We report here, as part of our study on the ecology of the Culicinae in Serra dos Órgãos National Park, State of Rio de Janeiro, the host preferences for hematophagy. We have conducted, from March 1983 to February 1985, captures on four baits - man, opossum, bird and lizard -, at soil level and at the tree canopy using different time schedules and during 24 consecutive hours. Human bait attracted the greatest number of mosquitoes, followed by birds and opossums. No mosquitoes fed on lizards. Some species show clear preference for feeding on human blood: Aedes scapularis, Ae. terrens, Anopheles cruzii, Haemagogus capricornii (important vector of Sylvan Yellow Fever in the North and Central Western Regions of Brazil), Trichoprosopon digitatum, Sabethes tarsopus and Sa. identicus. Culex nigripalpus preferred to feed on avian blood.
mosquito; feeding preference; Serra dos Órgãos National Park