Adult lifespan and reproductive status of Culicoides species (Diptera: Cerato-pogonidae) in Kenya, with reference to virus transmission

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Abstract
Light-traps were used to sample populations of C. comutus De Meillon, C. pallidipennis G, I. & M. and C. schultzei (End.) gp. at sites at Embakasi, Kiboko and Makindu between 1971 and 1975. The samples were graded into age-groups by the degree of abdominal pigmentation, estimates of calendar ageing were made, and the seasonal variation in age-structure of the populations was recorded. Survival rates were calculated on the basis of a graphical model of the continually overlapping generations, and the survival rate of 0·8 was found typical. This rate is considered sufficiently high for C. cornutus, C. pallidipennis and C. schultzei gp. to act as vectors of bluetongue virus disease of sheep and/or ephemeral fever virus disease of cattle.