author(s)
Emon Mukhopadhyay, Surajit Hazra, Jayita Sengupta, Panchanan Parui and Dhriti Banerjee

abstract
The study describes six new records of species of Culicoides from cattle farms in coastal saline districts of Haora, North and South 24 Parganas in West Bengal. These insects favour to live in moist tropical areas, coastal regions ideal for their occurrence. Culicoides midges are haematophagous and vector of virulent pathogens, feeding on blood of livestock animals and spreading diseases. Very few instances of cattle diseases are reported from West Bengal. Various strewn researches on taxonomic studies of genus Culicoides from West Bengal at different times by different authors create ambiguity. This manuscript is a brief taxonomic narrative of Culicoides midges from coastal saline parts of West Bengal aiding in species identification. Further studies based on this would benefit in recording symptoms of disease occurrence vectored by biting midges, spread awareness on cattle management and develop precautionary measures to protect livestock in various parts of West Bengal and India.