<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica;">The viruses causing the economically important livestock diseases of African horse sickness (AHS) and bluetongue (BT) are transmitted by biting midges of the genus <em>Culicoides</em> (Diptera, Cerato po gonidae). In the Old World the most important vectors of these diseases are <em>Culicoides imicola</em> Kieffer, 1913, <em>Culicoides brevitarsis</em> Kieffer, 1917 and <em>Culicoides bolitinos</em> Meiswinkel, 1989. All three of these vectors belong to the Imicola complex of the subgenus <em>Avaritia</em> Fox, 1955. This species complex now comprises 12 sibling species; ten occur in sub-Saharan Africa and are difficult to identify (based mostly on subtle variations in the wing patterns) and so additional methods of reliable identification are needed. The pupal exuviae of the five commonest sibling species (<em>C. imicola, C. bolitinos, Culicoides loxodontis</em> Meiswinkel, 1992, <em>Culicoides tuttifrutti</em> Meiswinkel, Cornet &amp; Dyce, 2003 and <em>Culicoides</em> sp. # 107) harvested from a variety of large herbivore dung types and from decaying fruits, are described and illustrated in detail. It is shown that they can be differentiated clearly on a number of morphological characters and, furthermore, are separable into two distinct groups based (principally) on the shape of the respiratory organ. A key for identifying and differentiating these five pupae is provided. Also, the pupa of the Oriental-Australasian <em>C. brevitarsis</em> was compared with its allopatric sister taxon, <em>C. bolitinos</em>. Because they share a common larval habitat (cattle and buffalo dung) and are almost inseparable in the adult phenotype, the question of their possible synonymy is raised. However, their respective pupae could not be differentiated on gross morphology and so it is argued that this unresolved problem requires a molecular solution.</span>

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica;">Between January 1999 and December 2000 faecal samples from 16 264 cattle at 12 dipping sites in the highveld and nine in the lowveld communal grazing areas of Zimbabwe were examined for gastrointestinal (GI) nematode and cestodes eggs, and coccidia oocysts. Strongyle larvae were identified following culture of pooled faecal samples collected at monthly intervals. The effects of region, age, sex and season on the prevalence of GI nematodes, cestodes and coccidia were determined. Faecal egg and oocyst counts showed an overall prevalence of GI nematodes of 43 %, coccidia 19.8 % and cestodes 4.8 %. A significantly higher prevalence of infection with GI nematodes, cestodes and coccidia was recorded in calves (P &lt; 0.01) than in adults. Pregnant and lactating cows had significantly higher prevalences than bulls, oxen and non-lactating (dry cows) (P &lt; 0.01). The general trend of eggs per gram (epg) of faeces and oocysts per gram (opg) of faeces was associated with the rainfall pattern in the two regions, with high epg and opg being recorded during the wet months. The most prevalent genera of GI nematodes were <em>Cooperia, Haemonchus</em> and <em>Trichostrongylus</em> in that order. Strongyloides papillosus was found exclusively in calves. <em>Haemonchus</em> was significantly more prevalent during the wet season than the dry season (P &lt; 0.01). In contrast, <em>Trichostrongylus</em> was present in significantly (P &lt; 0.01) higher numbers during the dry months than the wet months, while <em>Cooperia</em> and <em>Oesophagostomum</em> revealed no significant differences between the wet and dry season. These findings are discussed with reference to their relevance for strategic control of GI parasites in cattle in communal grazing areas of Zimbabwe.</span>