Blood-Feeding Activity of Female Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)1

Abstract

A study was made to determine the effects of certain environmental and host factors upon the feeding activities of adult female Culicoides. Collections were made with animal-baited traps utilizing goats, rabbits, turkeys, and chickens as hosts. Only 2 species of Culicoides were collected in large enough numbers for valid statistical analysis. Greater numbers of C. sanguisuga (Coquillett) and C. guttipennis (Coquillett) were collected from the larger host animals of the same species. This suggests that host size was a factor in attracting Culicoides. In other experiments it was found that host color was not a significant factor in attracting these 2 species of Culicoides. The optimum conditions for adult feeding activity of C. sanguisuga were 16–18°C and 85–95% RH. Host records are reported for 10 additional species.