Abstract

PEREZ MENZIES, Mirtha et al. Larval presence of Culex (Culex) interrogator (Dyar and Knab) (Diptera:Culicidae) in Cuba. Rev Cubana Med Trop [online]. 2018, vol.70, n.3, pp. 108-113. ISSN 1561-3054.

Nowadays there are more than 3 500 known species of mosquitoes and everyday are registered some more of importance in disease transmission to men and animals every day. The aim of this study is to register for the first time larval presence of Cx. interrogator in Santiago de Cuba province and in Cuba. In this regard, larval sampling was carried out by the established Surveillance and Control Program of other mosquitoes in Santiago de Cuba province and attached to the Control Program of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Cuba; its was carried out in natural and artificial breeding sites with weekly frequency during 2013-2017. The larvae were sent to the Provincial Laboratory of Enthomology of Santiago de Cuba for classification using morphological keys. Subsequently, the biological material was sent to the National Reference Laboratory of "Pedro Kourí" Institute where the taxonomic identification was verified. Culex interrogator was collected in Palma Soriano and San Luis municipalities in 2013, in Santiago de Cuba, and Songo la Maya and II Frente in 2015 and 2017, respectively, all belonging to Santiago de Cuba province. The breeding sites were septic tanks, flooded basements under buildings, oxidation ponds, plastic bottles, ditches, puddles and streams. This mosquito was found in natural breeding sites associated to Culex nigripalpus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles albimanus. As a conclusion, it can be said that Cx. interrogator constitutes a new registry for Cuban entomofauna, hence the importance of expanding knowledge about its distribution, association with other culicid´s species and its possible role in the transmission of diseases to man.

Keywords : new register; Culex interrogator; mosquitoes; Cuba.