Table 1 Comparison of membrane type with an artificial feeding system (Hemotek, UK) on Culicoides blood-feeding rate (blood-feeding rate with range and total number offered a blood meal shown in parentheses). Data exclude gravid females and males exposed to blood-feeding system

Obsoletus complex (n = 4270)

8.0 (0–16.0; n = 1384)

0 (n = 1331)

5.0 (0–32.0; n = 1555)

C. dewulfi Goetghebuer (n = 121)

7.0 (0–33.0, n = 27)

0 (n = 50)

0 (n = 44)

C. chiopterus (Meigen) (n = 2)

–

–

0 (n = 1)

C. pulicaris (L.) (n = 34)

0.03 (0–33.0; n = 34)

–

–

C. punctatus (Meigen) (n = 85)

0 (n = 37)

0 (n = 19)

0.10 (0–100.0; n = 29)

C. impunctatus Goetghebuer (n = 4)

0 (n = 1)

0 (n = 2)

0 (n = 1)

C. achrayi (Kettle & Lawson) (n = 255)

8.0 (0–33.0; n = 85)

0 (n = 87)

2.0 (0–25.0; n = 83)

C. festivipennis Kieffer (n = 43)

30.8 (0–100.0; n = 13)

0 (n = 6)

0 (n = 24)

Other Culicoides spp. (n = 4)

0 (n = 4)

–

–

Total blood-fed (%)

119 (7.9)

0 (0)

76 (4.3)