Leptoconops kerteszi

Leptoconops kerteszi, common name Bodega black gnat, is a species of biting midges belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. They feed on multiple species and can be found in places such as the United States, Egypt, and Tunisia.

Leptoconops kerteszi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Ceratopogonidae
Genus:
Leptoconops
Species:
L. kerteszi
Binomial name
Leptoconops kerteszi
Kieffer, 1908[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Holoconops kerteszi Kieffer, 1908

Description

The species appears black when viewed by the naked eye, but it appears brown when under a microscope. The head and thorax are dark brown while the abdomen is a lighter brown. Its wings are transparent, but they appear to be white when light reflects off their surface while they are folded on their back. Females are 2.5 to 3 mm (0.10 to 0.12 in) long and the males are 3.5 to 4 mm (0.14 to 0.16 in) long with a lighter brown than the females. It can be found in places such as the United States, Egypt, and Tunisia. The common name comes from Bodega Bay in California which is where the species was first studied;[2] however, it was first found and scientifically named as Holoconops kerteszi in Cairo, Egypt, in 1908.[1]

Habitat and bites

This species breeds in the sand of lakes and marshes.[2] Its breeding grounds are located at high tide in damp areas with no vegetation.[1][3] Its larvae can be found in the first centimeter of its breeding ground in shallow sandy water.[3] The adults feed on humans, domestic animals, and birds. Their bites cause swelling that progresses to exudation.[4]

Study

In a 1967 study, a large amount of the gnats were caught with a portable gasoline-powered device that had its suction tube replaced with a metal funnel. The insect suction sampler was used to capture specimens that were flying around a person's head by having them drawn through a mesh net into the funnel. It was used to analyze adult gnat populations.[5] An insect suction sampler is a device that entomologists use to suck up insects for studies.[6]

References
  1. M. Smith, Leslie; Lowe, Homer (March 1948). "The Black Gnats of California". Hilgardia. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  2. S Papp, Charles; A Swan, Lester (1983). A Guide To Biting and Stinging Insects and Other Arthropods. Entomography Publications. pp. 65–66. ISBN 0960840400.
  3. Raspi, Alfio; Canovai, Roberto; Loni, Augusto; Santini, Luciano (June 2007). "Leptoconops (Holoconops) kerteszi Kieffer (Diptera Ceratopogonidae) in the coastal area of Grosseto: eco-ethological aspects". ResearchGate. Bulletin of Insectology. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  4. C. Cheng, Thomas (December 2, 2012). General Parasitology. Elsevier. p. 648. ISBN 9780323140102.
  5. Foulk, J. D.; Sjogren, R. D. (August 10, 1967). "A Collection Device for Leptoconops Kerteszi (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Biting Gnats". Journal of Medical Entomology. PMID 6052138. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  6. "Insect suction sampler". Amateur Entomologists' Society. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
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