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| | | Also known as: | | | Also known as: |
| − | | '''Buffalo gnats | + | | '''Buffalo gnats<br>Blackfly. |
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| | + | ''Simuliidae'' of the superfamily ''Chironomoidea'' are blood sucking parasites, most active in the morning and evening on warm, cloudy days. They can cause painful, irritating bites and anaemia if present in large numbers. They are vectors for disease, aiding the spread of viruses such as [[Equine Encephalitis Virus|Eastern equine encephalitis]] and vesicular stomatitis. |
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| | + | ==Identification== |
| | + | They are small flies, around 2-4mm long, and usually black/grey. They have an arched thorax giving a 'hump-backed' appearance, and have short, hairless antennae. |
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| − | *Found worldwide
| + | ==Life cycle== |
| | + | Eggs are laid on plants or stones under flowing water. The eggs hatch and develop into larvae, which attach to submerged rocks and pupate. They then pupate in a conical shaped cocoon. The adults then emerge later. |
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| − | *Attacks a wide variety of hosts, including animals, birds and humans
| + | The complete life cycle takes '''1 month''' to complete |
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| − | '''Recognition'''
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| − | *Small flies 2-4mm long
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| − | *Black colouring
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| − | *Arched thorax giving a 'hump-backed' appearance
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| − | *Short, hairless antennae
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| − | *Clear wings
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| − | *No hairs or scales on wings
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| − | '''Life cycle'''
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| − | *Eggs laid on plants or stones under flowing water
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| − | *Larvae attach to submerged rocks and pupate
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| − | *Conical shaped cocoon
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| − | *Adults emerge en masse
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| − | *Life cycle takes '''1 month''' to complete
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| − | '''Pathogenesis'''
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| − | *Most active in the morning and evening on warm, cloudy days
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| − | *Cause painful, irritating bites
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| − | **Only females suck blood
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| − | *Cause anaemia if present in large numbers
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| − | *Vectors for disease
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| − | **Viruses such as [[Equine Encephalitis Virus|Eastern equine encephalitis]] and vesicular stomatitis
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| − | **Parasites such as ''O. volvulus'' of cattle and ''Leucocytozoon'' of avian species
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| − | *[[Parasitic skin infections - Pathology#Protozoa|Protozoal skin infections]]
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| − | *Causes [[Parasitic skin infections - Pathology#Flies|skin infections]]
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| − | **[[Parasitic skin infections - Pathology#Onchocerciasis|Onchocerciasis]]
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| − | **Involved in [[Parasitic skin infections - Pathology#Cutaneous habronemiasis|cutaneous habronemiasis]]
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| − | **Involved in [[Parasitic skin infections - Pathology#Stephanofilariasis|stephanofilariasis]]
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| − | '''Control'''
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| − | *In warmer climates
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| − | **[[Ectoparasiticides|Insecticides]] applied to breeding sites
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| − | **Brush cleared to deprive the adult flies of resting sites
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| − | **Not needed in temperate climates
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| | [[Category:Biting_Flies]] | | [[Category:Biting_Flies]] |
| | [[Category:To_Do_-_Max]] | | [[Category:To_Do_-_Max]] |