Fig. 1.

Wax-paper cups were used to contain and maintain field-collected biting midges. (A) Honey-coated FTA® cards were left at room temperature for 48 h allowing even absorption of honey into the cards. (B) A 2.5 cm slit was carved into the bottom of disposable cup and sealed with adhesive tape. (C) Insects were aspirated directly into the bottom of the containers through a small perforation created before field collection. Once biting midges were collected from the macropods, the small perforation was sealed with a rubber plug. Gauze was used as a lid to seal the top of the containers and fastened securely with a rubber band. The honey-coated FTA® card was inserted through the bottom slit after insect collection and once again sealed with adhesive tape.