Family SIMULIIDAE Newman, 1834

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Introduction

The Simuliidae, which contains some 1500 species worldwide, is one of the most medically significant groups of Diptera. The characteristically hump-backed, small flies include many voracious vertebrate blood-feeders, such as those that transmit parasites including onchocerciasis (river blindness). Fortunately in Australia there is little evidence of vectorial status amongst the few species known as human biters, but simuliids may transmit cattle onchocerciasis and act as mechanical vectors of myxomatosis in rabbits. Amongst the few serious pests of humans, Austrosimulium pestilens undergoes periodic mass outbreaks in central Queensland, following flooding of seasonal rivers.
There are several taxonomic problems amongst the Australian Simuliidae. The first concerns the precise species delimitation. Elsewhere in the world, many morphologically defined taxa have been found to be composites of “cytospecies”, differing chromosomally (and often vectorially), but inseparable on morphology. Limited evidence suggests that this situation is also true in Australia, but the consequences for species identification and nomenclature have not been published. Secondly, the name Cnephia Enderlein has been used for Australian Prosimuliini, although it has long been recognised that the name should be applied only to an Holarctic genus. However, the necessary studies to establish the true status and relationships of Australian “Cnephia” have not been completed.
Larval Simuliidae are amongst the most characteristic running water macroinvertebrates. In life, the body shape, and posterior anchorage on rocks and dangling vegetation in flowing water, are characteristic. When preserved, and the anchorage is lost, they are recognisable by the cephalic fans on the head (which collapse on dying but are still distinctive) and the circlet of spinules around the posterior end, which acts as a sucker in life.
The larvae filter feed on debris and diatoms which are strained from the water column using the cephalic fans. There is a relatively high number of up to nine larval instars. Pupation occurs in the larval site–a pad of silk is spun, then a cocoon of silk in which the pupa develops.
The fossil record of the Simuliidae has been extended back to the lower/middle Jurassic through recognition of the true relationships of the fossil pupal taxon Simulimima.

 

General References

Ballard, J.W.O. 1994. Evidence from 12S ribosomal RNA sequences resolves a morphological conundrum in Austrosimulium (Diptera: Simuliidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 33: 131-135

Ballard, J.W.O. & Bedo, D.G. 1991. Population cytogenetics of Austrosimulium bancroft (Diptera: Simuliidae) in eastern Australia. Genome 34: 338-353

Ballard, J.W.O. & Elder, R.J. 1992. Monitoring blackfly (Diptera: Simuliidae) pests. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 31: 263-270

Bedo, D.G. 1977. Cytogenetics and evolution of Simulium ornatipes Skuse (Diptera: Simuliidae). I. Sibling speciation. Chromosoma (Berlin) 63: 37-65

Bedo, D.G. 1979. Cytogenetics and evolution of Simulium ornatipes Skuse (Diptera: Simuliidae). II. Temporal variation in chromosomal polymorphisms and homosequential sibling species. Evolution 33: 296-308

Bedo, D.G. 1979. Cytogenetics and evolution of Simulium ornatipes Skuse (Diptera: Simuliidae). III. Geographic variation of chromosomal polymorphisms and species divergence. Evolution 33: 309-318

Bedo, D.G. 1984. Sibling speciation and sex chromosome differentiation in Simulium neornatipes (Diptera: Simuliidae). Canadian Journal of Genetics and Cytology 26: 318-325

Colbo, M., Fallis, M.H. & Reye, E.J. 1977. The distribution and biology of Austrosimulium pestilens, a serious biting-fly pest following flooding. Australian Veterinary Journal 53: 166-175

Colbo, M.H. 1976. Four new species of Simulium Latreille (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Australia. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 15: 253-269

Crosskey, R.W. 1967. The classification of Simulium Latreille (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Australia, New Guinea and the Western Pacific. Journal of Natural History 1: 23-51

Crosskey, R.W. 1988. Part VIII. Black fly species of the world. 32. An annotated checklist of the world black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae). pp. 425-520 in Kim, K.C. & Merritt, R.W. (eds). Black Flies. Ecology, Population Management, and Annotated World List. Pennsylvannia & London : The Pennsylvannia State University, University Park xv 528 pp. [publication dated 1987]

Crosskey, R.W. 1990. The Natural History of Blackflies. Chichester, New York, Brisbane, Toronto : John Wiley and Sons.

Crosskey, R.W. 1991. The fossil pupa Simulimima and the evidence it provides for the Jurassic origin of the Simuliidae (Diptera). Systematic Entomology 16: 401-406

Crosskey, R.W. 1993. Blackflies (Simuliidae). pp. 241-287 in Lane, R.P. & Crosskey, R.W. (eds). Medical Insects and Arachnids. London : Chapman & Hall xv 723 pp.

Downes, B.J. 1991. Different colonization patterns of two closely related stream insects (Austrosimulium spp.) following disturbance. Freshwater Biology 26: 295-306

Hunter, D.M. & Moorhouse, D.E. 1976. Comparative bionomics of adult Austrosimulium pestilens Mackerras and Mackerras and A. bancrofti (Taylor) (Diptera, Simuliidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 66: 453-467

Kim, K.C. & Merritt, R.W. (eds) 1988. Black Flies. Ecology, Population Management, and Annotated World List. Pennsylvannia & London : Pennsylvannia State University, University Park xv 528 pp. [Date published 1 March 1988: publication dated 1987]

Mackerras, I.M. & Mackerras, M.J. 1949. Revisional notes on Australasian Simuliidae (Diptera). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 73: 372-405

Mackerras, I.M. & Mackerras, M.J. 1952. Notes on Australasian Simuliidae (Diptera). III. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 77: 104-113

Mackerras, M.J. & Mackerras, I.M. 1948. Simuliidae (Diptera) from Queensland. Australian Journal of Scientific Research B 1: 231-270

Mackerras, M.J. & Mackerras, I.M. 1950. Notes on Australasian Simuliidae (Diptera). II. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 75: 167-187

Mackerras, M.J. & Mackerras, I.M. 1955. Notes on Australasian Simuliidae (Diptera). IV. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 80: 105-112

Standfast, H.A. & Dyce, A.L. 1972. Potential vectors of arboviruses of cattle and buffalo in Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal 48: 224-227

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
10-Jun-2011		10-Jun-2011	MODIFIED
		12-Feb-2010	(import)