Can Trapping Abundance Data Be Used to Identify Persistent Target Areas for Culicoides Biting Midge Control Efforts?

Florida mosquito control districts are increasingly confronted with severe Culicoides biting midge problems in coastal areas. Yet, there is no clear guidance for integrating Culicoides management into mosquito-focused operations. This study describes population abundance and distribution trends for the biting midge Culicoides furens on a residential island in Cedar Key, Florida. We use multi-year adult trapping data to help develop strategies that may be used by mosquito control districts to target C. furens populations where they are nuisance pests. Trap data from 2005 and 2007 identified seasonal peaks, high spatial heterogeneity, and substantial year-to-year variation, with an 88.3% reduction in trap captures between 2005 and 2007. These findings provide a foundation for integrated Culicoides management strategies where legal mandates, emerging pathogen risks, and taxpayer-driven nuisance complaints may justify expanded Culicoides control activities by Florida’s Mosquito Control Districts.