Immature stages of Culicoides and tidal dynamics in an Amazon beach

Data used in the article: Abundance of immature stages of Culicoides Latreille (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) and their relationship with tidal dynamics on a sandy beach in the Amazonian Coastal Zone by Costa et al., to be published in the journal Acta Amazonica. Abstract: The smallest hematophagous insects in the world belong to the Culicoides genus, and they are known as potential vectors of various diseases globally. These insects are frequent pests on sandy beaches, with young individuals often found in flooded upper areas, edges of brackish waters, and intertidal zones of mangroves, mainly concentrated above the mean water level. In this study we investigated the presence of Culicoides Latreille larvae across extensive distances in the intertidal zone of an Amazonian sandy beach – a challenging, high energy, macrotidal environment with fine sediment. The local community links infestations of biting midges to neap tides. Hence, this study aimed to determine if larvae found across the beach intertidal area were associated with these infestations and their periodicity. Samples were collected daily over a two-week cycle of a semidiurnal tide range, extending down to 150 m below the mean high tide water level. Interestingly, young individuals were significantly more abundant during spring tides, contrary to the trend observed with adults, which corroborates the reports of the local community. Adults that emerged from sampled juveniles, raised in vitro, and adults caught using human bait were identified as C. phlebotomus (Williston), confirming that this information may be beneficial to tourism development.