The dipterous family Ceratopogonidae has 125 genera and approximately 5360 species, 205 of which are extinct. More than 1400 species of Culicoides are known worldwide, and these are among the smallest blood-sucking flies in the world, measuring one to three mm in length. Some 96% of these species are obligate blood feeders on mammals (including human) and birds, and they are important vectors of human and animal viroses. Inspite of their epidemiological importance, few studies have been made of the biting behaviour and general ecology of Brazilian ceratopogonid specíes. This study surveyed the ceratopogonid species in two coastal areas of Pará State in northern Brazil, with reference to the hotus of the day when humans were bitten. The two coastal sampled were: the city of Marapanim on the northeastern Atlantic coast of Pará and Outeiro, a district of Belém on the Pará River estuary. Collections were made monthly between April and October 2003, using human bait and CDC traps. In total, 4083 specimes of Ceratopogonidae of 29 species in six genera were collected, 620 (21 species in five genera) from Outeiro and 3463 specimes (9 species in 4 genera) from Maripanim. The two faunae were seen to be sufficiently different from one another Leptoconops brasiliensis was the only species common to both sites. In Outeiro, the most abundant species were Culicoides batesi and C. denisae while in Marapanim these were C. maruim and C. phkbotomus. C. crucifèr and C. daviesi were collected in Outeiro and are registered for the first time fmm Brazil. C. denisae, C. phkbotomus and L. brasiliensis are reported for the first time for the state of Pará. In Outeiro, a significant negative correlation was found between air temperature and biting activity of C. batesi, C. cructfer and C. paramaruim. A significam positive correlation was found for biting activity and air relative humidity. In Marapanim, C. maruim biting activity showed a significant negative correlation with air temperature and significant positive with the air relative. The collected material, mounted on slides or in specimen tubes, is deposited in the Invertebrate Collection of the Museum Paranese Emílio Goeldi, Belém, Brazil.
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