Coming Into Focus

PCT is proud to announce that Louisiana State University’s (LSU’s) Dr. Claudia Husseneder was the winner of our annual Best Pest Photo Contest with a picture of biting midges feeding on wing veins of a dragonfly.

The drangonfly’s common name is Needham’s Skimmer and its scientific name is Libellula needhami Westfall, 1943 (Odonata, Libellulidae). The midges are an unknown species of ceratopogonids (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae). The photo was taken at Big Branch Wildlife Refuge, in southern Louisiana.

“Biting midges are tiny flies with over 4,000 species described world-wide,” said Husseneder. “Females of known pest species acquire blood meals from mammals including humans, and other vertebrates (birds, reptiles, and amphibians) for egg production and are vectors of disease agents (mainly in livestock). Many ceratopogonid species, however, feed on other insects. The photo depicts biting midges feeding on the wing veins of a Needham’s skimmer dragonfly. It’s bugs bugging another bug!”

Husseneder wins $500 from PCT. In addition to the winning photo. On the following pages are finalist photos. Details about next year’s photo contest will be announced in October.