Monitoring bluetongue virus vectors in Andalusia (SW Europe): Culicoides species composition and factors affecting capture rates of the biting midge Culicoides imicola

Abstract

In this work, we summarize the results of captures of Culicoides species in Andalusia (S Spain) during 2007-2008. Four out of the 15 midge species-Culicoides imicola, Culicoides obsoletus complex, Culicoides pulicaris complex, and Culicoides nubeculosus-accounted for 80.7 % of captures (n = 68,190). Captures were seasonal and mostly occurred in May-November. The overall number of Culicoides specimens captured and the mean number of caught per trap were higher in 2007. We used an information-theoretic approach to analyze whether environmental factors (e.g., weather, altitude above the sea level, distance of the trap from the ground, distance to animals, and land use) affected C. imicola capture probability and success. Mean temperature and rainfall (both integrated into the Gaussen index), distance of traps to host animals, and trap height above the ground were the main factors explaining variance in capture rates in the Bluetongue Entomologic Surveillance Andalusian Program (BESAP). However, all of these patterns strongly varied among traps. As previously remarked by other authors, standardized capture methods and protocols for trap use are needed to ensure that results obtained in different geographical areas and/or periods are comparable.

Spatial-temporal Trends and Factors Associated with the Bluetongue Virus Seropositivity in Large Game Hunting Areas from Southern Spain

“…pulicaris . During the dry season, the abundance of C. imicola clearly reach a peak, being a 58.3% of C. imicola captured between August and October, which is in accordance with previous studies (Pérez et al., ), and coincides with the aggregation period for red deer in southern Spain. High densities of Cervinae deer may offer to the vectors an abundant and widespread food resource, enabling these cervid species to play a relevant role in Culicoides population dynamics (Bartsch et al., ; Ruiz‐Fons et al., ).…”

Culicoides monitoring in Belgium in 2011: analysis of spatiotemporal abundance, species diversity and Schmallenberg virus detection

“…Factors such as climate, temperature, altitude, soil type and land cover are described as influencing the abundance and distribution of midges (Conte et al, 2007;Mehlhorn et al, 2009;Kirkeby et al, 2010;Pérez et al, 2012). In general, these seem to be applicable to observations recorded during the monitoring in Belgium.…”

Comparison of different light sources for trapping Culicoides biting midges, mosquitoes and other dipterans

“…Since their introduction, several modifications to these traps have been made to improve their effectiveness, being the modern models (CDC miniature trap models 512 and 1212), the most common tools for monitoring Culicoides species. These traps have routinely been used in surveillance programs in the USA (Smith and Mullens, 2003), but also in many European countries, including France (Venail et al, 2012), Spain (Pérez et al, 2012;González et al, 2013) or Portugal (Ramilo et al, 2012). Black lights (UV) are superior to white light in terms of specimens and species collected (Venter et al, 2009), depending on the type of trap (design, size and intensity of light source, etc.…”