Effect of carbon dioxide on the collection of adult Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) by a new modification of black light New Jersey light traps.

Comparisons were made between black light-modified New Jersey traps with and without dry ice as a carbon dioxide bait. The black light trap with CO2 collected significantly more nulliparous and parous empty Culicoides variipennis than the black light trap without CO2. No significant difference was detected in the number of gravid, blood engorged or male C. variipennis collected by the 2 trap types. The baited trap collected a larger proportion of nulliparous females than the black light trap. No difference in the proportion of males or other female parity groups was detected between the 2 trap types. The total number or proportion of each parity group of C. stellifer was not significantly different between the 2 trap types.