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Additional file 1: Table S1. The numbers of parous Culicoides biting midges of each species dissected weekly in Verkiai regional park, 2016. All collected parous females were dissected, except for those collected on 26th May, 2nd June and 22nd June, when the abundance of biting midges was high and only some of the sampled insects were dissected. Data on the species composition and numbers of dissected biting midges each week are provided.

Avian haemosporidians (Haemosporida) are prevalent in Lithuania; they are proper model organisms for investigation of fundamental questions of evolutionary biology and ecology of vector - born infections. Determination of vectors and patterns of sporogonic development are crucial for understanding distribution of haemosporidian infections and possible consequences for health. Using traditional parasitology and molecular methods, this experimental study determined that the patterns of sporogony of the genetically similar cytochrome b (cyt b) lineages of Plasmodium relictum (pSGS1 and pGRW11) and different isolates of the lineage pSGS1 are the same in mosquitos Culex pipiens pipiens and C. p. pipiens form molestus. We show that phylogenies based on the cyt b gene can be used for predicting vector species of genetically similar avian malaria parasites. Culicoides impunctatus is an important vector of avian haemoproteids; it should be taken in consideration in epidemiology of avian haemoproteosis. It was proved that DNA of Haemoproteus parasites is detectable in the head, thorax and abdomen of infected mosquitoes Ochlerotatus cantans for several weeks following an infected blood meal, indicating the relatively long - time persistence of these parasites in resistant insects. That makes obstacles in direct application of solely PCR-based methods in determining vectors of haemosporidians. We call for combination of traditional parasitology and PCR-based methods in wildlife haemosporidian research.

Avian haemosporidians (Haemosporida) are prevalent in Lithuania; they are proper model organisms for investigation of fundamental questions of evolutionary biology and ecology of vector - born infections. Determination of vectors and patterns of sporogonic development are crucial for understanding distribution of haemosporidian infections and possible consequences for health. Using traditional parasitology and molecular methods, this experimental study determined that the patterns of sporogony of the genetically similar cytochrome b (cyt b) lineages of Plasmodium relictum (pSGS1 and pGRW11) and different isolates of the lineage pSGS1 are the same in mosquitos Culex pipiens pipiens and C. p. pipiens form molestus. We show that phylogenies based on the cyt b gene can be used for predicting vector species of genetically similar avian malaria parasites. Culicoides impunctatus is an important vector of avian haemoproteids; it should be taken in consideration in epidemiology of avian haemoproteosis. It was proved that DNA of Haemoproteus parasites is detectable in the head, thorax and abdomen of infected mosquitoes Ochlerotatus cantans for several weeks following an infected blood meal, indicating the relatively long - time persistence of these parasites in resistant insects. That makes obstacles in direct application of solely PCR-based methods in determining vectors of haemosporidians. We call for combination of traditional parasitology and PCR-based methods in wildlife haemosporidian research.