- Delécolle JC. 1985. Nouvelle contribution à l'étude systématique et iconographique des espèces du genre Culicoides (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae) du Nord-Est de la France. Université des Sciences de Strasbourg, France.
- Dijkstra E, van der Ven IJ, Meiswinkel R, Hölzel DR, Van Rijn PA, Meiswinkel R. 2008. Culicoides chiopterus as a potential vector of bluetongue virus in Europe. Vet Rec. 162(13) : 422.
- Garros C, Gardès L, Allène X, Rakotoarivony I, Viennet E, Rossi S, Balenghien T. . 2011. Adaptation of a species-specific multiplex PCR assay for the identification of blood meal source in Culicoides (Ceratopogonidae: Diptera): applications on Palaearctic biting midge species, vectors of Orbiviruses.. Infect Genet Evol. 11(5) : 1103-1110.
- Ninio C, Augot D, Delecolle JC, Dufour B, Depaquit J. 2011. Contribution to the knowledge of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) host preferences in France. Parasitol Res. 108(3) : 657-663.
- Lassen SB, Nielsen SA, Skovgård H, Kristensen M. 2011. Molecular identification of bloodmeals from biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides Latreille) in Denmark. Parasitol Res. 108(4) : 823-829.
Specimen(s) present in collection (1)
Distribution map for specimen(s) present in collection
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