Résumé
Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of pathogens of veterinary and public health importance, including bluetongue, epizootic hemorrhagic disease, and Oropouche viruses. Following multiple bluetongue virus serotype incursions in France (2000-2008), a nationwide entomological surveillance network (2009-2012) was launched to support livestock health policies and fulfill European Commission requirements. Sampling was conducted using 160 traps deployed across all mainland French départements (French administrative division), excluding three in the Ilede-France region (Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne). Trapping was synchronized nationally with a weekly frequency during population fluctuations and monthly during known periods of activity/ inactivity. Midges were identified to species, sexed, and categorized by physiological status. The network generated the most comprehensive dataset on Culicoides in France, with unprecedented spatiotemporal coverage. Of more than 6.34 million specimens collected, representing at least 83 species, 66% of identified specimens belonged to the Culicoides obsoletus s.l./Culicoides scoticus complex. This unique dataset provides critical insights into species diversity, phenology and ecology, and supports modeling, surveillance, and control of vector-borne diseases at the national scale.