Development of Tetrapetalonema llewellyni to the infective stage in Culicoides hollensis.

The vector requirements and course of larval development for tetrapetalonema llewellyni Price, 1962, a common filaria of raccoons in Louisiana, are described for the first time. Development (from microfilaria to infective stage) took place in the thoracic muscles of the biting midge, Culicoides hollensis (Melander and Brues, 1902) Foote and Pratt, 1954, and required 9 days under laboratory conditions. The findings of this study suggest that species of Culicoides may serve as natural vectors of T. llewellyni.