- Also known as buffalo gnats
- Found worldwide
- Attacks a wide variety of hosts, including animals, birds and humans
Recognition
- Small flies 2-4mm long
- Black colouring
- Arched thorax giving a 'hump-backed' appearance
- Short, hairless antennae
- Clear wings
- No hairs or scales on wings
Life cycle
- Eggs laid on plants or stones under flowing water
- Larvae attach to submerged rocks and pupate
- Conical shaped cocoon
- Adults emerge en masse
- Life cycle takes 1 month to complete
Pathogenesis
- Most active in the morning and evening on warm, cloudy days
- Cause painful, irritating bites
- Only females suck blood
- Cause anaemia if present in large numbers
- Vectors for disease
- Viruses such as Eastern equine encephalitis and vesicular stomatitis
- Parasites such as O. volvulus of cattle and Leucocytozoon of avian species
- Protozoal skin infections
- Causes skin infections
- Onchocerciasis
- Involved in cutaneous habronemiasis
- Involved in stephanofilariasis
Control
- In warmer climates
- Insecticides applied to breeding sites
- Brush cleared to deprive the adult flies of resting sites
- Not needed in temperate climates