Austrosimulium (subgenus) facts for kids

Austrosimulium is a special group of tiny flies, often called black flies or sandflies. They are part of a larger family called Simuliidae. These flies are mostly found in New Zealand, and a few live in Australia. In New Zealand, they are the only type of black fly you'll find!

In New Zealand, people often call these flies "sandflies." Only the female sandflies bite humans because they need blood to lay their eggs. The males do not bite. Three types of female Austrosimulium are known to bite people: A. australense, A. tillyardianum, and A. ungulatum.

• A. australense is found all over New Zealand, including the North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and some smaller islands. It's the most common sandfly that bites people in the North Island.
• A. tillyardianum lives in both the North and South Islands.
• A. ungulatum is found in the South Island and Stewart Island. It is also well-known for biting humans.

Types of Austrosimulium Flies

There are many different types, or species, within the Austrosimulium group. Scientists have given each one a unique name. Here are some of the known species:

• A. albovelatum Dumbleton, 1973
• A. alveolatum Dumbleton, 1973
• A. australense (Schiner, 1868)
• A. bicorne Dumbleton, 1973
• A. campbellense Dumbleton, 1973
• A. cornutum Tonnoir, 1925
• A. crassipes Tonnoir, 1925
• A. dugdalei Craig, Craig & Crosby, 2012
• A. dumbletoni Crosby, 1976
• A. extendorum Craig, Craig & Crosby, 2012
• A. fiordense Dumbleton, 1973
• A. fulvicorne Mackerras & Mackerras, 1950
• A. laticorne Tonnoir, 1925
• A. longicorne Tonnoir, 1925
• A. mirabile Mackerras & Mackerras, 1948
• A. montanum Mackerras & Mackerras, 1952
• A. multicorne Tonnoir, 1925
• A. stewartense Dumbleton, 1973
• A. tillyardianum Dumbleton, 1973
• A. tonnoiri Craig, Craig & Crosby, 2012
• A. ungulatum Tonnoir, 1925
• A. unicorne Dumbleton, 1973
• A. vailavoense Craig, Craig & Crosby, 2012
• A. vexans (Mik, 1881)