Culicoides
The Search for Bluetongue
Project Details
The Culicoides project is an ongoing project with the goal of finding and determining the population genetics of midges in the genus Culicoides. These midges could possibly be vectors of the ruminant disease commonly known as Bluetongue. |
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Dry ice is crushed in order to release Carbon Dioxide. This simulates ruminant respiration in order to attract the midges. |
The dry ice is placed in a cooler next to the actual trap, which consists of a light to further attract insects and a net with a fan to trap them in a special holding compartment. |
A battery is attached to power the light and fan overnight. |
The trap is set up shortly before dusk and taken down shortly after dawn, the hours in which Culicoides are most active. |