Journal of Vector Ecology (2013) 38, 260-265

Denis Augot, Camille Ninio, Mohammad Akhoundi, Véronique Lehrter, Arnaud Couloux, Damien Jouet and Jérôme Depaquit (2013)
Characterization of two cryptic species, Culicoides stigma and C. parroti (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), based on barcode regions and morphology
Journal of Vector Ecology 38 (2), 260-265
Abstract: Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are insect vectors of economically important veterinary diseases such as African horse sickness, bluetongue, and Schmallenberg virus. The identification of Culicoides based on morphological features can be difficult. Three species of biting midges, Culicoides nubeculosus, C. stigma, and C. parroti have emerged in the laboratory from mud collected around watering troughs on a farm in northern France. Emerging Culicoides were characterized morphologically and molecularly using molecular markers. The closely related species C. stigma and C.parroti showed highly divergent sequences for both mitochondrial (cytochrome B and cytochrome oxidase I) and ribosomal DNA first internal transcribed spacer. A RFLP based on a single restriction using the same enzyme (HaeIII) for both cytochrome C oxidase I and cytochrome B is proposed to identify these species.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jérôme Depaquit

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Culicoides nubeculosus		France
	Culicoides parroti		France