Simulium

Simulium is a genus of black flies, which may transmit diseases such as onchocerciasis (river blindness). It is a large genus with almost 2,000 species and 38 subgenera. 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.

Simulium is a genus of black flies, which may transmit diseases such as onchocerciasis (river blindness). It is a large genus with almost 2,000 species and 38 subgenera. 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 Species: List of Simulium species ==Malaysia== In Peninsular Malaysia 35 species of preimaginal black flies were discovered in a study in 2016, including Simulium digrammicum, which had been considered locally extinct. ==In Balkan folklore== In Serbian mythology there is a legend concerning an ala (demon) (a female entity associated with hailstorms, madness and disease) fabled to have died in a cave near the town of Golubac in the Pozarevac District in Eastern Serbia. The rotting corpse of this being is said to send forth each Spring a swarm of Golubatz flies – individuals of the species Simulium colombaschense. The fact that the Golubatz fly is a voracious bloodsucker and disease vector accords well with the functions attributed to the ala, emphasising her malign potency – even in death – while the legend provides, reciprocally, a folkloric explanation for the genesis of so unpleasant an insect. The specific name colombaschense signifies 'of Golubac' (Serbian pronunciation: 'Golubatz') – the name of the village (signifying dovecote from Slavic golub a dove/pigeon (see Columbidae), cognate with , having the same meaning). S. colombaschense was a notorious insect pest of the Banat (part of the Pannonian Basin, bordered to the south by the Danube), during the 18th century. ==References==

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