Biting midges of genus Leptoconops Skuse 1889 are small blood-feeding insects recognized as highly irritating diurnal pests in certain regions around the globe. In Europe, their presence is poorly documented, except in France and Italy. Following reports of human discomfort in a tourist area of Menorca, Balearic Islands (Spain), a small-scale study was conducted to identify the biting species and assess their preferred biting sites using a human-landing assay along a habitat gradient in a coastal dune area. Leptoconops irritans (Noé, 1905) was identified based on morphological features and DNA barcoding. This species reached high densities (average rates of 3.3 landings/min), particularly near coastal dune vegetation. No statistically significant differences were found among the four main body sites for landings of L. irritans (F = 1.80, p = 0.250): head (n = 91, 53.8%), lower extremities (n = 39, 23.1%), upper extremities (n = 37, 21.9%), and other covered areas (n = 2, 1.2%). Landing preferences varied among the three volunteers, and bites progressed differently. This study represents the second documented case of Leptoconops midges causing human discomfort in Spain. We hope this research will stimulate further interest in this understudied genus, which has been largely overlooked across much of Europe.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08447-z | DOI Listing |
Parasitol Res
January 2025
Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation Group, University of the Balearic Islands (ZAP-UIB), Palma, Spain.
Biting midges of genus Leptoconops Skuse 1889 are small blood-feeding insects recognized as highly irritating diurnal pests in certain regions around the globe. In Europe, their presence is poorly documented, except in France and Italy. Following reports of human discomfort in a tourist area of Menorca, Balearic Islands (Spain), a small-scale study was conducted to identify the biting species and assess their preferred biting sites using a human-landing assay along a habitat gradient in a coastal dune area.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis
September 2023
Department of Biosciences and Pediatric Clinical Research Center "Romeo and Enrica Invernizzi", University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy.
The genus Skuse (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are blood-sucking midges known to pester humans and domestic animals. In certain Mediterranean areas, midges occur in large numbers during summer and limit the use of recreational areas, also raising serious health and social concerns. Despite such impact, the diversity and distribution of in Maremma Regional Park (Tuscany Region, Italy), a heavily infested area, is not well known, and neither molecular nor detailed morphological studies exist.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Am Mosq Control Assoc
March 2011
Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural and Environment Centre "G. Nicoli," Via Argini Nord 3351, 40014 Crevalcore, Italy.
The flight activity of Leptoconops irritans and L. noei was studied on the Jonian-Lucanian coast of southern Italy, using CO2-baited traps. The flight of the females lasted from 6:00 a.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMed Vet Entomol
October 1991
Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
The summer mastitis pathogens Actinomyces pyogenes, Peptococcus indolicus, Bacteroides melaninogenicus ss. levii, Fusobacterium necrophorum and Streptococcus dysgalactiae were isolated from the polyphagous symbovine dipterans Hydrotaea irritans (Fallén) and Morellia sp. caught around dairy heifers on pasture, but not from the haematophagous species Haematobia irritans (L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCapripoxvirus was transmitted between sheep using Stomoxys calcitrans as a vector. Attempts to transmit capripoxvirus between sheep and between goats using biting lice (Mallophaga species), sucking lice (Damalinia species), sheep head flies (Hydrotaea irritans) and midges (Culicoides nubeculosus) were unsuccessful, although capripoxvirus was isolated from sheep head flies that had previously fed on infected sheep.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!