True Fly Family Simuliidae (Black Flies)
Taxonomic Navigation -?-
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
» Class Insecta (Insects)
» Order Diptera (True Flies)
» Family Simuliidae (Black Flies)
12 genera aren't included.
Common Name
| Match | Common Name |
 | Black Flies |
The adults are nasty, annoying, biting flies.
Larva & Pupa Biology
Diet: Plankton
Environmental Tolerance: Requires clean, cool, pure water
Black fly larvae live together in colonies, sticking to rocks in riffles and filtering plankton from the waters. Several of them are shown in my underwater photos. These colonies may be found in very very fast water.Environmental Tolerance: Requires clean, cool, pure water
4 Black Fly Specimens:
Simuliidae (Black Flies) Black Fly Larva
View 6 Pictures
View 6 PicturesRegion: Northeast
Collected Mar 30, 2007
Added Apr 2, 2007
Simuliidae (Black Flies) Black Fly Larva
View 3 Pictures
View 3 PicturesRegion: Northeast
Collected Mar 13, 2005
Added Apr 5, 2006
Simuliidae (Black Flies) Black Fly Larva
View 4 Pictures
View 4 PicturesRegion: Upper Midwest
Collected Mar 1, 2004
Added Jan 25, 2006
4 Underwater Pictures of Black Flies:
View Full Size
This is my favorite underwater picture so far. It shows a bunch of Simuliidae (black fly) larvae clinging to a rock and swinging in the fast current. There are also at least four visible mayfly nymphs, probably in the family Baetidae.
In this picture: Mayfly Family Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives) and True Fly Family Simuliidae (Black Flies).
In this picture: Mayfly Family Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olives) and True Fly Family Simuliidae (Black Flies).
Some large Ephemerella mayfly nymphs cling to a log. In the background, hundreds of Simuliidae black fly larvae swing in large clusters in the current.
In this picture: Mayfly Species Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson), Mayfly Species Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur), and True Fly Family Simuliidae (Black Flies).
In this picture: Mayfly Species Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson), Mayfly Species Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur), and True Fly Family Simuliidae (Black Flies).
The large caddisfly case (really less than 1/2 inch) is a Brachycentridae larva. The other cases are actually the protective sheaths of black fly (Simuliidae) pupae. The two antler-like pieces sticking out of each one are not legs, but antennal sheaths.
In this picture: True Fly Family Simuliidae (Black Flies) and Caddisfly Family Brachycentridae (Apple Caddis and Grannoms).
In this picture: True Fly Family Simuliidae (Black Flies) and Caddisfly Family Brachycentridae (Apple Caddis and Grannoms).
Recent Discussions of Simuliidae
tiny flies in my tank filter are reproducing like mad 18 Replies »
I've been looking around the web to find out what they are and I saw a site that said they were drain flies? It makes sense to call them that but what are their true name? It can't be drain flies can it? Anyway they are taking over my tank. They start out like 1cm long white inch worms that have a black tip on the face and tail, they then form a brownish-black shell, like a cocoon and then they turn into tiny flies the size of a gnat or fruit fly and they don't die under water they are water proof. I hate to say it if you guys are bug lovers but they have to move out, possibly to the swampy stream out back. Does anyone know their name and if they are harmful to goldfish at an epidemic rate? They breed like crazy and I can't keep up.
ReplyWest Branch FliesPosted by Jpsully on Sep 15, 2006
Jason:
Very nice site, indeed!
Just wanted to acknowledge your assistance and say thanks for your help in identifying a bug I happened to seine out of the Upper Delaware this week - on a drizzly afternoon, there were tiny BWO's coming off in small numbers; but also present (in greater numbers) was a size 24/26 down-winged light-olive insect, with black mottling, that I had not seen before. They rode the current for quite a while, and the trout were quietly sipping them. After describing the fly (as best I could), you were able to provide photos, along with the suggestion that these were "blackflies" (Simulidae). I had no idea that these flies were present in the Delaware system, but will certainly carry a few imitations from now on (just in case).
JP
ReplyVery nice site, indeed!
Just wanted to acknowledge your assistance and say thanks for your help in identifying a bug I happened to seine out of the Upper Delaware this week - on a drizzly afternoon, there were tiny BWO's coming off in small numbers; but also present (in greater numbers) was a size 24/26 down-winged light-olive insect, with black mottling, that I had not seen before. They rode the current for quite a while, and the trout were quietly sipping them. After describing the fly (as best I could), you were able to provide photos, along with the suggestion that these were "blackflies" (Simulidae). I had no idea that these flies were present in the Delaware system, but will certainly carry a few imitations from now on (just in case).
JP
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