Environmental and meteorological data from: A habitat suitability analysis for three Culicoides species implicated in bluetongue virus transmission in the Southeastern United States

Culicoides biting midges adversely impact animal health through
transmission of multiple orbiviruses, such as bluetongue virus (BTV). This
study used light trapping data collected in the Southeastern United States
for three Culicoides midge species that are confirmed or suspected BTV
vectors: Culicoides insignis, Culicoides stellifer and Culicoides
venustus. Midge presence datasets were combined with meteorological data
and ecological data to model habitat suitability for each species.
Logistic regression and machine learning models were used to generate
individual species distribution models (SDMs). Results for each SDM method
were combined in an ensemble model to create a distribution model for each
midge species. Based on overlay analyses of livestock populations and
midge suitable habitat, there is extensive overlap of cattle and goat
populations and suitable habitat for C. insignis in Florida. Suitable
habitat for C. stellifer intersects with cattle and goat populations in
various counties in Alabama, Arkansas, the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana and Tennessee; and suitable habitat for C. venustus intersects
with cattle and goat populations in the same states as C. stellifer,
except for Florida. It is critical for orbivirus and midge surveillance to
continue in the Southeastern United States as the habitat of all three
midge species intersect with livestock populations.