Sticky-trapping biting midges (Culicoides spp.) alighting on cattle and sheep: effects of trap colour and evidence for host preference

We studied by sanning electron microscopy the number, types, structure and distribution of the antennal sensilla of the medical important ceratopogonid Culicoides paraensis (Goeldi). There are about 174 sense organs on the antenmal flagellum which are classified as sensilla chaetica; sharp-tipped and blunt-tipped (type I and II) sensilla trichodea; sensilla basiconica; sensilla coeloconica; sensilla ampullacea and styloconic-type sensilla. The role of antennal sensory organs are discussed regarding the host preference of the biting midges.

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Diversity, Abundance and Host Preference of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Potential Vectors and Nuisance Insect in Zoo Park Košice, Slovakia

Medical Research Archives ◽

10.18103/mra.v9i6.2398 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Zuzana Kasicova ◽

Petronela Komorová ◽

Patrik Pastorek ◽

Andrea Schreiberová ◽

Miroslava Friedman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Allergic Reaction ◽

Central Europe ◽

Host Preference ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Homo Sapiens ◽

Blood Feeding ◽

Biting Midges ◽

Culicoides Obsoletus ◽

Wide Range

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were captured in the course of three seasons (2017–2020) in the Zoo Košice. The total number of captured individuals was 5,667 biting midges, and 12 species of Culicoides were identified, while the most frequently captured and the most populous species were C. obsoletus/C. scoticus, C. furcillatus, and C. festivipennis. The most frequent hosts on which the biting midges were blood-feeding were humans (Homo sapiens), Burchell's zebra (Equus quagga burchellii), and domestic cow (Bos taurus). This is the first study to confirm a wide range of biting midges species in a zoo which are capable of using not only animals as their hosts, but also humans, in whom a bite may induce an allergic reaction. More than 80% of the fauna of biting midges in the Zoo Košice represented Culicoides obsoletus/C. scoticus, which are in the Central Europe regarded as the potential vectors of arboviruses, to which primarily ruminants are highly susceptible.

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Diversity, Abundance and Host Preference of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Potential Vectors and Nuisance Insect in Zoo Park Košice, Slovakia

Medical Research Archives ◽

10.18103/mra.v4i6.2398 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Zuzana Kasicova ◽

Petronela Komorová ◽

Patrik Pastorek ◽

Andrea Schreiberová ◽

Miroslava Friedman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Allergic Reaction ◽

Central Europe ◽

Host Preference ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Homo Sapiens ◽

Blood Feeding ◽

Biting Midges ◽

Culicoides Obsoletus ◽

Wide Range

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were captured in the course of three seasons (2017–2020) in the Zoo Košice. The total number of captured individuals was 5,667 biting midges, and 12 species of Culicoides were identified, while the most frequently captured and the most populous species were C. obsoletus/C. scoticus, C. furcillatus, and C. festivipennis. The most frequent hosts on which the biting midges were blood-feeding were humans (Homo sapiens), Burchell's zebra (Equus quagga burchellii), and domestic cow (Bos taurus). This is the first study to confirm a wide range of biting midges species in a zoo which are capable of using not only animals as their hosts, but also humans, in whom a bite may induce an allergic reaction. More than 80% of the fauna of biting midges in the Zoo Košice represented Culicoides obsoletus/C. scoticus, which are in the Central Europe regarded as the potential vectors of arboviruses, to which primarily ruminants are highly susceptible.

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Features of spring feeding of sterlet of the middle course of the Northern Dvina river

Rybovodstvo i rybnoe hozjajstvo (Fish Breeding and Fisheries) ◽

10.33920/sel-09-2007-01 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 8-17

Author(s):

A. Bykov ◽

D. Palatov ◽

I. Studenov ◽

D. Chupov

Keyword(s):

Benthic Communities ◽

High Water ◽

Food Composition ◽

Fish Growth ◽

High Water Content ◽

Feeding Intensity ◽

Biting Midges ◽

Size Groups ◽

Main Components ◽

A Minor

The article provides information about the features of spring feeding of sterlet in the spawning grounds of the middle course of the Northern Dvina river in may 2019. The main and secondary groups of forage objects in the diet of this species of sturgeon are characterized. The article considers the variability of the sterlet food composition with an increase in the size of fish from 30 to 60 cm. In the process of fish growth in the diet of the Severodvinsk sterlet, the main components in terms of occurrence and mass in all size groups are the larvae of Brooks and chironomids. A minor occurrence was the larvae of midges, biting midges, stoneflies, mayflies and small clams. To random and seasonal food are the larvae of water bugs, butterflies, flies, beetles and eggs of other fish. The feeding intensity of the smaller sterlet (30–40 cm) was significantly higher than that of the fish in the size groups 40–50 and 50–60 cm. Fundamental changes in the diet of the Severodvinsk sterlet for the main food objects for more than sixty years of observations have not been established. During periods of high water content of the Northern Dvina due to seasonal changes in the structure of benthic communities, the value of Brooks in the diet of sterlet increases and the proportion of chironomids decreases.

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