Which Culicoides species is limited to North Africa and the Mediterranean region?

• A. Culicoides obsoletus
• B. Culicoides pulicaris
• C. Culicoides imicola
• D. Culicoides sonorensis

Answer: (C)

Geographic distribution of Culicoides species is a key factor in understanding their role as bluetongue virus vectors. Culicoides imicola is the species most closely associated with North Africa and the Mediterranean basin, dominating vector populations in those regions and not typically found outside them. The other species listed have broader or different ranges: obsoletus and pulicaris are common across much of Europe and into Asia, while sonorensis is primarily a North American species. Because imicola’s distribution aligns with North Africa and the Mediterranean, it is the best fit for this question.