Research on the control of bluetongue in livestock by vector suppression

From 1979-83, research has been conducted along the South Platte River drainage system northeast of Denver, CO, to develop and evaluate techniques of wide-area vector suppression for the control of bluetongue (BT) disease in ruminant livestock. Water management and chemical treatment at larval development sites have resulted in a decrease in the activity of Culicoides variipennis (Coquillett) in the 100 km2 treatment area, and there is some correlation between levels of vector activity (as reflected by light trap catches) and the levels of BT in livestock as measured by serologic and virologic evaluations.