Black fly
Simulium yahense
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Diptera Infraorder: Culicomorpha Superfamily: Chironomoidea Family: Simuliidae
Subfamilies
Parasimuliinae Simuliinae Genera Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x657, 116 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Black Fly ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Digimon, the only known animals. ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ... Orders See taxonomy Insects (Class Insecta) are a major group of arthropods and the most diverse group of animals on the Earth, with over a million described species—more than all other animal groups combined. ... Suborders Nematocera (includes Eudiptera) Brachycera Diptera (di - two, ptera - wings), or true flies, is the order of insects possessing only a single pair of wings on the mesothorax; the metathorax bears a pair of drumstick like structures called the halteres, the remnants of the hind wings. ... Superfamilies Culicoidea Chironomoidea See text for families. ... Chironomoidea is a superfamily within the order Diptera, suborder Nematocera, infraorder Culicomorpha. ... Araucnephia Araucnephioides Archicnephia Austrosimulium Baisomyia Cnephia Cnesia Cnesiamima Crozetia Ectemnia Gigantodax Greniera Gydarina Gymnopais Kovalevimyia Levitinia Lutzsimulium Mayacnephia Metacnephia Paracnephia Parasimulium Paraustrosimulium Pedrowygomyia Prosimulium Simuliites Simulimima Simulium Stegopterna Sulcicnephia Tlalocomyia Twinnia

A black fly (sometimes called a buffalo gnat, turkey gnat or white socks) is any member of the family Simuliidae of the Culicomorpha infraorder. They are related to the Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and Thaumaleidae. There are over 1800 known species of black flies (of which 11 are extinct). The majority of species belong to the immense genus Simulium. Like mosquitoes, to which they are related, most black flies gain nourishment by sucking the blood of other animals, although the males feed mainly on nectar. They are usually small, black or gray, with short legs and antennae. They are a common nuisance for humans, and many U.S. states have programs to suppress the black fly population. They spread several diseases, including river blindness in Africa (Simulium damnosum und S. neavei) and America (Simulium callidum and S. metallicum in Central America, also S. ochraceum in Central and South America). For German Naval Acoustic Torpedo see G7es torpedo, for the light jet aircraft see Folland Gnat and for the UAV see GNAT-750. ... Superfamilies Culicoidea Chironomoidea See text for families. ... Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Subfamilies Forcipomyiinae Dasyheleinae Ceratopogoninae Leptoconopinae Ceratopogonidae, or biting midges (or, in the United States, no-see-ums, sand flies, punkies, and others), are a family of small flies (1-4 mm long) in the order Diptera. ... Chironomidae are a family of Nematoceran Diptera closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae. ... Genera Afrothaumalea Androprosopa Austrothaumalea Thaumalea Trichothaumalea Thaumaleidae, or solitary midges, are a group of nematoceran flies related to the Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and the Simuliidae. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Human blood smear: a - erythrocytes; b - neutrophil; c - eosinophil; d - lymphocyte. ... In Greek mythology, nectar and ambrosia are the food of the gods. ... An insect leg The arthropod leg is a form of jointed appendage of arthropods, usually used for walking. ... For other uses, see Antenna. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties Libertarian Party State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... Onchocerciasis or river blindness is the worlds second leading infectious cause of blindness. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...

Regional effects of black fly populations

• In the wetter parts of the northern latitudes of North America, including parts of Canada, New England and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, black fly populations swell from Mid-May to July, becoming a nuisance to humans engaging in common outdoor activitites such as boating, camping and backpacking.
• In Canada, black flies are a scourge to livestock, causing weight loss in cattle and in some cases, death. [1]

World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that comprise the U.S. state of Michigan. ... // Boating, the leisurely activity of traveling by boat typically refers to the recreational use of boats whether power boats, sail boats, or yachts (large vessels), focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or waterskiing. ... Car camping is camping in a tent, but nearby the car for easier access and for supply storage. ... Backpacking is traveling long distances with a backpack. ...

Ecology

Eggs are laid in running water, and the larvae attach themselves to rocks. They use tiny hooks at the end of their abdomen to hold on to the substrate, often using silk holdfasts and lines to move or hold their place. They have foldable fans surrounding their mouths. When feeding, the fans expand, catching passing debris (small organic particles, algae and bacteria). Every few seconds, the larva scraps the fan's catch into its mouth. Black flies depend on lotic habitats to bring food to them. They will pupate under water and then emerge in a bubble of air as flying adults. During this emergence, they are often preyed upon by trout. In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ... This brook is an example of a lotic system. ...

The Canadian Shield is characterized by an abundance of lakes and swift-flowing streams and hence offers optimum conditions for black flies to lay their eggs. The Canadian Shield is notorious for the abundance of black flies in the summertime.

References

• Black Flies Fact Sheet from Ohio State University
• Extensive Simuliidae (black fly) Web pages at blackfly.org.uk
• Black fly species inventory
• Black fly fact sheet from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• FAQ about black flies in Maine

The Ohio State University (OSU) is a coeducational public research university in the state of Ohio. ... The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also referred to as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies governing agriculture production, farming income, research and development, inspection, and the regulation of animals and plants. ...

See also

• Blackfly season (novel), by Giles Blunt
• "The Black Fly Song", a song by Wade Hemsworth inspired by his experiences with them