Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Colombia: records from the collection of insects of medical importance from National Institute of Health

The collection of insects of medical importance from the National Institute of Health (Colombia) INS, was started in 1934 with the aim of being an institutional and national repository of the biodiversity of insects involved in vector-borne diseases of importance in public health. Today, the entomological collection includes more than 7.500 specimens. The ceratopogonids insects are one of the Groups of Diptera that conform this collection. Within the Ceratopogonidae family, are the insects of the genera Culicoides which are relevant in public health because of the nuisance caused by their bites when they are presented in great abundance and because of their role as transmitters of several agents (virus, protozoa and nematodes) that causes diseases to the humans and to the animals (Mullen 2002, Kettle 1995). Brief of the Ceratopogonidae insects (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) found in the collection, is presented here. A total of 801 individuals of this family rest in the collection, mainly adult of the genus Culicoides (90%). The collection is the result of the effort of several researchers through the history of the Group of Entomology (INS). These researchers collected ceratopogonids when they went to different transmission scenarios of the vector-borne diseases in Colombia, with the purpose of making the entomological characterizations. The effort of the researchers also included the processing, assembly, and identification of the specimens in the laboratory. New information about the geographical distribution of 39 species of the genera Culicoides appears for Colombia.