Culicoides variipennis was the major species identified from rearing larvae and pupae collected from 36 of 98 sites examined in 10 counties of California. Most sites discovered were on or within close proximity to ranches citing previous or active bluetongue virus (BTV) cases. The sites are classified into habitat categories with a table of their frequency of occurrence and geographic distribution. Dairy waste-water lagoons are discussed in terms of their role as permanent, productive gnat habitats.