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<p>Biting midges of the genus <i>Culicoides</i> (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are important vectors of a plethora of pathogens affecting livestock and occasionally humans. The Andaman archipelago, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, despite its ecological diversity and presence of multiple BTV serotypes, remains poorly surveyed for <i>Culicoides</i>, especially in livestock-associated habitats. To address this gap, <i>Culicoides</i> targeted systematic surveys were conducted during November–December 2024 across 21 sampling sites in North, Middle, South and Little Andaman Islands. Sampling areas included both natural and livestock-associated habitats. A total of 20 <i>Culicoides</i> species belonging to five subgenera and three unplaced species groups were identified. Of these, 15 species are new records to India: <i>C. asiana</i>, <i>C. brevipalpis</i>, <i>C. bubalus</i>, <i>C. cordiger</i>, <i>C. flavescens</i>, <i>C. flumineus</i>, <i>C. gemellus</i>, <i>C. huberti</i>, <i>C. palawanensis</i>, <i>C. pangkorensis</i>, <i>C. parahumeralis</i>, <i>C. parviscriptus</i>, <i>C. subpalpifer</i>, <i>C. wadai</i> and <i>C. yasumatsui.</i> The remaining five species are newly recorded from the Andaman archipelago and are known from mainland India. Diagnostic characters, morphometric measurements, geographic distribution and pest status for the species have been provided. COI barcodes were also generated to support the morphology-based identifications. Several species documented during the survey are proven or potential vectors of BTV and other pathogens. This study increases the total number of <i>Culicoides</i> species known from India to 111, with the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago alone accounting for nearly half of this diversity. The results highlight significant knowledge gaps about <i>Culicoides</i> distribution in India and emphasise the need for proper vector surveillance in tropical islands.</p>

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Expansion of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) fauna in the Andaman archipelago with 15 new records from India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月23日

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  • Koustav Mukherjee,
  • Arka Mukherjee,
  • Atanu Naskar,
  • Morium Begum,
  • Dhriti Banerjee

摘要

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are important vectors of a plethora of pathogens affecting livestock and occasionally humans. The Andaman archipelago, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, despite its ecological diversity and presence of multiple BTV serotypes, remains poorly surveyed for Culicoides, especially in livestock-associated habitats. To address this gap, Culicoides targeted systematic surveys were conducted during November–December 2024 across 21 sampling sites in North, Middle, South and Little Andaman Islands. Sampling areas included both natural and livestock-associated habitats. A total of 20 Culicoides species belonging to five subgenera and three unplaced species groups were identified. Of these, 15 species are new records to India: C. asiana, C. brevipalpis, C. bubalus, C. cordiger, C. flavescens, C. flumineus, C. gemellus, C. huberti, C. palawanensis, C. pangkorensis, C. parahumeralis, C. parviscriptus, C. subpalpifer, C. wadai and C. yasumatsui. The remaining five species are newly recorded from the Andaman archipelago and are known from mainland India. Diagnostic characters, morphometric measurements, geographic distribution and pest status for the species have been provided. COI barcodes were also generated to support the morphology-based identifications. Several species documented during the survey are proven or potential vectors of BTV and other pathogens. This study increases the total number of Culicoides species known from India to 111, with the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago alone accounting for nearly half of this diversity. The results highlight significant knowledge gaps about Culicoides distribution in India and emphasise the need for proper vector surveillance in tropical islands.