Black flies

Code QD109999

The Simuliidae are amongst the most characteristic running water macro-invertebrates. 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 with the cephalic fans. There are variable and relative high numbers of larval instars (up to 9). Pupation occurs in the larval site - a pad of silk is spun, then a cocoon of silk in which the pupa develops.

The Simuliinae are quite well known (e.g. Colbo, 1976), in contrast to the Prosimuliini. These larvae formerly were allocated to genus " Cnephia ", but it is clear that this northern hemisphere taxon does not occur in Australia. Any further information will be welcome by the Simuliid phylogenetics community.

Reference:

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

Checklist to the Australian species of

Subfamily SIMULIINAE

Tribe PROSIMULIINI

Unplaced species of Prosimuliini (" Cnephia ")

"Cnephia" aurantiacum Tonnoir. NSW, Qld, Tas, Vic.

"Cnephia" fergusoni Tonnoir. NSW, SA.

"Cnephia" fuscoflava Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld.

"Cnephia" orientalis Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld, NSW, Tas, Vic.

"Cnephia" pilfreyi Davies & Gy-rk's. ACT.

"Cnephia" strenua Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld.

"Cnephia" terebrans Tonnoir. Vic, NSW.

"Cnephia" tonnoiri Drummond. WA.

"Cnephia" umbratorum Tonnoir. Vic.

Tribe SIMULIINI

Genus Austrosimulium Tonnoir.

Subgenus Austrosimulium Tonnoir.

Austrosimulium colboi Davies & Gy-rk's. Vic.

Austrosimulium cornutum Tonnoir. Vic, NSW, Tas.

Austrosimulium crassipes Tonnoir. Vic, NSW, Qld.

Austrosimulium fulvicorne Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld.

Austrosimulium mirabile Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld.

Austrosimulium montanum Mackerras & Mackerras. NSW, Vic.

Subgenus Novaustrosimulium Dumbleton.

Austrosimulium bancrofti Taylor. Qld, NSW, Tas, Vic, WA.

Austrosimulium furiosum Skuse. NSW, Qld, Tas, Vic, WA.

Austrosimulium weindorferi Tonnoir. Tas.

Austrosimulium magnum Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld.

Austrosimulium pestilens Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld, NSW, NT.

Austrosimulium torrentium Tonnoir. Tas, ACT, NSW, Vic.

Austrosimulium hilli Mackerras & Mackerras. ACT.

Austrosimulium victoriae Roubaud. Vic, NSW, Qld, Tas.

Austrosimulium tasmaniense Tonnoir. Tas.

Genus Simulium Latreille.

Subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein.

Simulium peregrinum Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld.

Subgenus Pselaphochir Enderlein.

Simulium aureonigrum Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld.

Simulium clathrinum Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld, NSW.

Simulium dycei Colbo. Qld, NT.

Simulium faheyi Taylor. Qld, NT.

Simulium inornatum Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld, NSW, Vic.

Simulium lawnhillense Colbo. Qld, NT.

Simulium mackerrasorum Colbo. Qld, NT, WA.

Simulium melatum Wharton. NSW, Qld, Vic.

Simulium nicholsoni Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld, NSW, Vic.

Simulium standfasti Colbo. Qld.

Simulium torresianum Mackerras & Mackerras. Qld.

Subgenus Nevermannia Enderlein.

Simulium ornatipes Skuse. NSW, Qld, SA, Vic, WA.