BLOODSUCKERS IN ESSEX (PART II)
In the previous issue of this Bulletin I
described some of the bloodsucking families of
British flies, namely the Mosquitoes
(Culicidae) and the Horse flies (Tabanidae) .
In this concluding item the other main British
families will be dealt with.
The first group is familiar to all as the
midges (Ceratopogonidae). These minute dark
coloured insects can be intensely annoying on
summer evenings.
The family consists of some one hundred and
sixty species. Of these, about one half
probably exist by capturing and devouring small
insects, many others feed on flowers and a few
species attack caterpillars using their
piercing mouthparts to suck out the body
fluids. One or two species even pierce the
wing veins of dragonflies or butterflies.
Three genera are known to suck the blood of
mammals or birds and only one of these,
Culicoides, occurs in Britain.
The larvae of Culicoides are almost all
aquatic and it is interesting to note that the
first ever description of the life history of a
species of Culicoides was published in 1713
by W. Derham, the Rector of Upminster, in his
work entitled "Physico-Theology: or a demon-
stration of the being and attributes of God,
from His Works of Creation", and dedicated to
the then Archbishop of Canterbury. This
account deserves quotation, and is as fol lows:-
"For an instance of insects endued with a