Distribution of Culicoides molestus (Skuse) (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae) in Man-made Canals in South-eastern Queensland

Abstract

In soil samples flooded for 18 h C. molestus larvae were scarce in the top 0.5 cm, most dense in 0.5-1.5 cm and most numerous in 1.5-8.5 cm depth. They were recovered from mean high water springs to mean tide level but were concentrated (87.6%) in a narrow zone above mean tide level and including mean high water neaps. There was no evidence that their distribution was influenced by remoteness from the main body of tidal water. Higher density fluids than normal, e.g. syrup, specific gravity > 1.3, were required to extract larvae of C. molestus.