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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera) » Culicomorpha » Black Flies (Simuliidae)
Photo#100542
Fly
Copyright © 2007 Steve Scott

Fly
Fairfield, Wayne County, Illinois, USA
March 25, 2007
Possibly a Rhagionidae but I'm very unsure on this one.
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Contributed by Steve Scott on 30 March, 2007 - 3:12pm

Black Fly (Simuliidae) - male
Just like Bibionidae - a very distantly related other family of Nematocera - Simuliidae flies show a strong sexual dimorphism, males having comparatively huge compound eyes. They are easily confused with Brachycera like Rhagionidae, but different venation - and at a close magnification, antennae with many similar segments - betray them.
… Richard Vernier, 30 March, 2007 - 3:27pm login or register to post comments

 
Keeping my eye out for these
I think this is the culprit for the nasty symptoms my wife, kids, mom, and nieces are experiencing. Interesting us guys aren't getting bit (maybe the lack of hair has something to do with it). I have posted a thread about obnoxious bug bites and got a very interesting post linked here:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/37063#37070

Do you guys have any knowledge / experience with the damage these buggers can do?
… Ian Merwin, 9 January, 2008 - 11:18am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks, Richard
I recognized the females (they are thick at the lights some nights now) but the dimorphism fooled me.
… Steve Scott, 30 March, 2007 - 3:31pm login or register to post comments

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