Diel and Seasonal Activity of Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) near Yankeetown, Florida, Monitored with a Vehicle-Mounted Insect Trap

摘要

Seasonal occurrence and diel and lunar periodicities of adult Culicoides mississippiensis, C. furens, C. barbosai, and C. floridensis were studied near Yankeetown, Levy County, Florida, from May 1983 to July 1984. A vehicle-mounted trap was used to collect ca. 300,000 individuals in flight. Culicoides mississippiensis was the only species active throughout the year, and 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 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 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.