Abstract
The biting midges belonging to the genus Culicoides are of great concern worldwide because of their medico-veterinary importance and potential vectors of several diseases including the bluetongue disease among cattle and sheep population. Presently 71 species and 21 bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes prevailing in India and of which serotype 1 is reported from Rajasthan. The U.V. light traps were operated in farms (cattle and sheep) in Bikaner city, to assess the prevalence of Culicoides sp. during post monsoon months October and November for consecutive 2 years (2011 and 2012) respectively. The light trap catch data revealed the occurrence of two potent BTV vector species viz., Culicoides imicola Kieffer and Culicoides oxystoma Kieffer. C. oxystoma predominantly occurred within the vicinity of cattle while C. imicola was chiefly associated with that of sheep. Age grading of the species revealed significant proportion of parous females which may play an important role in transmission of BT disease.
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