We compared two larvae extraction methods involving sugar-flotation and an adapted Berlese funnel-extraction with emergence traps. This was done in order to analyse the colonisation of cowpats by Culicoides chiopterus (Meigen 1830) and Culicoides dewulfi (Goetghebuer 1936) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and to gain information on the comparability and efficacy of these three methods. With all three...

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are a major vector group responsible for the biological transmission of a wide variety of globally significant arboviruses, including bluetongue virus (BTV). In this review we examine current biological resources for the study of this genus, with an emphasis on detailing the history of extant colonies and cell lines derived from C. sonorensis,...

Multi-year observations on the life-cycle of Leptoconops (Holoconops) kerteszi Kieffer (Diptera Ceratopogonidae) were carried out in the coastal areas of Grosseto (Italy). In the studied environment, most of the populations complete two generations within a year. Overwintering is assured by the larvae. Using a simple and functional sampling technique of preimaginal stages, we obtained a general...

Alluaudomyia canariensis Szadziewski & Dominiak sp. nov. from the Canary Islands and A. wyskokensis Szadziewski & Dominiak sp. nov. from Poland and Ukraine are described and illustrated. The genus Alluaudomyia is reported from the Canary Islands for the first time. The article is supplemented with a checklist and an identification key for the species so far recorded from Europe and the Canary I...

BACKGROUND Culicoides biting midges are small insects that are proven vectors of pathogens that cause disease in animals and humans. There are 1,368 species of Culicoides in the world, including 149 species in Brazil and 122 species in the Brazilian Amazon Basin. This study documents specimens that were collected between 2013 and 2015 in the municipalities of Alvorada d'Oeste, Buritis, Cacoal, ...

Naled/diesel oil (1:99), applied as a thermal fog, was tested against the biting midge Culicoides furens. The insects were confined in small cages suspended at 4 heights on poles at progressively greater distances from the fog release point. In terms of population survival 24 hr after treatment, a parabolic equation accurately described the regression of percent survival on distance from the re...

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a novel Orthobunyavirus within the family Bunyaviridae belonging to the Simbu serogroup. Schmallenberg virus infects ruminants and has since its discovery in the autumn 2011 been detected/spread to large parts of Europe. Most bunyaviruses are arboviruses, and SBV has been detected in biting midges in different European countries, suggesting that they may play a role...

NEVILL, E. M. The morphology of the immature stages of some South African Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Onderstepoort J. vet . Res., 36 (2), 265-284. The morphology of the fourth larval stage of eight South African Culicoides species and of the pupae of seven species was stud ied. The value of ex isting taxonomic characters was tested and several useful new characters were foun...

A lightweight, collapsible, tent-type, trap of 1 m2 floor-area was developed for the collection of emerging Culicoides from a wide range of habitats. It is cheap; easy to build, transport and erect; withstands adverse climatic conditions well; affects the covered habitat only slightly; and needs little attention. Insects are trapped into 0.5% aqueous "Savlon" solution in a removable, modified, ...

A new species of the Culicoides (Hoffmania) hylas species group, Culicoides baniwa Felippe-Bauer is described and illustrated based on a female specimen from the state of Amazonas, Brazil. A systematic key, wing photographs, diagramme of the legs pattern, table with numerical characters of females and a synopsis of the 11 species of the C. hylas group are presented. This paper further presents ...