Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus) is a mosquito-associated with urban environments, and its larvae and pupae develop in a wide variety of artificial habitats (Forattini 1965). In the early 1960s, 17 countries and territories in the Americas, including Argentina, certified its eradication (Kerr et al. 1964). But a decade and a half later, they were re-colonized by Ae. aegypti due to the abandonment of the vector control programs. In 1987, the vector was again detected in Argentina, and during the early 1990s it colonized 16 provinces and 580 of the 854 existing municipalities (Coto & Masuh 2003). This is the only vector responsible for dengue epidemics that have occurred in our country from 1997 to date, recording more than 25,000 cases of DEN-1 in 2009 (Ministry of Public Health 2009).

Several studies conducted in Argentina report the presence of Ae. aegypti in a wide variety of artificial habitats in urban areas showing stable behavior of this species in relation to habitat preference, but also its ability to adapt to new conditions imposed by man (Campos 1993; Campos & Maciá 1996; Avilés et al. 1997; Schweigmann et al. 1997; Augier 1998; Almirón & Ludueña Almeida 1998; Stein & Oria 2002; Stein et al. 2002, 2007, 2011; Mangudo et al. 2010; Campos et al. 2011). In Brazil, Ae. aegypti has been collected from bromeliads in public and private gardens (Forattini et al. 2000; Mocellin et al. 2009), although as some authors suggested, these habitats do not contribute importantly to the production of its immatures (Mocellin et al. 2009; Santos et al. 2010). In relation to natural habitats in which Ae. aegypti has been observed in Argentina, Mangudo et al. (2010) found the species in treeholes in Aguaray city, Salta province, while Campos et al. (2011) observed this species in the axils of Araceae, at the National Park in Puerto Iguazú, province of Misiones. The phytotelmata have been identified as important habitats for vectors of human disease (O'Meara et al. 1995).

Culex (Culex) quinquefasciatus Say has also been found colonizing the same artificial locations as Ae. aegypti in urban environments, although it differs in behavior (Schweigmann et al. 1997; Almirón & Ludueña Almeida 1998; Oria et al. 1999, 2002; Stein & Oria 2002; Stein et al. 2002, 2007, 2011). This species is a competent vector of St. Louis Encephalitis virus in Argentina (Diaz 2009). Many other arboviruses have been isolated from Cx. quinquefasciatus, including Oropouche virus in Brazil. Vertical transmission of the Japanese encephalitis virus has also been demonstrated in this species (Lourenço-de-Oliveira & da Silva 1985; Johansen et al. 2001).

This is the first report of larvae of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus in epiphytic bromeliads in semi-urban and rural localities in the province of Tucuman, northwestern Argentina (Fig. 1). Both localities are in the subtropical mountainous rainforest also called Yungas that extends from the Bolivia border (S 22°) up to the north of Catamarca province (S 29°), traversing Salta, Jujuy and Tucumán provinces (Cabrera 1994; Brown & Grau 1995; Brown et al. 2001). In the Yungas it is possible to recognize 4 vegetation strata within forests (piedmont forest, mountain forest, and mountain wood and altitude grasses). The piedmont forest receives average annual precipitation of 820 mm (550–1400 mm) and the average annual temperature is 21.5 °C (average maximum = 27.6 °C, average minimum = 15.4 °C). The localities are situated in the piedmont forest, which is characterized by native vegetation patches with areas that are strongly modified by human activities (deforestation and agriculture). It is common to see increased plantings of sugar cane, soybean and citrus (Prado 1995; Dantur Juri et al. 2010a, 2010b).The forest is called “tipa and pacará“ (Tipuana tipu (Benth.) Kuntze; Fabales: Fabaceae) and (Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong.; Fabales: Fabaceae), including canopy trees such as Blepharocalyx salicifolius (H.B.K.) (Myrtales: Myrtaceae), Juglans australis Griseb. (Fagales: Juglandaceae), Terminalia triflora (Griseb.) Lillo (Myrtales: Combretaceae), Handroanthus impetiginosus (Mart. ex DC.) Mattos (Lamiales: Bignoniaceae), Jacaranda cuspidifolia Mart. (Lamiales: Bignoniaceae), Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don., Tabebuia avellanedae Lor. ex Griseb. (Lamiales: Bignoniaceae), Tecoma stans (L.) C. Juss. ex Kunth (Lamiales: Bignoniaceae), Salix humboldtiana Willd. (Malpighiales: Salicaceae), Acacia visco Griseb. (Fabales: Fabaceae), Scutia buxifolia Reissek (Rosales: Rhamnaceae), Ceiba chodatii Hassl. (Malvales: Malvaceae), Celtis pubescens (Kunth) Spreng. (Rosales: Cannabaceae), Allophyllus edulis (St. Hil.) Radlkofer (Sapindales: Sapindaceae) and Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtales: Myrtaceae), among others. Climber or aerial plant species belong to the families Bignoniaceae, Ulmaceae, and Amaranthaceae. There are also vascular epiphyte plants such as Bromeliaceae (Prado 1995; Dantur Juri et al. 2010a, 2010b). Epiphytic bromeliads situated on various species of trees and on a roof of an abandoned construction were inspected in Monte Bello (S 27° 22′ 43,89″ W 65° 44′ 30,02″; 535 m asl) and Iltico (S 27° 20′ 13,56″ W 65° 39′ 25,07″; 411 m asl) localities (Fig. 1). They were found at heights between 0.50 m and up to 4 m above ground level. There were 2 collections, one in Nov 2012 and the other in Mar 2013 (Table 1, Fig. 2). We consider these sampling sites as natural habitats located in a residual primitive forest or wild ecosystem (Monte Bello) and the other as a primitive forest but modified by human activities (Iltico). The larvae and pupae were collected using a glass bottle (1,500 mL), with a rubber stopper with two holes through which were inserted 2 flexible plastic tubes. One tube was introduced into the bromeliad's water reservoir (phytotelm), and then by applying suction with the other tube, all the water contained in the phytotelm was collected together with the immature stages of the mosquitoes. The water containing the larvae and/or pupae was transported to the laboratory in jar labeled with names of collectors and the date and site of collection. The larvae and pupae were reared to obtain adults in the laboratory.

Fig. 1.

Map of the study area.

The culicids were sorted and identified following the Lane (1953) and Darsie (1985) determination keys. The bromeliads were also identified as Aechmea distichantha Lemaire (Poales: Bromeliaceae) a native species, in all cases. In Monte Bello we collected 5 larvae of Ae. aegypti and 1 larva and 1 pupa of Cx. quinquefasciatus from the bromeliads located on the roof of an abandoned building, only 10 m from the nearest house and the same distance from the primitive forest (Fig. 2a). At Iltico, we collected 6 larvae of Ae. aegypti from epiphytic bromeliads located 4 m high above ground on a tree at 2 m from the nearest houses (Fig. 2b). Aedes aegypti specimens were collected with larvae of Culex (Culex) fernandezi García & Cavalieri, Culex (Microculex) imitator Theobald and Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) guadalupensis Dyar & Knab, while Cx. quinquefasciatus was collected with larvae of Tx. guadalupensis (Table 1).

Aedes aegypti was found in clear or turbid water, with or without organic matter, and with or without an unpleasant odor. Culex quinquefas ciatus was found in clear water without organic matter.

TABLE 1.

MOSQUITO SPECIES COLLECTED IN BROMELIADS FROM MONTE BELLO AND ILTICO LOCALITIES, PROVINCE OF TUCUMAN, BETWEEN NOV 2012 AND MAR 2013.

Despite the fact that the degree of infestation of nearby houses was not assessed either by the authors or by public health authorities, these observations should be taken into consideration by the latter, because the findings of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus in bromeliads located in wild and semi-urban environments could indicate a possible degree of invasion and adaptation to the primitive forest, or they may be a consequence of high infestations levels in nearby houses (Malta Verajao et al. 2005). This finding requires indepth studies to reveal the real behavior of these species in the study area, the true role of bromeliads as producers of these medically important mosquitos, and to determine and adopt appropriate control measures.

Fig. 2.

Mosquito habitats provided by the Aechmea distichantha, a bromeliad epiphyte in the Yungas of northwestern Argentina. (2a) Aspect of residual primitive forest in Monte Bello, meters from bromeliads where larvae of Ae. aegypti were found. (2b) Aspect of the abandoned building where epiphytic bromeliads were found from which the larvae of Ae. aegypti were collected. (2c) Epiphytic bromeliads from which larvae of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus were collected at Iltico.