Journal article

Larval development and emergence sites of farm-associated Culicoides in the United Kingdom

LE Harrup, BV Purse, N Golding, PS Mellor, S Carpenter

Medical and Veterinary Entomology | WILEY | Published : 2013

Abstract

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are the biological vectors of internationally important arboviruses of livestock including bluetongue virus (BTV). Information on the habitats used by Culicoides for larval development is valuable for establishing targeted vector control strategies and for improving local scale models of vector abundance. This study combines emergence trap collections of adult Culicoides identified using molecular markers and physiochemical measurements of habitats to investigate larval development sites of Palaearctic Culicoides in South East England. The known range of larval habitats for several Culicoides species is extended and the potential BTV vector..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council


Funding Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the owners and staff of the farms involved in this study for their co-operation during the fieldwork. This work was supported by a doctoral training grant to L.E.H. (BBSSC200513246) by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. B.V.P. received additional support from the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. The mention of proprietary products does not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation by the authors for their use.