The Biting Midge Culicoides impunctatus Goetghebuer, 1920 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) recorded from the Faroes

Abstract

The biting midge, Culicoides impunctatus, not hitherto recorded from the Faroes, was collected in light traps operated at Gerðinum, Mýrarnar, and Hoyvfk, Streymoy. The species is widespread, occurring in Asia and Europe, e.g. in Britain (including Orkney), Denmark and Norway, but it is not known from lceland and Greenland. C. impunctatus, which is associated with bogland, was particularly abundant at Mýrarnar. The mean antennal ratios (the ratio of the sum of the length of the apicalfive segments of the antennal flagellum to the sum of the basal segments) of Faroese female specimens was significantlylower than mean ratios recorded from Britain and Denmark, indicating smaller absolute body size. The species is an extremely persistent biter, feeding on man and large mammals. In the Faroes man, cattle, sheep and possibly the arctic hare are potential hosts. The feeding on livestock may cause considerable distress, in cattle hypersensitivity to the bites may develop and in horses the biting may give rise to an allergic dermatitis. The record of C impunctatus adds a troublesome biting fly to the Faroese fauna.