Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.2002, Page 147

THE BITING MIDGE CULICOIDES IMPUNCTATUS GOETGHEBUER, 1920
(DIPTERA: CERATOPOGONIDAE) RECORDED FROM THE FAROES
145
Culicoides impunctatus
(female) from Mýrarnar
(Photo: Søren Achim
Nielsen).
1 mm
trapped in the same period and site, it is
doubtful whether they represent a random
sample.
C. impunctatus is an opportunistic feed-
er on man and large mammals; in Scotland
bovine hosts are most common, followed
by deer and sheep (Blackwell et al, 1994).
In the Faroes particularly man, cattle and
sheep, and possibly the arctic hare (Lepus
timidus L.) are potential hosts. However, il
is significant that in Scotland C. impuncta-
tus females are autogenous for the fírst egg
batch (Blackwell, 2000; Blackwell et al.,
1992); the same rnight apply to Faroese
specimens.
In most parts of highlanđ Britain C. im-
punctatus is an extremely troublesome hu-
man biter. In highland Scotland the biting
attacks on man may restrict or even prevent
outdoor industries and tourist activities and
intense blood feeding on livestock may
cause considerable distress and even lead to
economic loss (Blackwell. 2000). In cattle
a hypersensitivity to the bites of Culicoides
spp. ntay develop and in horses the biting
midges may give rise to a chronic, recur-
rent, seasonal, allergic dermatitis (sweet
itch, summer eczerna, summer dermatitis,
Queensland itch) (Halldorsdottir et ai,
1989; Akey et al., 1990; Anderson et al.,