Observing Diurnal Habits of Nyssomyia whitmani (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the Urban Area of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil

were captured in the forest and anthropic environments, where Ny. whitmani accounted for 93.7 % and 92.0%, respectively. In the forest, the frequency of phlebotomines was higher from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. (97.0%), with a peak between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. (59,1%), mainly in collections with the presence of non-human primates (September 2000 and May 2001). In the anthropic environment, the highest frequency was from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. (96.0%). Considering the role of Ny. whitmani as an important vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Brazil and the overwhelming predominance of that sandfly in the urban area of Maringa, where a cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) outbreak has been reported, new cases of CL may occur and the Leishmania spp may be transmitted even during the day.