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Black Flies

Simuliidae

Black flies are tiny insects that love to live near water. They can be a bit annoying because they bite, but they are also important for nature!

Lebensraum: Wetlands

Aussehen

The Black Flies has a distinctive humped back and short, stout legs. They are typically dark gray to black, with broad, clear wings that feature prominent veins. Their small size often makes them appear as tiny, dark specks.

ReichAnimaliaStammArthropodaKlasseInsectaOrdnungDipteraFamilieSimuliidae
Black Flies
social trait badgefilter_feeder trait badgewetland trait badgecarnivorous trait badge
Black Flies

Kategorie

Insekten

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

2/5 · Gering

Snaps

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Interessante Fakten

Black fly bites inject an anticoagulant, which is why their bites can be so itchy!

Female black flies must drink blood to get enough protein to lay their eggs.

Scientists study black fly larvae to check if rivers are healthy and clean.

Some black flies are called "buffalo gnats" because their humped back looks like a tiny buffalo!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Fähigkeit

Stream Anchors

Black Flies can anchor their larvae to rocks in fast-flowing rivers because of a silk pad and hooks on their rear, helping them stay put.

Fähigkeit

Underwater Breathers

Black Flies' pupae have special gill filaments that help them breathe underwater, allowing them to develop in oxygen-rich streams.

Fähigkeit

Silent Stalkers

Female Black Flies can locate their blood meal hosts using carbon dioxide and body heat, helping them find animals and humans for a bite.

Fähigkeit

Filter Feeders

Larval Black Flies build tiny silk nets to filter food particles from rushing water, helping them catch nutrients in challenging environments.

Maße und Details

Flügelspannweite
2-10 mm
Größe
1-5 mm
Lebenserwartung
7-30 Tage
Fluggeschwindigkeit
8 km/h
Anzahl der Beine
6

Ernährung und Fütterung

Adults drink nectar, but females often need blood to lay their eggs!

Altersunterschiede: Larvae filter-feed on microscopic organic matter in water; adults consume nectar, but females require blood for egg production.

Hauptnahrung

  • Nectar
  • Plant sap
  • Blood (females)
  • Algae (larvae)
  • Detritus (larvae)

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eats

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

Eats black fly larvae in rivers.

eaten by

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Preys on adult black flies during flight.

parasitizes

Cattle

Bos taurus

Female black flies bite cattle for blood meals.

parasitizes

Humans

Homo sapiens

Female black flies bite humans for blood meals.

Merkmale

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Sammlungen

Sicherheit

Gefahr

2/5 · Gering

If you see black flies, try not to swat at them. Just move away gently to avoid getting bitten.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Was ist der/die/das flügelspannweite von Black Flies?

2-10 mm

Was ist der/die/das größe von Black Flies?

1-5 mm

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Black Flies?

7-30 Tage

Was ist der/die/das fluggeschwindigkeit von Black Flies?

8 km/h

Was frisst Black Flies?

Adults drink nectar, but females often need blood to lay their eggs!

Wo findet man Black Flies normalerweise?

Wetlands

Was ist der/die/das anzahl der Beine von Black Flies?

6

Snap-Karte

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Neueste Snaps

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Wo zu sehen

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