Dynamics of daily activity of blood-sucking biting midges in the south of the Tyumen region
Abstract
O.A. Fiodorova*, M.I. Serkova and T.E. Savchuk
Here we presented the results of studies conducted in 2017 on the daily activity rhythm of blood-sucking midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) in the south of the Tyumen region. We used an entomological landing net with removable bags at intervals of 1 hour for collecting and counting biting midges. At the same time, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and precipitation were recorded. The identification tables were used to determining the species of the imago of blood-sucking biting midges; the species name was presented following the current accepted list. The maximum activity of biting midges was observed in the morning and evening; the peak of species diversity was observed at 2 AM, 3 AM, 7 AM, and 10 PM. When studying the daily rhythm, an attack of 13 species of blood-sucking midges of the family Ceratopogonidae, belonging to the same genus Culicoides, was recorded. During the study period, the dominant species was Culicoides punctatus, while C. fascipennis and C. grisescens were inferior to it in number; C. obsoletus, C. chiopterus, and C. gornostaevae, were rarely recorded. The study of the distribution of biting midges is currently relevant since they are vectors of animals and humans' infectious and invasive diseases.