Ecology of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Southcentral Florida and Experimental Culicoides Vectors of the Avian Hematozoan Haemoproteus Danilewskyi Kruse

Abstract

To determine the vectors of Haemoproteus danilewskyi in blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) in southcentral Florida (USA), we conducted a 2 yr study from January 1993 to December 1995 of the presence and seasonal abundance of Culicoides spp. Of the 14 species of Culicoides captured in Centers for Disease Control light traps, 10 were ornithophilic. Of these, C. edeni, C. knowltoni, C. stellifer, C. beckae, and C. arboricola were most abundant, representing 46% of the total collection and 99% of the ornithophilic collection. The presence of C. stellifer in Bennett trap collections represents a new biting record for this species on passerine birds. We experimentally challenged the most abundant ornithophilic species to determine which were capable of supporting sporogonic development of H. danilewskyi. Culicoides edeni, C. knowltoni, and C. arboricola supported sporogonic development of H. danilewskyi.

Avian haemosporidian prevalence and its relationship to host life histories in eastern Tennessee

“…Haemoproteus prevalence was higher for species that nest between 1 and 5 m above ground level than for species that nest below 1 m or above 5 m. Because canopy heights in our early-successional habitats were low, this pattern is consistent with the observation that Haemoproteus vectors are more abundant in forest canopies (Garvin and Greiner 2003;Cerný et al 2011;Lassen et al 2012). Other studies have found similar positive associations between nesting height and parasite prevalence (Fecchio et al 2011;González et al 2014;Lutz et al 2015), while still others have failed to find an association (Ricklefs et al 2005;Fecchio et al 2013).…”

Spatial, temporal, molecular, and intraspecific differences of haemoparasite infection and relevant selected physiological parameters of wild birds in Georgia, USA

“…Vector-host relationships have not been fully described for all North American haemoparasite species, but it is known that particular vector species partition vertical strata, which would make some birds more susceptible to transmission than others (Garvin and Greiner, 2003). In fact, the correlation between nesting height and prevalence of haemoparasite infection tends to be higher than the relationship between infection prevalence and plumage brightness (Garvin and Remsen, 1997; Deviche et al, 2005).…”

Determinants of abundance and effects of blood-sucking flying insects in the nest of a hole-nesting bird

“…Female body condition was not signiWcantly impaired by Xying insects, probably because adults increase their eVort to buVer the detrimental eVects of ectoparasitism on nestlings, but only to a certain level to avoid severe costs to themselves (Merino et al 1998;Tomás et al 2007b). Blood parasitaemias of female blue tits at 13 days of nestling age were not associated with Xying insect abundances, in spite of both biting midges (Fallis and Wood 1957;Valkiínas et al 2002;Garvin and Greiner 2003;Valkiínas and Iezhova 2004a;Mullens et al 2006) and black Xies (Fallis and Bennett 1961;Khan and Fallis 1971;Herman et al 1975;Votypka et al 2002) being potential vectors of several blood parasites in birds. It has been shown that female blood parasitaemia is indeed associated with abundance of nest-dwelling ectoparasites (Tomás et al 2007b), which may be already present in the nest during incubation and brooding (when females may be more exposed to ectoparasites) because some parts of their populations overwinter in nest boxes (Burtt et al 1991;Harper et al 1992).…”

“…Overall, black Xies can cause dramatic reductions in reproductive success and even mortality in birds (Hunter et al 1997;Smith et al 1998;Bukacijski and Bukacijska 2000). Even less known is the impact of biting midges on birds, though it has been shown that they can also be vectors of Wlarial nematodes (Weinmann et al 1979;Mellor et al 2000), several Haemoproteus species (Fallis and Wood 1957;Valkiínas et al 2002;Garvin and Greiner 2003;Valkiínas and Iezhova 2004a;Mullens et al 2006) and viruses (Naugle et al 2004;Lehane 2005). Similar detrimental eVects associated with blood feeding by black Xies may be expected for biting midges.…”