Biting Midges in Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman, with Focus on Arnoat (Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) whitcombei)

Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) whitcombei or Arnoat is the only known biting midge species to bite humans in the Dhofar mountains, causing significant annoyance to visitors during the monsoon months (Khareef). This annoyance and possible bite-associated medical conditions may reduce the number of potential visitors and the time they spend in natural touristic attractions. With increase in tourism in Dhofar, and the potential negative economical and health impacts of Arnoat, we need a better understanding of this species and related species of biting midges in Dhofar. This will allow more effective management of this pest with least harm to the environment of the Dhofar mountains. The proposed research will be divided into two phases. Phase 1, detailed in this proposal, will lay the ground work by investigating, via use of adult traps, the composition and abundance of species of biting midges found in four representative tourist locations, as well as their host animals, and associated pathogens (if any) over a period of nine months from May to January. Another important study of phase 1 will deal with the breeding sites of Arnoat in two selected sites. This will allow the identification of the habitat and food required by larval stages of Arnoat and possibly will give some preliminary insights on its life cycle before, during, and after Khareef. Information and data from phase 1 will provide the needed foundation for studies to be done in phase 2 which will include a geographically wider investigation of species and populations of biting midges in Dhofar over a longer period of time. Other phase 2 studies will focus on improving the efficiency of currently available adult trapping systems for Arnoat and the impact of such improved trapping systems on Arnoat populations around tourist sites. Additionally, other tactics of control of Arnoat will be investigated including destruction of breeding sites, testing of chemical and biological agents that cause mortality or disruption to development and/or reproduction of both immatures and adults, and determining the efficacy and practicality of the use of wind blowers in tourist sites. In this proposal, objectives for short-term (phase 1) and midterm to long term (phase 2) are outlined. However, the focus will be phase 1. Details of phase 1 methodologies are given along with the needed equipment and materials, budget, timeline for executing the proposed research, and its expected outcomes.
2- Introduction