In the present paper, we evaluate the relationship between climate variables and population density of
Lutzomyia longipalpis
in Montes Claros, an area of active transmission of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) in Brazil.
Entomological captures were performed in 10 selected districts of the city, between September 2002-August 2003.
A total of 773 specimens of
L. longipalpis were captured in the period and the population density could be associated
with local climate variables (cumulative rainfall, average temperature and relative humidity) through a mathematical
linear model with a determination coefficient (Rsqr) of 0.752. Although based on an oversimplified statistical
analysis, as far as the vector is concerned, this approach showed to be potentially useful as a starting point to guide
control measures for AVL in Montes Claros.