Culicoides variipennis 1 : Seasonal Abundance, Overwintering, and Voltinism in Northeastern Colorado 2

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Abstract
In northeastern Colorado, Culicoides variipennis (Coquillett) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) larvae were most abundant in a zone extending from 7 cm above to 30 cm below the shoreline, as deep as 5 cm in mud, along the perimeter of lentic breeding sites. First instar larvae appeared initially in April, and larval densities were highest from June to September. Larvae overwintered in the ultimate (4th) instar. Adults emerged from March to mid-May, and seasonal emergence ended in late-October. During the summer, peaks of adult emergence corresponded to peaks of 4th instar abundance. Culicoides variipennis produced 7 generations in northeastern Colorado in 1978. From June to August, generation time was ca. 2 wk.