Larval Food Analysis and Qualitative Determination of Exoenzyme-Producing Gut Bacteria in Adult Ceratopogonid Midges (Diptera)

Biting midges are small nematocerous Diptera. Culicoides and Dasyhelea are two important genera of the family Ceratopogonidae. Larvae of Culicoides innoxius and Dasyhelea aprojecta are found in the semiaquatic moist habitat. The larvae feed on the small debris and habitat substrata. The materials consumed by these larvae aid in their development to become adult. The nutritional evaluation of the food material of larvae of C. innoxius and D. aprojecta was carried out to know the essential elements for their development. In the case of adult Culicoides, many species are hematophagous. However, the adult midges of the genus Dasyhelea are dependent on nectar and honeydew. Along with their digestive enzymes, exoenzyme-producing gut associated bacteria have also an important role in the digestion of these food materials. Digestion and metabolism of these food materials aid in insect maturation, immunity, reproduction, maintaining diapause, etc. Qualitative determination of the gut associated bacteria of adult C. innoxius and D. flava was accomplished to infer the role of bacteria supplementing the digestive enzymes.

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