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Factors influencing nuisance blackfly (Diptera: Simuliidae) activity in the Scottish Highlands
Author(s) -
COUPLAND J. B.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
medical and veterinary entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2915
pISSN - 0269-283X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2915.1994.tb00151.x
Subject(s) - nuisance , biology , moorland , biting , ecology , habitat , fencing , zoology , parallel computing , computer science
. The nuisance activity of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) was investigated in several habitats on Speyside, near Kincraig (57 o 08'N, 3 o 56'W), Invernesshire, in central Scotland during May‐October 1987‐89. The main blackfly species caught landing/biting on humans were Simulium reptans, S. argyreatum, S. variegetum and the S. tuberosum complex, in order of prevalence. Blackfly biting activity occurred from mid‐May to mid‐September. Numbers of female blackflies attracted to volunteers were correlated with their body posture, habitat and the season. Overall, Simulium activity was greatest in mixed birch/juniper forest, least in spruce plantations and at intermediate levels on pasture, moorland and in Scots Pine forest. Compared with an adult, a child experienced twice as many Simulium bites per hour (12.2 v 6.3) in the birch forest. On the child's body, 69% of blackfiies landed on the head, neck and back, whereas the majority landed on the legs (48%) and arms (28%) of adults. Bending over, especially during the exertion of gardening, was more attractive to anthropophilic blackfiies than standing or kneeling.