Some studies implicate certain aquatic Heteroptera in the transmission to human of Mycobacterium ulcerans. It’s in this context that this study was initiated in Côte d’Ivoire; in six endemic health districts in 2008 and 2009. Its purpose was to make an inventory of aquatic Heteroptera in ponds located near the villages. Water bugs were monthly collected in ponds where there are human activities with nets. The identification has been made under a dissecting microscope and using determination keys of aquatic insects. The different species in each sample were counted. 7190 specimens of aquatics Heteroptera have been collected, which they were composed by 19 taxa belonging to 8 families have been identified. Those families were: Belostomatidae, Naucoridae, Ranatridae, Nepidae, Notonectidae, Corixidae, Gerridae et Pleidae. The most abundant taxa and who were present in all sites with a high frequency belong to the genera Diplonychus, Micronecta, Naucoris, Ranatra and Laccotrephes. The majority of those genera and taxa are carnivorous and predatory. They can bite accidentally human and transmit Mycobacterium ulcerans to him, during his activities in the aquatic environment. Some genera and taxa are strong fliers that are attracted by light at night and can bite humans in homes and thus transmit to them Mycobacterium ulcerans out of the water
Abstract