Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 508-545). Also available via the Internet.

This study investigates aspects of the biology of C. impunctatus with a view to producing an optimised laboratory culture of this species. Artificial membrane feeding of C. impunctatus is shown to be enhanced by the addition of blood vestiges to the outer surface of the feeding apparatus. The effects of holding temperature, environment and conspecific density upon oogenesis in blood fed female midges are assessed through mortality, digestion of the blood meal and development of the eggbatch over time. Oviposition in C. impunctatus is investigated through choice and nochoice bioassays which show Sphagnum spp. Mosses to be highly effective in this regard. Juncus articulatuslacutiflorus infusions also significantly increase the number of eggs laid by females in comparison to oviposition substrates used in colonisation of other midge species. Preliminary studies are also carried out to provide a suitable larval medium for colonisation purposes. The possibility of future colonisation is discussed with reference both to those experiments carried out, and to those areas not yet addressed in the C. impunctatus lifecycle. Dispersal of C. impunctatus is also examined, both on a local scale and in terms of gene flow between UK populations. Capture, mark, recapture studies showed the marked population of C. impunctatus remained relatively close to the release site in the habitat used for the study. The effect of prevailing winds, however, was found to be highly important in terms of passive directional movements of individuals. Daily survival rates of parous females were calculated as very low in relation to other species of midge making this species an unlikely candidate for pathogen transfer in Scotland. Polymorphism in the molecular markers used to examine gene flow in C. impunctatus across the UK was minimal and precluded phylogenetic analysis. This result is interpreted in terms of both possible long-distance dispersal and the effects of rapid post-glacial popUlation expansion into the UK.

Undergraduate honors paper--Mount Holyoke College, 2008. Dept of Biological Sciences. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-118).

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Please read the abstract in the dissertation / Dissertation (MSc Agric)--University of Pretoria ,1967. / gm2014 / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

The biting midges (family Ceratopogonidae) is one of the most species rich amongst the biting flies (Diptera) and has been recorded from most parts of the world. The species are mostly known for their capability to act as vectors for several important diseases, which have helped in shaping the focus to one of its genera, Culicoides Latreille, 1809.   This thesis gives an overview of the knowledge of the Swedish diversity, in the first paper (paper I) with a closer look at the species of Dasyhelea Kieffer, 1911 where all twenty species found in Sweden are presented with their associated localities, and two new species are described.  In the second paper (paper II) the biting midge diversity of Sweden is presented based on specimens collected from several localities. All these individuals were barcoded using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI). The analysis included 773 specimens that were assigned into 214 barcoding clusters (BINs) and sorted into 164 groups based on their morphology. The third paper (paper III) broadens the scale were the evolutionary relationships within the family are investigated by applying five protein coding genes (COI, CAD, TPI, AATS and PGD) and specimens from different parts of the World. The analysis recovers Ceratopogonini, Forcipomyia Meigen, 1818 and Bezzia Kieffer, 1899 as paraphyletic and Palpomyia Meigen, 1818 polyphyletic. In the last and fourth paper (paper IV) the family is used as a model organism together with Hymenoptera for an alternative analysis method for reducing the impact of saturation and long-branch attraction using non-synonymous coding (e.g. Degen1) on only parts of a dataset. The effectiveness of the method is compared to the removal of the faster evolving third codon position. The result yields a higher number of supported nodes as well as a higher median of support for the method as well as an ability to reduce long-branch attraction artifacts. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p><p> </p>

Several areas of the bionomics of Culicoides in Virginia were given preliminary investigation. These included surveys for larval habitats, colonization attempts with Culicoides guttipennis (Coq.), host preference studies and adult activity studies. Breeding sites of 22 species of Culicoides were located and briefly described. Samples of mud, debris, etc. from suspected breeding sites were brought into the laboratory and maintained at 70°F in food containers with screened tops. Most species were found to prefer a specific type of habitat (i. e. tree-holes, polluted areas, etc.) but exceptions were occasionally observed. Colonization attempts with C. guttipennis have resulted in the successful establishment of this species in the laboratory. The colony has been maintained for 12-15 generations and is currently producing over 1,000 adults per day and an excess of eggs. Techniques developed for larval and adult maintenance have proved to be highly successful in recent months. Adults were held in a constant temperature cabinet at 80°F ± 2° and 85% relative humidity ± 10% in semi-darkness (less than 1 ft-c ). Eggs were collected on moist filter paper exposed in shell vials. Fly eggs hatched in 3 days and the young larvae were introduced into aquaria containing leaf mold from hardwood forests and distilled water. Larvae pupated in about 12 days and adults emerged about 3 days later. The adult diet consisted of rabbit blood, raisins, sugar cubes, honey water and a 6:6:1:13 mixture of powdered milk, sugar, egg solids and water administered in capillary tubes. In host preference studies 15 species of Culicoides were collected on 1 or more of 14 different hosts used in animal-baited traps. Animals were restrained and exposed on a small platform. After 15 min the animals were covered with a collecting cage. Flies were aspirated from the traps and killed in 70% ethanol. Even though some preferences possibly were shown by some species, more data will be needed before definite conclusions can be drawn. In adult activity studies, most species appeared to be more abundant from 9 PM to 3 AM as indicated by light traps. This was especially noted in C. stellifer, C. haematopotus and C. venustus. The activity of C. haematopotus was fairly constant up to 3 AM and then decreased. C. stellifer and C. venustus activity decreased as the night progressed. / Doctor of Philosophy

An artificial larval medium for colonized Culicoides guttipennis was developed. Microorganisms in decaying leaf matter were present in the original laboratory diet. These were believed to be the main food of C. guttipennis larvae. This was verified by sterilizing the leaf matter to kill the organisms present. Larvae did not develop beyond the first instar in this medium, but adults were produced from non-sterilized leaf matter. The objective was to develop cultures of various microorganisms and find one that would be best for rearing C. guttipennis larvae in producing more adults. A simple hay-infusion medium inoculated with stump-hole microorganisms was found more effective than all other cultures screened in rearing the larvae. This culture consisted of stump-hole microorganisms inoculated fresh each week from stored stumphole contents. It was compared with the same culture containing stumphole microorganisms completely adapted to a laboratory environment. The former was better in rearing C. guttipennis larvae. A final experiment evaluated the incorporation of vermiculite as an artificial substrate. This proved successful in rearing larvae and producing large numbers of adults. This culture was superior over the larval rearing medium of decaying leaf matter. Development of a successful artificial larval medium for colonized C. guttipennis will aid in establishing other laboratory colonies of related Culicoides species. / Master of Science