Unit of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Department of Agronomic Sciences, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liege, Gembloux, Belgium.
PLoS One. 2013 Jun 14;8(6):e66893. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066893. Print 2013.
Several species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) biting midges serve as biological vectors for the bluetongue virus (BTV) and the recently described Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in northern Europe. Since their recent emergence in this part of the continent, these diseases have caused considerable economic losses to the sheep and cattle industries. Much data is now available that describe the distribution, population dynamics, and feeding habits of these insects. However, little is known regarding the presence of Culicoides in unusual habitats such as peaty marshes, nor their potential vector capacity. This study evaluated Culicoides biting midges present in the bogs of a Belgian nature reserve compared to those residing at a nearby cattle farm. Culicoides were trapped in 2011 at four different sites (broadleaved and coniferous forested areas, open environments, and at a scientific station) located in the Hautes Fagnes Nature Reserve (Belgium). An additional light trap was operated on a nearby cattle farm. Very high numbers of biting midges were captured in the marshy area and most of them (70 to 95%) were Culicoides impunctatus, a potential vector of BTV and other pathogens. In addition, fewer numbers of C. obsoletus/C. scoticus species, C. chiopterus, and C. dewulfi were observed in the bogs compared to the farm. The wet environment and oligotrophic nature of the soil were probably responsible for these changes in the respective populations. A total of 297,808 Culicoides midges belonging to 27 species were identified during this study and 3 of these species (C. sphagnumensis, C. clintoni and C. comosioculatus) were described in Belgium for the first time.
几种库蠓（双翅目：蠓科）吸血蠓作为蓝舌病毒（BTV）和最近描述的沙氏门病毒（SBV）在北欧的生物传播媒介。自从这些疾病在欧洲大陆的这一地区最近出现以来，它们给绵羊和牛养殖业造成了相当大的经济损失。现在有大量数据描述了这些昆虫的分布、种群动态和摄食习性。然而，对于库蠓在泥炭沼泽等不寻常栖息地的存在及其潜在的媒介能力，人们知之甚少。本研究评估了与附近奶牛场相比，在比利时自然保护区的沼泽地中存在的库蠓吸血蠓。2011 年，在 Hautes Fagnes 自然保护区（比利时）的四个不同地点（阔叶林和针叶林地区、开阔环境以及一个科学站）使用 20 个诱捕器捕获了库蠓。在附近的一个奶牛场还使用了额外的诱捕器。在沼泽地区捕获了大量的吸血蠓，其中大部分（70%至 95%）为库蠓 punctatus，是 BTV 和其他病原体的潜在媒介。此外，与奶牛场相比，在沼泽地中观察到的 C. obsoletus/C. scoticus 种、C. chiopterus 和 C. dewulfi 的数量较少。潮湿的环境和贫营养的土壤可能是造成这些种群变化的原因。在这项研究中，共鉴定出 27 种 297808 只库蠓吸血蠓，其中 3 种（C. sphagnumensis、C. clintoni 和 C. comosioculatus）在比利时首次被描述。
