Detection of Culicoides -biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) associated with a household in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

An investigation was carried out with the aim of identifying the species of insects that was responsible for inflicting very painful bites on the inhabitants of a household in the city of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The insects were collected using light suction insects’ traps and identification was achieved morphologically through microscopic examination of permanent slide sealed with Canada balsam in xylene. The investigation revealed the presence of a single species of biting-midges which was identified as Culicoides oxystoma based on characteristic wing patterns, the shape of the genitalia in male, third palpal segment of the maxillary palp and the spermathecae in female. The collected midges showed female dominance of 90.23% while male showed 9.77% prevalence. Culicoides oxystoma could be considered as an opportunistic anthropophilic species capable of breeding around banana plants. Keywords: Ceratopogonidae; Makurdi; household; Culicoides oxystoma ; blood sucking