Contributions to Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Fauna of Sinop Province

Abstract

In recent years, Sinop province has become an importanttouristic center of Black Sea Region in Turkey. Akliman is also one of the mostvisited touristic areas of Sinop. It is notable that aquatic and semi-aquatichabitats in Akliman and surrounding areas are suitable reproduction areas for Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).Females Culicoides biting midgesirritate people and animals because they feed on blood sucking. Thus, the studyaimed to determine the species of the genus in Akliman District of SinopProvince, which is little investigated. The present study was conducted in 2014and 2015. Samples were collected using CDC miniature light trap and blackfluorescent lamp light trap, which were kept inside bottles with 70% ethylalcohol. Culicoides specimens wereidentified using steromicroscope and light microscope. A total of 15 species ofthe Culicoides genus was identifiedin the study area. Culicoides alazanicusDzhafarov, 1961, C. cataneiiClastrier, 1957, C. gejgelensisDzhafarov, 1964, C. griseidorsum Kieffer, 1918, C. kibunensis Tokunaga, 1937, C. longipennis Khalaf, 1957, C. obsoletus (Meigen, 1818), C. picturatus Kremer and Deduit, 1961and C. subfasciipennis Kieffer, 1919species are new records for Sinop. Male individuals belonging to C. alazanicus and C. griseidorsum in Turkey have been identified for the first timein this study.

Keywords

• sinop
• akliman
• diptera
• ceratopogonidae
• culicoides