Initial Evidence of Aedes Albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Domiciliation in Havana City, Cuba 1995-2018.

Background. Various arboviruses are transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two invasive and frequently sympatric species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of Ae. albopictus with regards to houses and association with other mosquitoes in Havana province. Methods. All deposits containing water in the houses and vacant lots of urban and peri urban municipalities of the province Havana were sampled during two periods: the first 1995 – 1999 and the second 2010-2018. Results. Patterns in the presence of Ae. albopictus in the study area were observed: the persistent absence of Ae. albopictus in one municipality; in two municipalities, starting from an absence in the first period to a rapid dispersion in the following period; and a sustained decrease in the dispersion of Ae. albopictus in two other municipalities. The association of Ae. albopictus with other mosquitoes smaller in the peripheral municipalities, although being the ones with the greatest presence of Ae. albopictus. However overall, we found an increase in this association when comparing the period 2010-2018 with the first period since its introduction in Havana. Inside the houses, Ae albopictus was present in 8% (2016) to 21.5% (2013) with an average of 15%, which evidences an initial domiciliation of the species.Conclusions. The results obtained in this work show an initiation of domiciliation of Ae albopictus in the urban area of Havana province. This is important to alert the National Control Program to strengthen the entomological monitoring of Ae. albopictus, and not only Ae. aegypti. The follow up of this domiciliation is important to guide control efforts, knowing its role as a vector of different arboviruses.

Initial Evidence of Aedes Albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Domiciliation in Havana City, Cuba 1995-2018.

Background. Various arboviruses are transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two invasive and frequently sympatric species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of Ae. albopictus with regards to houses and association with other mosquitoes in Havana province. Methods. All deposits containing water in the houses and vacant lots of urban and peri urban municipalities of the province Havana were sampled during two periods: the first 1995 – 1999 and the second 2010-2018. Results. Patterns in the presence of Ae. albopictus in the study area were observed: the persistent absence of Ae. albopictus in one municipality; in two municipalities, starting from an absence in the first period to a rapid dispersion in the following period; and a sustained decrease in the dispersion of Ae. albopictus in two other municipalities. The association of Ae. albopictus with other mosquitoes smaller in the peripheral municipalities, although being the ones with the greatest presence of Ae. albopictus. However overall, we found an increase in this association when comparing the period 2010-2018 with the first period since its introduction in Havana. Inside the houses, Ae albopictus was present in 8% (2016) to 21.5% (2013) with an average of 15%, which evidences an initial domiciliation of the species.Conclusions. The results obtained in this work show an initiation of domiciliation of Ae albopictus in the urban area of Havana province. This is important to alert the National Control Program to strengthen the entomological monitoring of Ae. albopictus, and not only Ae. aegypti. The follow up of this domiciliation is important to guide control efforts, knowing its role as a vector of different arboviruses.

Entrepreneurial intention in Cuba: An analysis of self-employed room lessors specialized in foreign tourism

Este trabajo analiza el sector del alquiler turístico a extranjeros que efectúan personas físicas en el municipio de Playa de La Habana (Cuba), así como el efecto del mismo en las valoraciones emitidas por los clientes internacionales. Los datos provienen de una muestra de 100 emprendedores y de un muestreo no probabilístico para 184 clientes internacionales. Las conclusiones del trabajo muestran que estos arrendadores pueden considerarse emprendedores y que constituyen una fuente de competencia para las instalaciones turísticas estatales. Así mismo, se debe destacar que la intención emprendedora de estos arrendadores viene dictaminada por la percepción que este sujeto tiene de sí mismo como profesional, y que no está condicionada por otros elementos sociodemográficos o culturales. This paper analyses the Cuban self-employed room lessor sector specialized in foreign tourism in the town of Playa, Havana City, as well as the effect on ratings issued by international customers. The data come from an entrepreneurial sample of 100 Cuban self-employed room lessors (SRL) and a non-probabilistic sampling of 184 international clients. The conclusions of the study show that these self-employed Cubans constitute a source of competition for State tourism facilities. Likewise, it should be mentioned that the entrepreneurial intention of these lessors comes from their self-perception as professionals and is not conditioned by socio-demographic or cultural elements.

New dietary records for the Cuban Spotted Red Trope, Tropidophis maculatus (Squamata: Tropidophiidae)

Tropidophis maculatus (Bibron, 1840) is a mesophilic snake inhabiting forest patches and open secondary scrub savannas in western and central Cuba (Schwartz & Henderson 1991; Rodríguez et al. 2013). The only dietary records for this species are the lizards Anolis angusticeps and A. alutaceus, for individuals from Havana city (Collette 1961). Herein we provide new data on the diet of wild T. maculatus. On 17 April 2010, we found a juvenile female Tropidophis maculatus (140 mm SVL) at Soroa (22.7960, -83.0060; 200 m a.s.l.), Candelaria Municipality, Artemisa Province. We found the snake at 1317 hours under a rock with a big stomach bulge (Fig. 1). It later regurgitated a partially digested male Anolis homolechis that had been swallowed head first (ca. 40 mm SVL; Fig. 2). The predominant vegetation in the area is semi-deciduous forest.

Spatial variations of leaf morphometry in mangroves in La Havana, Cuba

Introduction: Mangroves represent 11 % of the emerged land of Cuba. There is no previous research describing foliar characteristics, but these variables can be used as health indicators in forest ecosystems. Objective: In the current study we describe folial morphometry in four mangroves around Havana city: Bajos de Santa Ana, Cojímar, Rincón de Guanabo and El Cobre – Itabo lagoon. Methods: We collected 1 472 leaves´ samples of Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia germinans and Laguncularia racemosa, between April and July in 2019, to extract eight foliar variables: length, width, area, perimeter, lateral asymmetry, inner angles and shape index. Results: Geographic differences several variables of leaves in R. mangle and A. germinans were detected, but L. racemosa showed high similarity among localities. Differences can be explained by environmental differences in localities. Conclusions: There is a need for more extensive research on these kinds of foliar indicators to support it use in future monitoring or researches, and for that using digital pictures fotografías pose many advantages.

Study of solar radiation in the equinoxes and solstices in the City of Havana, Cuba

Solar radiation is of utmost importance for life on earth and for carrying out different human and natural activities, such as the studies carried out for agriculture. The objective of this work is to calculate, from formulations, the incidence of solar radiation. Solar energy will be calculated in Havana City, Cuba, during the equinoxes and solstices, as well as the variation that exists during the different seasons of the year. A study was carried out every 3 hours: 6am, 9am, 12m, 3pm and 6pm, (average solar time) creating a table with real values of this energy, obtaining maps of light and shadow planes.

DIGITAL DOCUMENTATION AND ARCHIVING LOW COST: LA HABANA VIEJA IN CUBA

This article deepens the subject of photo-modelling applied to architecture, on a medium and large scale and it shows all the possibilities to apply the last technologies of augmented reality and virtual reality to the historical and architectural contest of Havana City in Cuba. The context was quite unsuitable to our project because of different and complex reasons. The need to minimize the size of the tools, their weight and cost. Minimize the time of survey and photographic shot on site. To face the difficulties given by the continuing presence of a chaotic influx of people disturbing the work. Not least the difficulty of having a limited number of daily hours available to carry out photographic shots that requires special lighting conditions. This article describes the necessary steps to obtain a 3D dimensional textured model from reality through a photographic set.