title: Laboratory rearing of immature Culicoides peregrinus Kieffer, a potential vector of bluetongue virus.
abstract: Culicoides peregrinus (Kieffer) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) was reared from egg to adult using four different combinations of food and substrate (T1: absorbent cotton, mud broth with 2% yeast; T2: 1% agar, mud broth with 2% yeast; T3: absorbent cotton, nutrient broth; T4: absorbent cotton, 2% yeast). Field-collected engorged females exhibited mean fecundity of 82.45 ± 4.00. The highest rate of emergence and largest adults were obtained in T1, and the lowest rate of emergence was observed in T4. Two-way analyses of variance with post hoc Tukey tests showed significant differences in age at pupation, pupal weight and wing length among the various treatments, although the sex ratio was 1 : 1 in all food/substrate combinations. The successful rearing of immature C. peregrinus is an encouraging step towards the establishment of a laboratory colony of this prevalent species associated with livestock.
authors.affiliation: Entomology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Burdwan, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harsha
authors.affiliation: Entomology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Burdwan, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazumdar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001820:Bluetongue virus / Q000502:physiology; D002519:Ceratopogonidae / Q000254:growth & development*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000254:growth & development*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male
keywords: BTV; Biting midge; bluetongue virus; emergence; laboratory colony