INFLUENCE OF METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS ON THE FLIGHT ACTIVITY OF BLOOD SICKING BITING MIDGES (DIPTERA, CERATOPOGONIDAE) IN THE SOUTH OF THE TYUMEN REGION

Abstract

Data are given on the effect of illumination, temperature, relative air humidity on the flight of biting midges. The research was carried out in 2019 in the southern taiga subzone of the Tyumen region. An entomological net with removable bags was used for collecting and counting biting midges with an interval of 1 hour. At the same time, temperature, relative air humidity, illumination, and wind speed were recorded. Identification tables were used to determine the type of blood-sucking midge adults. The specific name has been brought into line with the modern list. The maximum and peak of the species diversity of biting biting activity was observed in the morning and evening hours at 7:00, at 2:00-3:00 or 5:00 and at 22:00. When studying the daily rhythm, an attack of 13 species of blood-sucking midges of the family Ceratopogonidae, belonging to the same genus Culicoides, was registered. The temperature range can be divided into 2 groups within which insect activity is possible: 1) from 5.8⁰ to 28.4⁰C; 2) from 6.2⁰ to  28.4⁰C. The first group is represented by Culicoides punctatus Mg., the second group is represented by C. fascipennis Staeger and C. grisescens Edwards. The flight activity of biting midges is observed at temperatures from 5.8⁰ and 28.4⁰C, relative air humidity 8 - 95%, illumination 1-6000 lux. Currently, the study of the distribution of biting midges is relevant, since they are carriers of a number of infectious and parasitic diseases of animals and humans.