Journal of Medical Entomology (1994) 31, 302-305

A. Blackwell, P.S. Mellor and W. Mordue (1994)
Laboratory feeding of Culicoides impunctatus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) through natural and artificial membranes
Journal of Medical Entomology 31 (2), 302-305
Abstract: An artificial membrane, blood-feeding technique was evaluated for Culicoides impunctatus Goetghebuer using wild-caught insects in Scotland. Chick skins and stretched Nescofilm were satisfactory as feeding membranes. The maximum mean feeding rate achieved was 61.7 ± 4.0% through Nescofilm with < 50 female midges per cage. This rate decreased as a negative function of time and density. A 4°C decrease in blood temperature resulted in a 30% reduction in feeding. ATP applied to the outer membrane surface at 0.01 M and 0.1 M concentrations increased the feeding rate at 30 min after collection from 19.3 ± 3.3% to 37.2 ± 4.2% (0:01 M) and 34.5 ± 4.9% (0.1 M). The Nescofilm membrane method will aid in colonization and may be useful in virus transmission experiments.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Alison Blackwell, Philip S. Mellor

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Culicoides impunctatus		United Kingdom