The haematophagous arthropods ( Animalia : Arthropoda ) of the Cape Verde Islands : a review

Arthropoda is the most diverse phylum of the animal kingdom. The majority of bloodsucking arthropods of public health concern are found in two classes, Arachnida and Insecta. Mosquitoes, ticks, cattle flies, horseflies and biting midges are the main hematophagous groups occurring in the Cape Verde Islands and whose role in infectious disease transmission has been established. In this literature review, the main morphological and biological characters and their role in the cycle of disease transmission are summarized.