Investigating the ecology of Culicoides biting midges: The big problem of tiny vectors

Abstract

Culicoides biting midges are capable of transmitting numerous pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. In some areas, their biting pressure can also lead to extreme annoyance and discomfort. Despite these impacts on human and animal populations, many aspects of the biology, ecology, and control of this diverse genus of insects have received little attention, due in part to their small size and lack of laboratory colonies. In this webinar, we will dive into the biology, ecology, and vector status of Culicoides, particularly within the Americas, and how aspects of their ecology may affect the efficacy of control strategies.

Outline:

• Biology and diversity of Culicoides
• Role of Culicoides as pathogen vectors, including an overview of the current Oropouche virus outbreak
• Ecological interactions of midges with their environment, hosts, and pathogens
• Ecological considerations in the control of Culicoides
• Knowledge gaps and future studies

Members - This webinar along with all AMCA webinars is available free to our active members. We are currently syncing this new system with our database to have seamless identification of our members, but until that is finalized you can access all webinars (live and archived) for free using our membership code which can be found in our member portal here.