GENETIC-VARIATION IN POPULATIONS OF CULICOIDES-VARIIPENNIS COMPLEX INTHE 6 NEW-ENGLAND STATES, USA

We investigated the identity and distribution of members of the Culico ides variipennis complex in the six New England states of the U.S.A., a region where bluetongue transmission has not been detected. Analyses of seven polymorphic isozyme-encoding loci showed that only C.variipe nnis, not considered to be a vector of the bluetongue viruses, was pre sent. The populations of C.variipennis were significantly more hetero- zygous than C.v.sonorensis and C.v.occidentalis populations from simil ar studies in the state of California. Estimates of genetic diversity among populations of C.v.variipennis in New England were similar to C. v.sonorensis in the state of Colorado, but were significantly more gen etically divergent than California populations of C.v.occidentalis. Th e impact of these findings on the status of New England as a possible bluetongue-free region for the purpose of international trade in rumin ant livestock and their germplasm is discussed.