Abstract
Species of Culicoides feeding on horses were investigated in Ibadan and Ilorin in the southwestern part of Nigeria using light, sticky and emergence traps. A total of 2949 Culicoides consisting of 22 species were caught over a period of 22 months. Culicoides quinquelineatus was the most numerous, followed by C. imicola. The greatest proportion of Culicoides was caught with the sticky traps followed by the emergence traps during the period of moderate to heavy rains. Males were scarce and the proportion of fed females was generally low.
A significantly greater number of Culicoides was caught during the rains than during the dry season. The results are discussed within the context of previous investigations on Culicoides in Nigeria. The possibility of some species, especially C. imicola and C. quinquelineatus being vectors of African horse sickness is also discussed.
Résumé
On a fait une enquete à Ibadan et à Ilorin au sud-ouest du Nigéria sur les espèces de Culicoïdes qui sont nourries au dépens des chevaux; on avait utilisé des pièges d’émergence, légers et adhésifs. Par ce moyen, on avait attrapé pendant 22 mois un nombre total de 2949 Culicoïdes comprenant 22 espèces. Les Culicoides quinquelineatus étaient les espèces les plus nombreuses, suivies par les C. imicola. Le plus grand nombre de Culicoïdes fut attrapé par les pièges adhésifs, suivis par ceux d’émergence, pendant la période où les pluies étaient relativement modérées ou fortes. Les espèces mâles étaient rares et la proportion des femelles bien nourries était généralement faible.
On a attrapé un nombre plus considérable de Culicoïdes pendant la saison pluvieuse que durant la période sèche. Ces résultats sont expliqués dans le cadre des recherches précédentes faites sur les Culicoïdes. On examine aussi la possibilité que certaines espèces, surtout les C. imicola et C. quinquelineatus, soient vectrices de la maladie africaine de chevaux.
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Adeyefa, C.A.O., Dipeolu, O.O. Studies on Culicoides Species (Latreille, Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Nigeria — XI. Species Caught Around Horse Stables. Int J Trop Insect Sci 14, 211–214 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400014636
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400014636