Distribution and bionomics of anophelines from the Pacific coast of Colombia

Abstract

Adult and larval collections were made from 1982 to 1985 in 14 localities with a history of malaria transmission along the Pacific Coast of Colombia in the Departments of Chocó, Valle del Cauca, and Nariño. Of 21 anopheline species reported for these Departments, 19 species were collected in this study. Thirteen species were collected in intradomiliciar and around the domicile human bait collections, the most abundant being A. albimanus, A. pseudopunctipennus, A. fluminensis, A. strodei and A. punctimacula, in this order, and accounting exophily ratios are presented. Fourteen species were collected as III or IV instar larvae, with A. albimanus representing 73% of the 677 specimens. Data on species preference for various breeding places and species associations are presented. A. albimanus was found to be the most numerous and widely distributed anopheline on the Pacific Coast of Colombia.