Light and suction trap catches of Culicoides midges in southern England

Abstract

1. The seasonal flight periods are given for eleven species or species groups of Culicoides midges at Pirbright, Surrey, U.K., from 1979 to 1981 and in 1983. 2. Most species were relatively uniformly distributed both within the study site and between years; only C.clintoni Boorman was limited in its spatial distribution and only C.segnis Campbell and Pelham-Clinton varied greatly in numbers between years. 3. Species fall into one of three patterns of seasonal abundance: spring emergers, summer emergers, or spring to autumn emergers. 4. Only the C.obsoletus group showed a pattern of emergence that could correspond to distinct generations, of one or more species in the group. Three distinct emergences were observed, and possible explanations for these discussed. 5. For all species except C.impunctatus Goetghebuer the catches from suction/light and suction only traps are poorly correlated whereas for C.impunctatus they are highly correlated. This may suggest that this species is not greatly attracted to light.