[Studies on preadult and adult forms of Anopheles nuñeztovari (Díptera: Culicidae) Gabaldon 1940 in an originally malarial area in Mérida state, Venezuela].

Pre-adult and adult forms of Anopheles nuñeztovari were studied and some variables of larval breeding from females captured and fed on human bait were described. The production of adult anopheles was 46,5% together with sufficient number of larvae to carry out any bioassay for studies of antilarval methods. The entomological evaluation of adults revealed that Anohpheles nuñeztovari predominance was 65% over other anopheles existing in the area, with a blood-sucking activity covering the whole night while peaks are reached near midnight. Average bite habit was set at 22,7 mosquitoes per man-hour and the highest average of bites (40,4%) occur at 10 to 11pm; the life expectancy at birth of 12 days and infestivity of 7 days are values compatible with Plasmodium transmission. The blood-sucking habit of this species also showed that 56,3% of females rest at home before biting whereas 32% of anopheles remained home with full stomach after biting, which indicates an important change in this vector's behaviour in the studied area.