Blood-Feeding Patterns of Midges of the Culicoides Variipennis Complex in Kern County, California1

Abstract

The capillary-precipitin method was used to identify blood meals of biting midges of the Culicoides variipennis complex that were collected in Kern County, California from 1965 to 1969. Blood meals were identified for 325 of 409 specimens tested. All 325 feedings were on mammals, of which 45.6% were on leporids and 50.8% were on bovids.