ENTOMOLOGIC EVALUATION OF INSECT HYPERSENSITIVITY IN HORSES

Potential methods of incriminating insects as the cause of insect hype rsensitivity are presented. A listing of the biting midges known to at tack horses in North America is presented also. An example of how spec ies may be determined to be the cause of the hypersensitivity is given using data from a recent study in Florida. Light trap collections ind icated the temporal and geographic distribution of potential contribut ing species and collections made by vacuuming horses further delineate d species by proving they feed on horse and the correct locations on t he horses to match lesion distribution. Culicoides hypersensitivity in horses in Florida seems to be caused by a series of species active an d feeding on the horses at different times of the year.