Rearing Culicoides bambusicola (Lutz,, 1913) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in laboratory. Observations and new records

RONDEROS M. M. & DIAZ FLORENTINA

Boletin del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay

Lugar: Paraguay; Año: 2002 vol. 14 p. 43 - 48

1680-4031

ABSTRACT  Culicoides bambusicola  Lutz, 1913 biting midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) has immatures stages that breed in tacuara canes internodes, and in artificials microholders. They were reared from larvae I to adult in petri dishes on substrate containing water from their natural environment. They exhibit breeding the characters of Culicoides  larvae in tree holes. In this paper report on larval growth, feeding behavior, locomotion behavior and the duration of immature stages are provided. The technique has significant advantages for colonies maintenance in small laboratory and it allows permanent observation of developing immatures in experimental studies. Besides, it is firstly recorded for the Provincia of Buenos Aires (Argentina).