Characterization of two cryptic species, Culicoides stigma and C.parroti (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), based on barcode regions and morphology. Issue 2 (December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Augot, Denis; Ninio, Camille; Akhoundi, Mohammad; Lehrter, Véronique; Couloux, Arnaud; Jouet, Damien; Depaquit, Jérôme
• Is Part Of: Journal of vector ecology. Volume 38:Issue 2(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 260
• Page End: 265
• Publication Date: 2013-12
• Subjects: Arthropod vectors -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Animals as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; Animal ecology -- Periodicals; Host-parasite relationships -- Periodicals; Pests -- Control -- Periodicals; 571.986
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1948-7134.2013.12039.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1081-1710

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>Biting midges of the genus <italic>Culicoides</italic> (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are insect vectors of economically important veterinary diseases such as African horse sickness, bluetongue, and Schmallenberg virus. The identification of <italic>Culicoides</italic> based on morphological features can be difficult. Three species of biting midges, <italic>Culicoides nubeculosus, C. stigma</italic>, and <italic>C. parroti</italic> have emerged in the laboratory from mud collected around watering troughs on a farm in northern France. Emerging <italic>Culicoides</italic> were characterized morphologically and molecularly using molecular markers. The closely related species <italic>C. stigma</italic> and <italic>C.parroti</italic> showed highly divergent sequences for both mitochondrial (cytochrome B and cytochrome oxidase I) and ribosomal DNA first internal transcribed spacer. A RFLP based on a single restriction using the same enzyme (HaeIII) for both cytochrome C oxidase I and cytochrome B is proposed to identify these species.</p> </abstract>