ANOPHELES-ALBIMANUS (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE) HOST SELECTION PATTERNS IN 3ECOLOGICAL AREAS OF THE COASTAL PLAINS OF CHIAPAS, SOUTHERN MEXICO

The host-feeding patterns of Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann were descri bed and the effect of host availability on these patterns was assessed in three different ecological areas of coastal Chiapas, Mexico. Resti ng mosquitoes were collected indoors and outdoors during rainy seasons . A 20% sample of blood-fed mosquitoes was tested to determine the sou rce of the blood meal using an ELISA. The unweighted human blood index (HBI) of An. albimanus in the three areas ranged from 0.11 to 0.21. T his mosquito species fed more frequently on bovines than on any other host, but the forage ratio indicated that there was also a high prefer ence for equines. Some females tended to rest or complete their gonotr ophic cycle indoors after feeding on animals, but females also fed on man and rested outdoors. Host availability and ecological conditions a ppeared to be responsible for differences observed in the HBI among ar eas.