Species diversity and seasonal abundance of Culicoides biting midges in northwestern Argentina |
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| Authors: | C. A. VEGGIANI AYBAR M. J. DANTUR JURI M. S. LIZARRALDE DE GROSSO G. R. SPINELLI |
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| Affiliation: | Instituto Superior de Entomología Dr. Abraham Willink, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina;and División Entomología, Museo de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina |
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| Abstract: | The species diversity and seasonal abundance of biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were studied in northwestern Argentina during the period 2003–2005. A total of 5437 Culicoides specimens were collected using CDC light traps in three areas of the mountainous rainforest area. The most common species were Culicoides paraensis (Goeldi) and C . insignis Lutz, Culicoides lahillei (Iches), C . venezuelensis Ortiz & Mirsa, C . debilipalpis Lutz and C . crescentis Wirth & Blanton were also collected. Culicoides paraensis was abundant during the summer, and C . insignis and C . lahillei during late summer and early fall. Accumulated rainfall was the climatic variable most related to fluctuation in abundance of C . paraensis . |
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| Keywords: | Biting midges filariasis seasonal abundance |
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