Characteristics of Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) breeding places near Salisbury, Rhodesia

. 1. A survey of Culicoides breeding places was made around Salisbury. Out of forty species caught in light traps, only nineteen were reared from breeding places. 2. The seven most abundant species with their characteristic sites were C.pycnostictw in mud around water bodies, especially dams; C.nivosus very prevalent around puddles rich in organic matter: C. distinctipennis along drainage canals intermediate in organic matter; C.gulbenkiani in cow dung especially on damp soil; Caccraensis gp. only in rot holes and tree forks; Cschultzei gp. along streams and drainage canals in mud rather poor in organic matter; C.tropi‐calis in drainage canals very low in organic matter; C.imicola possibly breeds widely dispersed mainly in a rich mixture of organic matter and damp soil, with cow pats and edges of water bodies being marginal. 3. The prevalent species are believed to breed all year round. Preponderance of females in the breeding places was found in C.pycnostictus, C.nivosus and C.accraensis gp. while the reverse was true in C.distinctipennis and C.gulbenkiani. The preponderance of males as indication of proximity to breeding sites is thus probably questionable.