title: Distribution of Culicoides in Greece.
abstract: Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were trapped between 1999 and 2004 at 122 locations in mainland Greece and on most of the larger Aegean and Ionian islands, using OVI light traps, in order to determine the distribution and seasonal activity of bluetongue virus vectors and other Culicoides species. Thirty-nine Culicoides species were identified, six of which (C. furcillatus, C. impunctatus, C. paolae, C. pictipennis, C. riethi, and C. scoticus) were identified for the first time in Greece. Two of these (C. impunctatus and C. scoticus) may be of veterinary importance due to their role as vectors of bluetongue virus and related orbiviruses. In addition, C. imicola was detected for the first time in mainland Greece.
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Department, Ministry for Rural Development and Food, Athens Centre of Veterinary Institutes, 25 Neapoleos str Ag Paraskevi, 153 10 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Patakakis
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papazahariadou
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mellor
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frydas
authors.forename: Orestis
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001819:Bluetongue / Q000635:transmission; D001820:Bluetongue virus; D002417:Cattle; D002519:Ceratopogonidae; D006041:Goats; D006115:Greece; D007303:Insect Vectors; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep