Influence of environmental and meteorological factors on the biting activity of Leptoconops noei and Leptoconops irritans (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Italy.

The flight activity of Leptoconops irritans and L. noei was studied on the Jonian-Lucanian coast of southern Italy, using CO2-baited traps. The flight of the females lasted from 6:00 a.m. to 8:40 p.m., with L. irritans being active in the morning hours while L. noei peaked around 6:00 p.m. Based on a stepwise regression analysis, temperature, RH, solar radiation, trap proximity to larval habitats, and the time of the day seemed to have little influence on the biting cycle of the 2 biting midges. Only a shift in wind direction appeared to influence female dispersion, resulting into population fluctuations of both species.