ABUNDANCE AND PREVALENCE OF CULICOIDES (DIPTERA, CERATOPOGONIDAE) ON SOME PHILIPPINE CHICKEN FARMS

In total, 10,067 biting midges of the genus Culicoides comprising 17 s pecies were collected in a light trap survey of 50 chicken farms in th e province of Batangas, southern Luzon, Philippines, between 14 Septem ber and 5 December 1988. The species of greatest prevalence and abunda nce were Culicoides effusus Delfinado, Culicoides peregrinus Kieffer, and Culicoides palpifer Sen & Das Gupta. Engorged females of C. effusu s, C. peregrinus, C. palpifer, Culicoides oxystoma Kieffer, Culicoides arakawae (Arakawa), Culicoides guttifer (Meijere), Culicoides albibas is Wirth & Hubert, Culicoides huffi Causey, Culicoides clavipalpis Muk erji, and Culicoides wenzeli Delfinado were collected. The abundance a nd prevalence of C. effusus, C. peregrinus, and C. palpifer in the ove rall sample of farms as well as in farms with previous occurrence of l eucocytozoonosis indicated that these species are potential vectors of Culicoides-borne Leucocytozoon caulleryi Mathis & Leger among chicken s in this area. Although blood-engorged females of C. arakawae were co llected frequently, the prevalence and abundance of this species were limited.