Simulium


Simulium is a genus of black flies, which may transmit diseases such as onchocerciasis.
It is a large genus with almost 2,000 species and 38 subgenera.
The flies are pool feeders. Their saliva, which contains anticoagulants, a number of enzymes and histamine, is mixed with the blood, preventing clotting until it is ingested by the fly. These bites cause localized tissue damage, and if the number of feeding flies is sufficient, their feeding may produce a blood-loss anaemia.
The host's reaction to fly attacks may include systemic illness, allergic reactions or even death, presumably mediated by histamine. In humans, this systemic reaction is known as "black fly fever" and is characterized by headaches, fever, nausea, adenitis, generalized dermatitis, and allergic asthma.

Systematics

Subgenera:Afrosimulium Crosskey, 1969Anasolen Enderlein, 1930Asiosimulium Takaoka & Choochote, 2005Aspathia Enderlein, 1935Boophthora Enderlein, 1921Boreosimulium Rubtsov & Yankovsky, 1982Byssodon Enderlein, 1925Chirostilbia Enderlein, 1921Crosskeyellum Grenier & Bailly-Choumara, 1970Daviesellum Takaoka & Adler, 1997Ectemnaspis Enderlein, 1934Edwardsellum Enderlein, 1921Eusimulium Roubaud, 1906Freemanellum Crosskey, 1969Gomphostilbia Enderlein, 1921Hebridosimulium Grenier & Rageau, 1961Hellichiella Rivosecchi & Cardinali, 1975Hemicnetha Enderlein, 1934Inaequalium Coscarón & Wygodzinsky, 1984Inseliellum Rubtsov, 1974Lewisellum Crosskey, 1969Meilloniellum Rubtsov, 1962Metomphalus Enderlein, 1935Montisimulium Rubtsov, 1974Morops Enderlein, 1930Nevermannia Enderlein, 1921Notolepria Enderlein, 1930Obuchovia Rubtsov, 1947Phoretomyia Crosskey, 1969Pomeroyellum Rubtsov, 1962Psaroniocompsa Enderlein, 1934Psilopelmia Enderlein, 1934Psilozia Enderlein, 1936Pternaspatha Enderlein, 1930Rubzovia Petrova, 1983Schoenbaueria Enderlein, 1921 Simulium Latreille, 1802Trichodagmia Enderlein, 1934Wallacellum Takaoka, 1983Wilhelmia Enderlein, 1921Xenosimulium Crosskey, 1969
Species:

Malaysia

In Peninsular Malaysia 35 species of preimaginal black flies were discovered in a study in 2016, including Simulium digrammicum, which had been considered locally extinct.

In Balkan folklore

In Serbian mythology there is a legend concerning an ala (demon) fabled to have died in a cave near the town of Golubac in the Pozarevac District in Eastern Serbia. The rotting corpse of this being is said to send forth each Spring a swarm of Golubatz flies – individuals of the species Simulium colombaschense. The fact that the Golubatz fly is a voracious bloodsucker and disease vector accords well with the functions attributed to the ala, emphasising her malign potency – even in death – while the legend provides, reciprocally, a folkloric explanation for the genesis of so unpleasant an insect. The specific name colombaschense signifies 'of Golubac' – the name of the village. S. colombaschense was a notorious insect pest of the Banat, during the 18th century.