BRITISH BLOOD-SUCKING FLIES
There are no definite records of blood-sucking by this species in Britain,
though in north America (where it is widespread and abundant) it is said to
attack the ears of horses, and also to bite ducks, amongst which it spreads a
malaria-like disease. It is also recorded as a pest in Eastern Siberia.
Simulium morsitans Edwards
The female of this species hardly differs from that of 5. venusfum (though
the male and pupae are readily separable). , ^T T^ .
5 morsitans is a common and troublesome biting pest in the New Forest
and adjoining parts of Hampshire ; it has not been noted as common elsewhere
in this country, though specimens have been found m Oxfordshire,
Cambridgeshire, and Inverness.
The larvae occur in weedy rivers and streams and there appear to be two
broods in the year, the adults appearing in May and July.
Simulium tuberosum Lundstrom
This is one of the smallest species of the genus in Britain. Though structurally
similar to 5. reptans and related species it is very distinct m appearance,
the thorax lacking the whitish shoulder-patches and the legs being a most
entirely black; also, the face is polished black like the frons, instead of being
^^''^f'tuberosum is an abundant species in the north of England and in Scotland,
and has also been recorded from Devonshire. It is reported as a pest to man
dogs and cattle, and it was stated by two observers in 1913 to have increased
greatly in numbers during the few years prior to that date ; since then, however,
no further complaints have been received at the Museum.
The larvae occur in company with those of reptans in rapid rivers, usually
on large stones ; they are not found in the smaller streams.
Simulium erythrocephalum De Geer
(5. argyreatum (Mg.) Lundst.)
This species is rather well distinguished from 5. reptans and other related
species by the distinctly shining greenish-black thorax, which is clothed only
rather scantily with inconspicuous hair and has no very definite whitish patches
on the shoulders ; as in S. reptans the frons is shining black and the face grey
but the legs are more extensively black than in 5. reptans. A peculiarity of
this species is that the adults of the spring brood differ from those of the summer
brood not only in size but also in colour and to some extent in markings ; the
distinctions in the female sex between the spring brood (form sericatum) and
the summer broods are noted in the key.
5 erythrocephalum is an abundant species in the midlands and eastern
counties of England, and has also been recorded from the lowlands of Scotland,
but is apparently absent from the highlands.
All records go to show that this is the most annoying species of the genus to
man in the areas where it is common. The spring brood is on the wing in
NEMATOCERA—SIMULIIDAE 65
April, the main summer brood in June, and subsequent broods during the
remainder of the summer.
The early stages are found in weedy rivers with slight or moderate current,
usually in association with S. equinum.
Axel Peterson (1924) finds S. erythrocephahim {argyreatum) to be the
species most troublesome to cattle in Denmark, and to have caused a series of
fatalities among domestic animals in that country.
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BLACKLOCK, D. B. 1926. The Development of Onchocerca volvulus in Simulium
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BRADLEY, G. H. 1935. Notes on the Southern Buffalo-gnat, Eusimulium pecuarum
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DRY, F. W. 1922. A Human Disease possibly carried by Simulium in Kenya Colony.
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Simuliu7n spp. in the River Tees and its Tributaries. Parasitology, 27, 543-546.
PETERSON, AXEL. 1924. Bidrag til de Danske Simuliers naturhistorie. D. Kgl.
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