Feeding behaviour and Trypanosomatid infections of some Tabanids and Culicidae in Colombia

Of 7 species of Tabanidae caught on a bait cow at Monteria, Colombia, Tabanus claripennis (Big.), T.pungens Wied., T. nebulosus Deg. and Lepiselaga crassipes were fairly common. All were diurnal, but showed variation in peak activity; T. claripennis fed throughout the day and L.crassipes in the afternoon. The ovaries were mainly undeveloped, but it is thought that a range of age-groups was represented in the catch. Trypanosomatid parasites were present in 3.4% of the flies; there appeared to be two species, Crithidia sp. and one that may be the form of Trypanosoma theileri that occurs in the insect vector. T.vivax was not seen in the flies. Helminth cysts were found in 8.8% of L. crassipes dissected.Dissection of mosquitos of the complex of Mansonia titillans (Wlk.) showed 52% to be infected with Crithidia sp.The vector of T. vivax, which is present in cattle in the area, remains unknown.