The spatial and seasonal abundance of adult Culicoides in a coastal Spartina salt marsh in North Carolina was determined during a 2yr period by a light trap, emergence traps, and sticky cylinder traps. Twelve species were collected, the greatest number (11) by light trap. C. Hollensis (Melander and Brues) and C. Furens (Poey) were the most abundant. C. Hollensis was abundant in spring to early fall. Emergence traps provided more precise data on the seasonal occurrence of both species than sticky cylinder and light traps. The trap and sticky cylinder traps were less effective in attracting C. Hollensis than C. Furens. A lower percentage of males of both species were obtained by the light trap and sticky cylinder traps than by emergence traps. Adult catches were correlated with temperature, rainfall and the percentage of time the marsh was flooded.