Barcoding of the Genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Austria—An Update of the Species Inventory Including the First Records of Three Species in Austria

Ceratopogonidae are small nematoceran Diptera with a worldwide distribution, consisting of more than 5400 described species, divided into 125 genera. The genus Culicoides is known to comprise hematophagous vectors of medical and veterinary importance. Diseases transmitted by Culicoides spp. Such as African horse sickness virus, Bluetongue virus, equine encephalitis virus (Reoviridae) and Schmallenberg virus (Bunyaviridae) affect large parts of Europe and are strongly linked to the spread and abundance of its vectors. However, Culicoides surveillance measures are not implemented regularly nor in the whole of Austria. In this study, 142 morphologically identified individuals were chosen for molecular analyses (barcoding) of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (mt COI). Molecular analyses mostly supported previous morphologic identification. Mismatches between results of molecular and morphologic analysis revealed three new Culicoides species in Austria, Culicoides gornostaevae Mirzaeva, 1984, which is a member of the Obsoletus group, C. griseidorsum Kieffer, 1918 and C. pallidicornis Kieffer, 1919 as well as possible cryptic species. We present here the first Austrian barcodes of the mt COI region of 26 Culicoides species and conclude that barcoding is a reliable tool with which to support morphologic analysis, especially with regard to the difficult to identify females of the medically and economically important genus Culicoides.

Field Evaluation of Deltamethrin and Ivermectin Applications to Cattle on Culicoides Host-Alighting, Blood-Feeding, and Emergence

The impact of topical applications of deltamethrin and ivermectin to cattle on Culicoides spp. landing and blood-feeding was studied in this work using sticky traps mounted on Friesian heifers’ backs. There was no effect of the insecticides on total numbers of Culicoides trapped or the proportion engorged. Deltamethrin and ivermectin treatment did not prevent blood-feeding on these animals. Deltamethrin did result in significant Culicoides mortality as evidenced by the numbers of dead midges combed from heifers’ upper flanks. The proximity of engorged midges on traps to dead midges in the hair suggests that blood-feeding took place despite midges receiving an ultimately lethal dose of deltamethrin. Ivermectin application resulted in a smaller proportion of nulliparous than parous females caught. There was no significant effect of ivermectin on the numbers of Culicoides that emerged from dung samples (but p was small at 0.095 for the Obsoletus group Culicoides). In cases of suspect animal imports, pour-on or spray applications of deltamethrin could reduce the risk of onward transmission of bluetongue virus.

Differential emergence of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from on-farm breeding substrates in Northern Ireland

SUMMARYBiting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of a number of viral diseases worldwide. Following the unforeseen outbreak of bluetongue in northern Europe (2006–2009) there was a need to clarify on-farm breeding substrates utilized by temperate Culicoides spp. Six substrates (cow dung, cow slurry, horse dung, sheep dung, maize silage and soil) were investigated for Culicoides spp. emergence over a 31-week period. Overall, most Obsoletus group Culicoides emerged from the cow dung and the most Pulicaris group Culicoides emerged from the sheep dung. Furthermore, Culicoides of the Obsoletus group were found to be abundant in cow slurry and sheep dung. Temperature played a significant role in the emergence times of adult Culicoides. The Obsoletus group appear to have undergone 3 generations during the experimental period. The sex ratio of emergent Obsoletus group Culicoides was affected by substrate type, with a greater proportion of males emerging from cow dung and slurry compared with the other substrates.

A review of the Cautires obsoletus species group from Indo–Burma (Coleoptera: Lycidae)

The study deals with the net-winged beetle genus Cautires Waterhouse, 1879, which is distributed mainly in the rain forests of the Oriental region. We discuss morphology and relationships among Oriental Metriorrhynchini and we propose Bulenides Waterhouse, 1879 to be a junior subjective synonym of Cautires Waterhouse, 1879. Almost all species previously classified in Bulenides were studied, transferred to Cautires and they were placed in C. obsoletus and C. pauper groups, both proposed here. The C. obsoletus species group from Indo-Burma is reviewed and seven species, which are new to science, are described: Cautires bolavensis sp. n. (Laos), C. matsudai sp. n. (Thailand), C. kundratai sp. n. (Thailand), C. dembickyi sp. n. (India), C. hergovitsi sp. n. (Laos), C. jendeki sp. n. (Laos), and C. yunnanus sp. n. (China). These species are placed in the Cautires obsoletus group. C. testaceus (Pic, 1921) and C. regalis (Kleine, 1929) from the same region are redescribed and also placed in the C. obsoletus group. A key to the C. obsoletus species group from Indo-Burma is presented, and their distribution and biology are briefly discussed. The following new combinations are proposed for the species transferred from Bulenides and placed in the Cautires obsoletus group: Cautires adventicius (Kleine, 1926), comb. n., C. apicalis (Pic, 1925), comb. n., C. ater (Pic, 1921), comb. n., C. atropunctatus (Pic, 1925), comb. n., C. basilanus (Pic, 1925), comb. n., C. adumbratus (Kleine, 1926), comb. n., C. aterrimus (Kleine, 1926), comb. n., C. bicoloratus (Kleine, 1930), comb. n., C. coccineus (Kleine, 1930), comb. n., C. cognatus (Bourgeois, 1883), comb. n., C. corporaali (Pic, 1921), comb. n., C. duplicatus (Kleine, 1928), comb. n., C. imitator (Kleine, 1930), comb. n., C. inhumeralis (Pic, 1921), comb. n., C. javanicus (Bourgeois, 1883), comb. n., C. lineatus (Pic, 1921), comb. n., C. longissimus (Pic, 1921), comb. n., C. obsoletus (Waterhouse, 1878), comb. n., C. nebulosus (Kleine, 1930), comb. n., C. nigromaculatus (Pic, 1925), comb. n., C. pudicus (Kleine, 1931), comb. n., C. purpureus (Pic, 1922), comb. n., C. regalis (Kleine, 1929), comb. n., C. reticulatus (Kleine, 1930), comb. n., C. rianganus (Pic, 1925), comb. n., C. sijthoffi (Kleine, 1926), comb. n., C. singularithorax (Pic, 1925), comb. n., C. testaceus (Pic, 1921), comb. n., and C. triangularis (Kleine, 1930), comb. n. The following species are transferred to the Cautires pauper group: C. pauper (Waterhouse, 1878), comb. n., C. arens (Kleine, 1926), comb. n., C. argilosus (Kleine, 1926), comb. n., C. lyciformis (Kleine, 1932), comb. n., C. malayensis (Kleine, 1930), comb. n., C. nigricolor (Pic, 1925), comb. n., and C. turbidus (Waterhouse, 1878), comb. n. Several species are transferred to Cautires without an assignment to the species group: C. aridus (Kleine, 1926), comb. n., C. basalis (Pic, 1925), comb. n., C. dubius (Waterhouse, 1878), comb. n., C. flavoreticulatus (Kleine, 1932), comb. n., C. longeareolatus (Kleine, 1936), comb. n., C. papuanus (Kleine, 1935), comb. n., C. philippinensis (Kleine, 1930), comb. n., C. socius (Kleine, 1935), comb. n. Several homonyms in Cautires resulted from new combinations and new names are proposed: Cautires pseudoapicalis nom. n. (for Cautires apicalis Kleine, 1926 preoccupied by Cautires apicalis (Pic, 1925)), Cautires borneensis nom. n. (for Cautires bicoloratus Kleine, 1932 preoccupied by Cautires bicoloratus (Kleine, 1930)), Cautires sundaicus nom. n. (for Cautires javanicus Kleine, 1927 preoccupied by Cautires javanicus (Bourgeois, 1883)), Cautires fruhstorferi nom. nov. (for Cautires lineatus (Pic, 1921) preoccupied by Cautires lineatus (Hope in Gray, 1831)), Cautires slamatensis nom. nov. (for Cautires obsoletus Kleine, 1926 preoccupied by Cautires obsoletus (Waterhouse, 1878)), Cautires kinabalensis nom. nov. (for Cautires lyciformis (Kleine, 1932) preoccupied by Cautires lyciformis Pic, 1922), Cautires johannesi nom. n. (for Cautires nigricolor (Pic, 1925) preoccupied by Cautires nigricolor Pic, 1922), Cautires africanus nom. n. (for Cautires reticulatus Kleine, 1930 preoccupied by Cautires reticulatus (Kleine, 1930)), Cautires congoensis nom. n. (for Cautires triangularis Kleine, 1930 preoccupied by Cautires reticulatus (Kleine, 1930)).