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Abstract
Biting midges in the genus Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are implicated in the transmission of many pathogens of veterinary and medical concern. Hemorrhagic disease (HD), caused by infections with epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) or bluetongue virus (BTV) is vectored by Culicoides and can have devastating effects on white-tailed deer populations (Odocoileus virginianus) in North America. In this study, we investigated the community composition and habitat associations of Culicoides species at sites in Tennessee and Georgia, USA. Using long-term trapping data from sites in Georgia, we reported on habitat associations of suspected vector species of HD. In this study we identified species (in Tennessee and Georgia) that had not been reported in their respective states in the literature. We also documented relative abundance of suspected vector species. Observing community composition and habitat associations of Culicoides species will establish baseline ecological knowledge to further understand complex disease systems.