Nota preliminare sulla presenza di ceratopogonidi ematofagi (Diptera) in Puglia e Basilicata

Abstract

A PRELIMINARY NOTE ON THE PRESENCE OF HAEMATOPHAGOUS CERATOPOGONIDS (DIPTERA) IN APULIA AND BASILICATA (SOUTHERN ITALY)

Adults of Culicoides and Leptoconops were collected in several localities of Southern Italy, either by direct capture on human skin or by net. Attractiveness of chromotropic traps was tested. Leptoconops is the most frequent genus, whose presence from April to August, includes an out-

break in June-July, even in some localities of touristic interest. Culicoides specimens were also captured from April to August, although in moderate number everywhere.

Salt marshes and river shores were identified as breeding sites. Other localities are submitted to minor presence of ceratopogonids, due to adults possibly transported by wind.

Chromotropic traps did capture both Culicoides and Leptoconops. White traps exhibited a major attractiveness to Leptoconops, when compared with the blue traps.

Key words: ceratopogonids, ecology, monitorings, chromotropic traps.

Si riportano dati sulla presenza di ditteri ceratopogonidi dei generi Leptoconops e Culicoides in Sud Italia, ottenuti mediante catture al volo e con trappole cromotropiche. Vengono indicate 3 aree di maggior presenza; i focolai di riproduzione sono localizzati presso i ristagni d’acqua sal- mastra o suoli paludosi. Altre zone sono interessate da voli di individui di Leptoconops probabilmente trasportati dal vento.

Le trappole cromotropiche di colore bianco risultano maggiormente attrattive verso i Leptoconops rispetto a quelle azzurre. Nessuna differenza è stata rilevata fra trappole bianche e trappole azzurre nelle catture di Culicoides.

Parole chiave: ceratopogonidi, ecologia, monitoraggi, trappole cromotropiche.