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Emergence of C ulicoides obsoletus group species from farm‐associated habitats in G ermany
Author(s) -
STEINKE S.,
LÜHKEN R.,
BALCZUN C.,
KIEL E.
Publication year - 2016
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/mve.12159
Subject(s) - biology , culicoides , abundance (ecology) , habitat , ceratopogonidae , ecology , livestock , zoology
Biting midges of the genus C ulicoides ( D iptera: C eratopogonidae) may transmit several arboviruses to ruminant livestock. The species of the O bsoletus group are considered to be among the most important vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV) in northern E urope. As agricultural environments offer suitable habitats for the development of their immature stages, the emergence of adult C ulicoides from potential breeding sites was investigated at 20 cattle farms throughout G ermany in 2012 and 2013. In analyses of species‐specific habitat preferences and relationships between C ulicoides abundance in breeding substrates and their physicochemical characteristics, dungheaps emerged as the most important substrate for the development of C ulicoides obsoletus sensu stricto (s.s.) ( M eigen), whereas C ulicoides chiopterus ( M eigen) and C ulicoides dewulfi G oetghebuer were generally restricted to cowpats. A decreasing pH value was associated with a higher abundance or a higher probability of observing these three species. Furthermore, the abundance of C. obsoletus s.s. was positively related to increasing moisture. Dungheaps were very productive breeding sites for this species and are therefore suggested as a target for potential control measures.