Spatial distribution of immature Culicoides variipennis (Coq.)

Circadian fluctuation in the spatial distribution of immature Culicoides variipennis (Coq.) was studied in Saltville, Virginia, USA during the summer of 1983. Pupae and early instar larvae (1st and 2nd) were localized above the shoreline in the top cm of mud and displayed little migration from this region during the 24 hr sampling period, however, later instar larvae (3rd and 4th) showed marked migration patterns. Most larval movement was horizontal rather than vertical and was confined to the top cm of mud. Late instar larvae moved towards the water during the day but migrated up above shoreline during the night. Seasonal fluctuation in larval spatial distribution was also studied. Larvae appeared to move progressively downward into the mud during the autumn. However, when the site became frozen the majority of larvae occupied a narrow liquid interface between the ice cover and the frozen mud beneath.