Culicoides chiopterus (Meigen), 1830


Synonym(s)
  • C. amoenus  (Winnertz), 1852
  • C. similis  (Goetghebuer), 1927
    preoccupied by Culicoides similis Carter, Ingram and Macfie, 1920
  • C. dobyi  Callot and Kremer, 1969

General information for the taxon Biogeographic region where the taxon is recorded : Palaearctic

Diagnose
Species generally characterized by small size (without being a diagnostic character). Wing very vaguely marked sometimes pale, almost devoid of macrotrichia and with the second radial cell pale. Pale spot distribution as for C. obsoletus except absence of pale spots in r5, m1 and m2 cells, pale spots usually rounded.
Palpus with 3rd segment short and swollen compared to C. obsoletus/C. scoticus or C. dewulfi
joined eyes with interfacetal hairs
Presence of 2 functional spermathecal bodies plus one rudimentary spermathecal body, with a small, well marked duct associated to a sclerotized ring

male diagnose :
Transparent wing
Hypopygium with short and swollen postlateral processes the ninth sternite deeply emarginated.
Aedageus with a triangular shape with a small basal arch (C. dewulfi has a broad basal arch).


Ecology
Culicoides chiopterus has been described as closely associated to cattle, potentially breeding exclusively in their dung. Garros et al. (2010) show feeding behaviour towards cattle as also confirmed by Ninio et al. (2010) and Lassen et al. (2010).

Implications as vector species
Pools of C chiopterus were found reproducibly PCR-positive to BTV in the RT-PCR assay (Dijkstra et al. 2008), highlighting the role of the species for bluetongue transmission



  family Ceratopogonidae
Important bibliographic reference(s)
Specimen(s) present in collection (1)
AVAbase ID Country of collection Voucher Sequence(s) Status Sample(s) Picture(s) Number
AVA3 France In collection Single individual

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Distribution map for specimen(s) present in collection