Open AccessSEASONAL PREVALENCE AND BIONOMICS OF BITING MIDGES (CERATOPOGONIDAE) AT OCEAN SHORES, NEW SOUTH WALES
Author(s) -
Kay B. H.,
Len T.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
australian journal of entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1440-6055
pISSN - 1326-6756
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1982.tb01797.x
Subject(s) - bionomics , ceratopogonidae , biology , biting , culicoides , ecology , zoology , larva
Between 1971–1973 at Ocean Shores near Brunswick Heads, 19 taxa of Culicoides were sampled using mainly truck traps but also human bait. A questionnaire survey indicated that the major pest species of biting midges, C. subimmaculatus Lee and Reye, C. molestus (Skuse) and C. marmoratus (Skuse), had little effect on holiday‐makers. Species composition differed according to the trapping method. Biting midges, with the exception of C. fulbrighti Lee and Reye and possibly C. victoriae Macfie, were more abundant during summer. Abundances of species other than C. fulbrighti, C. victoriae, C. marmoratus and C. brevitarsis Kieffer were negligible in winter. From daily survival rate calculations, C. marmoratus was relatively short‐lived especially during summer (48–55%) whereas C. brevitarsis and C. victoriae , especially during summer 1972–73 (81%) and during the cooler months (83–92%) respectively, showed greater vector potential.