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Background  Biting midges belonging to  Culicoides imicola ,  Culicoides obsoletus  complex and  Culicoides pulicaris  complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are increasingly implicated as vectors of bluetongue virus in Palaearctic regions.  Culicoides obsoletus  complex includes  C. obsoletus  ( sensu stricto ),  C. scoticus ,  C. dewulfi  and  C. chiopterus .  Culicoides pulicaris  and  C. lupicaris  belong to the  Culicoides pulicaris  complex. The aim of this study was a geo-statistical analysis of the abundance and spatial distribution of  Culicoides  spp. involved in bluetongue virus transmission. As part of the national bluetongue surveillance plan 7081 catches were collected in 897 Sicilian farms from 2000 to 2013.    Methods  Onderstepoort-type blacklight traps were used for sample collection and each catch was analysed for the presence of  Culicoides  spp. and for the presence and abundance of  Culicoides  vector species ( C. imicola ,  C. pulicaris / C. obsoletus  complexes). A geo-statistical analysis was carried out monthly  via  the interpolation of measured values based on the Inverse Distance Weighted method, using a GIS tool. Raster maps were reclassified into seven classes according to the presence and abundance of  Culicoides , in order to obtain suitable maps for Map Algebra operations.    Results  Sicilian provinces showing a very high abundance of  Culicoides  vector species were Messina (80% of the whole area), Palermo (20%) and Catania (12%). A total of 5654 farms fell within the very high risk area for bluetongue (21% of the 26,676 farms active in Sicily); of these, 3483 farms were in Messina, 1567 in Palermo and 604 in Catania.  Culicoides imicola  was prevalent in Palermo,  C. pulicaris  in Messina and  C. obsoletus  complex was very abundant over the whole island with the highest abundance value in Messina.    Conclusions  Our study reports the results of a geo-statistical analysis concerning the abundance and spatial distribution of  Culicoides  spp .  in Sicily throughout the fourteen year study. It provides useful decision support in the field of epidemiology, allowing the identification of areas to be monitored as bases for improved surveillance plans. Moreover, this knowledge can become a tool for the evaluation of virus transmission risks, especially if related to vector competence.

Geo-statistical analysis of Culicoides spp. distribution and abundance in Sicily, Italy