Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopoganidae) Associated with a Household in Gaborone, Botswana

A total of 140 culicoides biting midges were collected from seven trappings around a household located in the suburbs of the city of Gaborone, Botswana. The average catch size was 20 midges per night. Whereas this catch appeared to be low, members of the household complained about the bites which often progressed to painful bullae in two of the children and in one adult. Culicoides engubandei accounted for 35.0% n = 49) of the culicoides catch followed by Culicoides leucosticus 32.1% (n = 45), C. imicola (n = 37), and C. Schultzei, 6.4% (n = 9). The public health implications are discussed. This is the first published report on trappings of culicoides in the vicinity of a human habitat in Botswana.