Dispersal and Gonotrophic Age of Culicoides Variipennis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) at an Isolated Site in Southwestern Virginia, Usa1

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Abstract
Culicoides variipennis breeds in enormous numbers in a group of isolated saline ponds in southwestern Virginia, USA. Sticky traps were placed at various horizontal distances from these breeding sites and at several heights to determine horizontal and vertical flight activity of these midges. The numbers captured declined with distance from the breeding area. At 2, 10, and 368 m from the breeding site the highest proportion of midges was collected at elevations of 1.8, 1.8–3.0, and 3.0 m, respectively. Larger numbers of midges were captured from traps placed at 0.6 m elevation when host animals were nearby. Comparison of sticky traps with black-light traps showed that the gonotrophic age of midges collected was influenced by trap type and trap location. The proportion of gravid and parous females was greater in black-light traps placed 9 m from the breeding sites than at 396 or 650 m. The data indicated that nulliparous females moved away from the breeding site most readily.