Population dynamics of Culicoides sp. of domesticated animals of Marathwada Region*

The Culicoides sp. population densities per quadrant (0.6 x 0.6 m²) were counted at 41, 31 and 24 times during monsoon (23–44 MW), winter (45-9 MW) and summer (10–22 MW), respectively during 2001–2002. Simple and multiple correlations and regressions of population densities of Culicoides sp. with season-wise thermal (maximum and minimum temperature and its range°C) and hygrological i.e RHAM (% relative humidity recorded in the morning time), RHPM (% RH recorded in the evening time) and its % range, were established by least square techniques to ascertain the nature and degree of association of individual weather parameters with the population densities of Culicoides sp. The results revealed that the proportions of Culicoides peregrinus was higher than Culicoides schultzei during all the seasons and their densities were highest during monsoon which progressively decreased during summer through winter on temporal scale. The inter seasonal variabilities in population densities were higher than intra seasonal variabilities. The nature and magnitude of impact of thermohygrological parameters of prevailing atmosphere differed across the season and weather parameters, where in the impact of hygrological parameters dominanted the impact of thermal parameters on dynamics of Culicoides sp. population densities at Parbhani.