Larval habitats of the common biting midges Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Kenya

Abstract

The larval habitats of Culicoides species were determined by examining a total of 1476 samples collected from different ecological environments in various parts in 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 for breeding habitats, if any, samples 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 for at least part of the time. A few species appeared to select breeding habitats with a high organic content.