Larval habitats of common Culicoides Latreille (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) in Kenya

Abstract

The larval habitats of Culicoides species were determined by examining a total of 1 476 samples collected from different ecological environments in various parts of Kenya. Immature stages were collected from suspected breeding habitats and adults were reared. Adults were also captured in emergence traps and then identified. To determine species preferences, if any, the materials yielding Culicoides were analysed for pH, organic matter and water content. Fifty-seven percent of the samples yielded a total of 26 species of Culicoides. Sites in which Culicoides occurred were classified into eleven habitats grouped into four major systems, namely, aquatic, transitional, terrestrial and general systems. Most species were found breeding over a wide pH range in sites which were wet at least part of the time. A few species appeared to select breeding habitats with a high organic content.