Diel and Seasonal Activities of Culicoides spp. near Yankeetown, Florida.
Abstract
Seasonal occurrence and diel and lunar periodicities of adult Culicoides mississippiensis Hoffman, C. furens (Poey), C. barbosai Wirth and Blanton, and C. floridensis Beck were studied near Yankeetown, Levy County, Florida, from May 1983 to July 1984. A vehicle-mounted trap was used to collect 3,360 samples of individuals in flight and an aspirator was used to collect 1,120 samples of individuals attracted to a human host. Over 300,000 specimens were sorted and identified from these collections. Culicoides mississippiensis was the only species active throughout the year. It was also the most abundant, representing over 65% of the total catch. Culicoides furens and C. barbosai were collected in spring, summer, and fall while C. floridensis was primarily a summer species. Diel and lunar periodicities varied seasonally for most species. Peaks of activity occurred most frequently during morning and evening twilight periods. The morning peak was greater of the two for C. barbosai while C. furens and C. mississippiensis were more abundant during the evening twilight. Female activity persisted throughout the night on full moon but declined after sunset when the moon was in some other phase. Male activity gradually declined after evening twilight during all phases of the moon.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA156904
Entities
People
- T. H. Lillie
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology