A photographic key to the adult female biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogondiae: Culicoides) of Florida, USA

Authors: BLOSSER, ERIK - Sutter-Yuba Mosquito & Vector Control District; McGregor, Bethany; BURKETT-CADENA, NATHAN - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/6/2024
Publication Date: 4/5/2024
Citation: Blosser, E.M., McGregor, B.L., Burkett-Cadena, N.D. 2024. A photographic key to the adult female biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogondiae: Culicoides) of Florida, USA. Zootaxa. 5433(2)151-182. https://doi.org/10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5433.2.1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5433.2.1

Interpretive Summary: Biting midges in the genus Culicoides are a diverse group of blood feeding flies that include species capable of spreading disease and causing annoyance. Due to their potential impacts to humans and animals, it is important to understand the biology of these insects to effectively control them. However, limited resources for the identification of midges exist and resources currently in use rely on challenging characteristics. Here, we provide an updated photographic key to the Culicoides species of Florida as well as tables summarizing important information about each species. These keys will improve the ability of researchers to identify midge species, including those that impact human and animal populations, permitting further study of their biology.

Technical Abstract: The biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) are a diverse group of blood-feeding flies that includes numerous pest and vector species. Major gaps exist in our knowledge of the biology and ecology of the majority of Culicoides spp., due in part to a lack of keys for identifying the biting midges of a given region. In Florida, USA, The Sand Flies of Florida (Blanton and Wirth, 1979) has been a foundational resource for biting midge identification since its publication. The identification keys to the 47 biting midge species (and one subspecies) in The Sand Flies of Florida are not illustrated, however, and frequently rely upon microscopic features (spermathecae, antennal sensory pattern, number of teeth on mandible) as discriminating characters. Here we provide an updated photographic key to 49 nominal species of Culicoides from Florida, USA. The revised key orders characters so that species of nuisance, medical or veterinary importance can be reliably identified without slide mounting, an aspect that should facilitate ecological field work. Synoptic tables summarize the taxonomic affinity, distribution, abundance, seasonality, and medical / veterinary importance of the Culicoides spp. from Florida, compiled from published sources.