REARING CULICOIDES-VARIIPENNIS-SONORENSIS (DIPTERA, CERATOPOGONIDAE) ON AGAR AND NEMATODES

Culicoides variipennis sonorensis Wirth & Jones was reared from egg to adult in petri dishes on a 0.5 or 1% agar substrate with bacterial-feeding nematodes (Pelodera, Panagrellus) as food. All larval stages except the first instar were observed attacking and feeding on nematodes. Developmental rate on agar was almost-equal-to 25% slower than that of larvae reared in pans of water with bacteria, fungi, and algae as food. Pupation success was almost-equal-to 75% from dishes (3.5 or 9 cm diameter) with 30 and 100 eggs, respectively. The technique has significant advantages for maintainance of small laboratory colonies and allows continuous observation of developing immatures for experimental studies.