Black fly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black fly |
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| Simulium trifasciatum | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Infraorder: | Culicomorpha |
| Family: | Simuliidae Newman, 1834 |
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Genera
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A black fly is a small insect that belongs to the family Simuliidae. People sometimes call them "buffalo gnats" or "white socks." They are related to other small flies like midges. There are over 2,200 different kinds of black flies known around the world. Most of these species belong to a group called Simulium.
Most female black flies need to feed on the blood of mammals, including humans, to get the nutrients they need to lay eggs. Male black flies, however, usually feed on nectar from flowers. Black flies are typically small and can be black or gray. They have short legs and antennae. They can be a big bother to people, especially in certain areas. Some places even have programs to help control their numbers. Black flies can also spread diseases, like river blindness, in parts of Africa and the Americas.
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What Are Black Flies?
Black flies are tiny insects that are often found near flowing water. They are known for their bites, which can be annoying to humans and animals. These flies are part of a larger group of insects that includes mosquitoes and midges.
Where Do Black Flies Live?
Black flies lay their eggs in fast-moving water, like rivers and streams. The young black flies, called larvae, attach themselves to rocks or plants in the water. They need clean, flowing water to grow well. If the water is too polluted, they cannot survive.
How Do Black Fly Larvae Eat?
Black fly larvae have tiny hooks on their bodies that help them hold onto surfaces in the water. They also spin silk threads to move around or stay in place. They have special fan-like structures around their mouths. These fans open up to catch tiny bits of food floating in the water. This food includes small organic particles, algae, and bacteria. Every few seconds, the larva scrapes the food from its fans into its mouth. This way, they get all the food they need from the flowing water.
How Do Black Flies Grow Up?
After growing as larvae, they turn into pupae while still underwater. Then, they emerge from the water as flying adults inside a bubble of air. Fish, like trout, often eat them as they emerge.
What Do Adult Black Flies Eat?
Adult male black flies mostly drink nectar from flowers. Female black flies, however, need to drink blood before they can lay their eggs. They can fly long distances, sometimes up to 40 mi (64 km), to find a blood meal. Different types of black flies prefer to feed on different animals. They usually bite during the daytime, especially when there isn't much wind.
How Many Generations Do They Have?
Some black fly species have only one generation each year, while others can have many. The number of generations often depends on how much effort people put into controlling them.
Where Are Black Flies a Problem?
Black flies can be a big nuisance in many parts of the world.
- In places like Canada, New England, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, black flies are very common from late April to July. They can make outdoor activities like gardening, boating, and camping less fun.
- In Canada, black flies can also bother farm animals, causing them to lose weight or even die.
- Pennsylvania has a large program to control black flies. This helps people enjoy the outdoors more and supports tourism.
- In England, a type of black fly called the Blandford fly (Simulium posticatum) used to cause painful bites. It was controlled using a special bacteria. Even recently, in 2010, many people needed medical help for bites from this fly.
- The "sandflies" in New Zealand are actually a type of black fly.
- In parts of Scotland, black flies bite people mostly between May and September. They are often found in woodlands and moorlands. Bites usually appear on the head, neck, and back.
- In Peninsular Malaysia, scientists found 35 different kinds of black flies in a study in 2016.
Black Flies and Your Health
Only a few types of black flies bite humans. Other types prefer to feed on other mammals or birds. The Simulium type of black fly is the most common and can spread diseases.
How Do Black Flies Bite?
Black flies bite by first stretching the skin with their mouthparts. Then, they use other sharp mouthparts to cut the skin and break tiny blood vessels. They have a powerful substance in their saliva that stops blood from clotting. This substance also makes the bite area a little numb, so you might not notice you're being bitten right away. They only bite during the day and often target thinner skin areas like the neck, ears, and ankles.
What Happens After a Bite?
After a bite, you might feel itchy and see some swelling and redness. The swelling can be quite noticeable, and the irritation might last for weeks. If you get many bites, you might even get "black fly fever." This can cause a headache, nausea, fever, swollen glands, and aching joints. These symptoms are likely a reaction to something in the flies' saliva. In rare cases, severe allergic reactions might need medical attention.
How to Protect Yourself
Repellents can offer some protection against black flies. Products with ingredients like DEET or picaridin are usually the most effective. However, repellents don't always work perfectly. To protect yourself even more, try to avoid areas where black flies are common, especially during peak biting times. Wearing thick, light-colored clothing, including long-sleeve shirts, long pants, and hats, can also help. If there are many black flies, a head net, like those used by beekeepers, can offer good protection.
River Blindness
Black flies play a big role in spreading a disease called onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness." This disease is caused by a tiny nematode worm called Onchocerca volvulus. The worm lives on human skin. When a black fly bites an infected person, it picks up the worm's larvae. The larvae then grow inside the fly. When the fly bites another person, it passes the worm larvae to them, spreading the disease.
See also
In Spanish: Simúlidos para niños
