Seasonal variations in population size, fecundity, and parity rates of Culicoides insignis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Florida, USA.

Abstract

Culicoides insignis constituted more than 99.9% of the Culicoides midges caught by light traps operated for 2 years at a cattle feedlot in southern Florida, USA. Males and nulliparous females were present in all collections except during the exceptionally cold winter months of 1982. Fecundity was examined and the mean number of eggs/clutch ranged from 79.0 in July 1980 to 107.1 in February 1980. The number of eggs was influenced by female size and by the ambient temperature during development of immatures. Because of the common occurrence of antibodies to bluetongue in south Florida, the absence of an established C. variipennis population, and the close association between cattle and C. insignis, this species must be considered a primary potential vector of bluetongue virus in southern Florida.