Seasonal abundance of Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in coastal Georgia

Seasonal abundance of adult Culicoides spp. in coastal Georgia was examined. A total of 215,269 adult biting midges was collected, composed of 18 species and including the first report of C. loughnani Edwards in Georgia. Two possible undescribed species were collected. Culicoides furens (Poey), C. hollensis (Melander & Brues), and C. melleus (Coquillett) comprised 99% of the collection. Culicoides furens was abundant from early spring to late fall. Culicoides hollensis and C. melleus were bimodal with spring and fall abundance, but C. melleus appeared later in the spring and disappeared sooner in the fall.