Simuliidae diversity (Diptera: Nematocera) of three water courses in Klabin’s ecological park – Telêmaco Borba, State of Paraná

Abstract

Simuliidae have been considered object of concern due to their hemophagia, anthropophilic habits and high proliferation, causing discomfort to the population, damages to agricultural activities and rural tourism, besides being pathogens vectors. With the purpose of understanding the community structure and specific diversity of these insects, a survey of the species was conducted in three streams in an ecological park in Telêmaco Borba – Paraná, Brazil. Immature specimens were collected in mineral and vegetable substrates on the riverbanks. Chemical and physical analyses of the water were carried out. The Simuliidae collection included 14,397 individuals, being 14,150 larvae and 247 pupae. The following species were identified: Simullium subnigrum, S. subpallidum, S. rubrithorax, S. incrustatum, S. pertinax, S. inaequale, S. anamariae, S. rubiginosum, S. travassosi, S. riograndense and S. dinelli. This is the first registry of S. rubiginosum and S. dinelli in the State of Paraná. The lesser-impacted areas presented greater diversity. However, the impacted areas presented an abundance of borrachudos, represented by a single species, S. rubrithorax. It was concluded that preservation areas with lotic waters and riparian forest are considered a refuge area for Simuliidae species. Impact of anthropical activities upon the environment interferes in the dynamics of species, favoring one or more of them, which proliferate and predominate.