FLEBOTOMÍNEOS (DIPTERA, PSYCHODIDAE) EM FOCOS URBANOS DE LEISHMANIOSE VISCERAL NO ESTADO DO MARANHÃO, BRASIL

The richness, relative abundance and the monthly frequency of species of sandflies (Diptera,Psychodidae) in an urban area of the municipality of Codo, Maranhao, a state that records a highprevalence of visceral leishmaniasis, was studied. The insects were captured with CDC light traps,from 18 h to 6 h, twice per month from June 2012 to May 2013 and 5,722 specimens of 11 species, 10belonging to the genus Lutzomyia and one to the genus Brumptomyia were collected. The abundancewas higher outdoors (4,009 samples: 66% males and 34% females) than in households (1,713 samples:55.9% males and 44.1% females). The most abundant species was L. longipalpis (97.7%), whichtogether with L. evandroi, L. sordellii and L. termitophila were more constant throughout the year. Thefrequency of sandflies was higher in the dry season (57.9%), rising with increasing mean temperature(p=0.0156, r=0.1007) and showed a decrease with increasing relative humidity (p=0.0001, r=-0.1740).Vector control during the dry season, when sandflies are most abundant, is suggested.