R.A., Freitas, A., Pinheiro, A. 2011. Batkoa apiculata (Thaxter) Humber affecting Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) in the municipality of Una, Southern Bahia, Brazil. Entomotropica. 25(2):63-68.

Interpretive Summary: There are few studies of the naturally occurring microbial enemies of the mosquitoes that vector serious human diseases such as malaria in more or less rural areas of the eastern coast of Brazil. This study surveyed populations of Anopheles mosquitoes in southeastern Bahia for a potent natural fungal pathogen that helps to limit the populations of these vectors, and this is among one of the first field studies of any fungus from the order Entomophthorales against mosquito hosts. The results contribute toward the possible development of effective fungus-based means for the management of populations of malaria vectors in areas of Brazilian coastal rain forests.

Technical Abstract: Surveys for fungal pathogens affecting adult mosquitoes from the genus Anopheles were conducted in flooded and swamp-like natural breeding sites near residences in the center and suburbs of the city of Una as well as the nearby village of Outeiro in southern Bahia. Surveys of 54 mosquito breeding sites over a period of 24 months yielded 150 sample collections with a total of 194 Anopheles cadavers infected by the pathogenic fungus Batkoa apiculata (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae). Apart from their basic scientific value, these results also offer some hope about the possibilities to use fungus-based biocontrol against Anopheles species that vector malaria in Brazil.