ASPECTS OF THE ECOLOGY OF PHLEBOTOMINES (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) IN AN AREA OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS OCCURRENCE,MUNICIPALITY OF ANGRA DOS REIS,COAST OF RIO DE JANEIRO STATE,BRAZIL

Over a complete two-year period, phlebotomine specimens were caught in anarea of cutaneous leishmaniasis occurrence in the municipality of Angra dos Reis. Amanual suction tube was used to catch phlebotomines on house walls, and also lighttraps in domestic and peridomestic settings and in the forest. This yielded 14,170specimens of 13 species: two in the genus Brumptomyia and eleven inthe genus Lutzomyia. L. intermedia predominantly indomestic and peridomestic settings, with little presence in the forest, with the sametrend being found in relation to L. migonei, thus proving that thesespecies have adapted to the human environment. L. fischeri appearedto be eclectic regarding location, but was seen to be proportionally more endophilic.L. intermedia and L. migonei were more numerousin peridomestic settings, throughout the year, while L. fischeri wasmore numerous in domestic settings except in March, April, May and September. Fromthe prevalence of L. intermedia, its proven anthropophily andfindings of this species naturally infected with Leishmania(Viannia) braziliensis, it can be incriminatedas the main vector for this agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the study area,especially in the peridomestic environment. L. fischeri may be acoadjuvant in carrying the parasite.