Delineation of Culicoides species by morphology and barcode exemplified by three new species of the subgenus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Scandinavia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) cause biting nuisance to livestock and humans and are vectors of a range of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Despite their economic significance, the delineation and identification of species where only morphology is considered, as well as the evolutionary relationships between species within this genus remains problematic. In recent years molecular barcoding has assisted substantially in the identification of biting midges in the multiple entomological survey projects which were initiated in many European countries following the bluetongue outbreak in 2006-2009. These studies revealed potentially new species and "species-complexes" with large genetic and morphological variability. Here we use molecular b

SUBMITTER: Nielsen SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4372322 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature