title: Chemical composition of silage residues sustaining the larval development of the Culicoides obsoletus/Culicoides scoticus species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).
abstract: Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are biological vectors of bluetongue virus (BTV). Bluetongue is a viral disease that affects domestic and wild ruminants. Since its recent emergence in northern Europe, this disease has caused considerable economic losses to the sheep and cattle industry. The biotopes, and more particularly the chemical characteristics which are suitable for larval development of the main vector species, are still relatively unknown. This study shows that the larvae of biting midges belonging to the species Culicoides obsoletus and Culicoides scoticus are able to breed in different types of silage residue (maize, grass, sugar beet pulp and their combinations). The chemical composition of substrates strongly influences the presence of the immature stages of these biting midges. Higher lignin and insoluble fibre contents seem to favour their presence and could play the role of a physical support for semi-aquatic larvae. In contrast, higher concentrations of magnesium and calcium are negatively correlated with the presence of these two species. These data will help to locate and monitor the breeding sites of these species and could contribute to the control of these insects on farms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Passage des Déportés 2, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium. entomologie.gembloux@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saegerman
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Losson
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Beckers
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haubruge
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027461:Beta vulgaris / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology; D002519:Ceratopogonidae / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000254:growth & development*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology; D012820:Silage / Q000469:parasitology*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology