Simulium
| Simulium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Simulium yahense | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Simuliidae |
| Subfamily: | Simuliinae |
| Tribe: | Simuliini |
| Genus: | Simulium Latreille, 1802 |
| Type species | |
| S. colombaschense (Scopoli, 1780) usually attrib. Fabricius, 1787 | |
| Subgenera | |
|
See Text. | |
| Synonyms | |
Simulium is a genus of black flies, which may transmit diseases such as onchocerciasis (river blindness). It is a large genus with several hundred species, and 41 subgenera.[1]
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, 1969
- Anasolen Enderlein, 1930
- Asiosimulium Takaoka & Choochote, 2005
- Aspathia Enderlein, 1935
- Boophthora Enderlein, 1921
- Boreosimulium Rubtsov & Yankovsky, 1982
- Byssodon Enderlein, 1925
- Chirostilbia Enderlein, 1921
- Crosskeyellum Grenier & Bailly-Choumara, 1970
- Daviesellum Takaoka & Adler, 1997
- Ectemnaspis Enderlein, 1934
- Edwardsellum Enderlein, 1921
- Eusimulium Roubaud, 1906
- Freemanellum Crosskey, 1969
- Gomphostilbia Enderlein, 1921
- Hebridosimulium Grenier & Rageau, 1961
- Hellichiella Rivosecchi & Cardinali, 1975
- Hemicnetha Enderlein, 1934
- Inaequalium Coscarón & Wygodzinsky, 1984
- Inseliellum Rubtsov, 1974
- Lewisellum Crosskey, 1969
- Meilloniellum Rubtsov, 1962
- Metomphalus Enderlein, 1935
- Montisimulium Rubtsov, 1974
- Morops Enderlein, 1930
- Nevermannia Enderlein, 1921
- Notolepria Enderlein, 1930
- Obuchovia Rubtsov, 1947
- Phoretomyia Crosskey, 1969
- Pomeroyellum Rubtsov, 1962
- Psaroniocompsa Enderlein, 1934
- Psilopelmia Enderlein, 1934
- Psilozia Enderlein, 1936
- Pternaspatha Enderlein, 1930
- Rubzovia Petrova, 1983
- Schoenbaueria Enderlein, 1921
- Simulium Latreille, 1802
- Trichodagmia Enderlein, 1934
- Wallacellum Takaoka, 1983
- Wilhelmia Enderlein, 1921
- Xenosimulium Crosskey, 1969
References
- ↑ Peter H. Adler & Roger W. Crosskey (2009). "World Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae): A Comprehensive Revision of the Taxonomic and Geographical Inventory". Natural History Museum. p. 109.