Behavioral patterns, parity rate and natural infection analysis in anopheline species involved in the transmission of malaria in the northeastern Brazilian Amazon region

[Display omitted] Photography of border of the Amazon forest, in Brazil, where occur Anopheles darlingi and malaria transmission. We examined the behavioral patterns, parity rate and natural infection for Plasmodium spp. of the anopheline species sampled in the district of Coração, state of Amapá, Brazil, from December 2010 to November 2011. From the nine species registered, A. darlingi, A. braziliensis and A. marajoara were the most frequent and anthropophilic in the studied area. •The behavioral patterns, parity rate and natural infection for Plasmodium spp. of the anopheline species were analyzed.•The studied area was the district of Coração, Amapá, Brazil and the collections were performed from December 2010 to November 2011.•From the nine species captured, Anopheles darlingi, A. braziliensis and A. marajoara were the most abundant and anthropophilic.•All species showed predominance to biting in the outdoor environment. The characterization of behavioral patterns allows a better understanding of the transmission dynamics and the design of more effective malaria vector control strategies. This study analyzed the behavioral patterns of the Anopheles species of the Coração district situated in the northeast of the Brazilian Amazon region. The behavioral patterns of the anopheline species were measured based on the 36 collection sites of this district from December 2010 to November 2011. Collections of four hours for three consecutive nights each month and four 12-h collections, comprising two in the rainy season and two in the dry season, were performed. Furthermore, to infer the anthropophily and zoophily indexes, four additional four-hour collections were performed. The samples were also evaluated for parity rate and natural infectivity for Plasmodium spp. A total of 1689 anophelines were captured, comprising of nine species and two subgenera (Nyssorhynchus – six species, and Anopheles – three species). Anopheles darlingi was the most abundant and widely distributed species in the area, followed by A. braziliensis and A.marajoara. Anopheles darlingi and A. marajoara were the only species present in the four collections of 12-h, but only A. darlingi showed activity throughout night. Anopheles darlingi was the most anthropophilic species (AI=0.40), but the zoophily index was higher (ZI=0.60), revealing an eclectic and opportunistic behavior. Of the six most frequent species, A. nuneztovari s.l. was the most zoophilic species (ZI=1.00). All captured specie