Synanthropy and Community Structure of Ceratopogonidae from the Northeast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Abstract

Synanthropy and community structure of Ceratopogonidae in temperate Argentina were compared across an urbanization gradient to assess the impact of urbanization on species diversity and abundance. Adult ceratopogonids were collected from one natural, one Peri-urban, and two urban sites monthly for 12 months using CDC light traps. Nine-hundred one individuals belonging to nine genera and 59 species were collected. Forcipomyia Meigen was the genus with the highest species richness (n = 20), followed by Atrichopogon Kieffer (14), Dasyhelea Kieffer (8), Stilobezzia Kieffer (7), Culicoides Latreille (5), Bezzia Kieffer (2), Alluaudomyia Kieffer, Monohelea Kieffer, and Palpomyia Meigen (1). Only 15 species were present at the three different areas. Indices of species abundance (ISA) values were statistically similar between urban and Peri-urban areas, but these were significantly lower than those from the natural area. Atrichopogon balseiroi Spinelli, Dasyhelea sp. C., Forcipomyia poulaineae Ingram, and Macfie and F. nana (Macfie) were positively associated with rain fall, while A. albinensis, A. delpontei, D. suarezi, Forcipomyia sp. B, F. sp. I, F. pinamarensis, and F. calchaqui were associated to relative humidity. Species diversity was reduced in urbanized areas and these areas favored ubiquitous species: Forcipomyia taragui Marino, Spinelli and Cazorla, F. poulaineae, and Culicoides venezuelensis Ortiz and Mirsa.