Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Seasonal activity, size, and parity of Culicoides occidentalis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in a coastal southern

Heather Smith1, Bradley A Mullens

  • 1Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.

Journal of Medical Entomology
|August 29, 2003
PubMed
Summary

This study monitored adult female Culicoides occidentalis in a California salt marsh for 15 months. Findings indicate year-round activity, larger body size in cooler months, and low parity possibly due to limited host availability.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Reducing ED Boarding Time as the Key to Minimizing Admission Delays: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

American journal of medical quality : the official journal of the American College of Medical Quality·2026
Same author

Goals and trends in space exploration: An overview of the panel on exploration sessions at the committee on space research general assembly 2024.

Life sciences in space research·2026
Same author

Solitary thoracic Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumor presenting after kidney transplant: illustrative case.

Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons·2026
Same author

Use of medications with pharmacogenomic guidelines and adverse outcomes in hospitalised older patients: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

The pharmacogenomics journal·2026
Same author

Efficacy of fluralaner solution administered to egg layer chickens through drinking water for control of northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum).

Parasites & vectors·2026
Same author

Rapid assessment of MGMT promoter methylation status by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction on intraoperative smear preparation: A proof-of-concept study.

Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology·2025

Area of Science:

  • Entomology
  • Ecology
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Culicoides occidentalis are biting midges found in coastal salt marsh habitats.
  • Understanding their population dynamics is crucial for ecological and public health assessments.
  • Previous research on this species in similar environments is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the year-round activity patterns of adult female Culicoides occidentalis.
  • To assess the relationship between environmental factors, such as temperature, and midge size.
  • To evaluate the parity rate and infer potential host availability in a southern California salt marsh.

Main Methods:

  • Adult female Culicoides occidentalis were collected over 15 months using CO2-baited suction traps.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Wing length measurements were taken to assess body size.
  • Environmental data, including air temperature, were recorded concurrently.

    • Main Results:

    • Adult Culicoides occidentalis exhibited year-round activity in the studied salt marsh.
    • Wing length showed an inverse relationship with air temperature, with larger midges in cooler months (e.g., 2.13 mm in February) and smaller midges in warmer months (e.g., 1.6 mm in July).
    • The overall parity rate was low at 3.6%.

    Conclusions:

    • Culicoides occidentalis are active throughout the year in coastal southern California salt marshes.
    • Environmental temperature significantly influences the body size of adult female Culicoides occidentalis.
    • Low parity suggests potential limitations in host availability within this specific salt marsh ecosystem.