Feeding Site Specificity in Frog-biting Midges (Corethrellidae)

Abstract Hematophagous arthropods often choose predictable feeding sites on their hosts´ body, presumably to maximize blood uptake while minimizing costs. Feeding can be host-specific, mediated by intrinsic host characters and/or specific preferences of the feeder. We investigated site specificity in a community frog-biting midges ( Corethrella spp.) and frog hosts La Gamba, Costa Rica. Midge distribution differed significantly between 12 species, indicating that properties influence potential sites. However, realized were also different four morphotypes, across all but within certain shared hosts, partitioning among . propose diversity -frog associations is determined an interaction traits, e. g. calling site, defensive behavior or skin thickness, midge especially body size corresponding mouthpart size/structure.