Endophagy of biting midges attacking cavity-nesting birds

0334948 - BC 2010 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Votýpka, Jan - Synek, P. - Svobodová, M.
Endophagy of biting midges attacking cavity-nesting birds.
Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Roč. 23, č. 3 (2009), s. 277-280. ISSN 0269-283X. E-ISSN 1365-2915
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LC06009
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60220518
Keywords : Culicoides pictipennis * Culicoides truncorum * endophagy * nest box * population dynamics * transmission * vectors * Moravia
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 2.092, year: 2009

Feeding preferences of bloodfeeding Diptera depend on, among others factors, the willingness of flies to attack their hosts either in the open (exophagy) or in enclosed places (endophagy). As far as ornithophilic blood-feeding Diptera are concerned, the biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are generally considered to be strictly exophagous. Our study represents the first evidence that ornithophilic biting midges are endophagous. The fact that we caught no blackflies in the bird boxes supports the exophagy of blackflies.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0179555