BLOODSUCKING INSECTS IN RURAL AREAS ADJACENT TO THE CORUMBÁ IV HYDROELECTRIC DAM RESERVOIR, SANTO ANTÔNIO DO DESCOBERTO, GOIÁS, BRAZIL

Abstract

Eutrophic reservoirs of hydroelectric dams may favor the proliferation of macrophytes andbloodsucking insects. Currently, macrophyte overgrowth has been observed in some stretches ofthe Corumbá IV hydroelectric dam (CIV) reservoir. The occurrence of bloodsucking insects wasanalyzed in rural areas adjacent to the CIV reservoir. In two periods (March and July/August) tenhouses in the area with increased macrophyte proliferation (AG) and ten others in the area with lowmacrophyte proliferation (AP) were selected and sampled. Additionally, 100 macrophytes fromeach area were analyzed. A total of 35,788 insects were captured in light traps and 28% of thembelonged to families of bloodsucking insects, especially Culicidae. The occurrence of culicids wasdifferent between the AG and AP areas (p<0.05). Mosquitoes were more frequent and abundant inthe AG area. The larval survey showed that 100% of the houses visited had potential for mosquitobreeding. Overall, 302 mosquito larvae were collected among macrophytes, mainly in the AG area.It is concluded that there is a higher frequency of mosquitoes in areas with increased macrophyteproliferation, but the CIV reservoir is not the only breeding source of mosquitoes in the studied areas.