''Simulium'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of black flies, which may transmit diseases such as

onchocerciasis Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is a disease caused by infection with the parasitic worm ''Onchocerca volvulus''. Symptoms include severe itching, bumps under the skin, and blindness. It is the second-most common cause of blindne ...

(river blindness). It is a large genus with almost 2,000 species and 38

subgenera In biology, a subgenus (plural: subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between t ...

. The flies are pool feeders. Their saliva, which contains anticoagulants, a number of

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...

s and

histamine Histamine is an organic nitrogenous compound involved in local immune responses, as well as regulating physiological functions in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter for the brain, spinal cord, and uterus. Since histamine was discovered in ...

, 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 Anemia or anaemia (British English) is a blood disorder in which the blood has a reduced ability to carry oxygen due to a lower than normal number of red blood cells, or a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin. When anemia comes on slowly, th ...

. 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 ''Simulium'' is a genus of black flies, which may transmit diseases such as onchocerciasis (river blindness). It is a large genus with several hundred species, and 41 subgenera. The flies are pool feeders. Their saliva, which contains antico ...

'' Latreille, 1802 * '' Trichodagmia'' Enderlein, 1934 * '' Wallacellum'' Takaoka, 1983 * '' Wilhelmia'' Enderlein, 1921 * '' Xenosimulium'' Crosskey, 1969 Species: * List of ''Simulium'' species

In Balkan folklore

Serbian mythology Slavic mythology or Slavic religion is the religious Religion is usually defined as a social system, social-cultural system of designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morality, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, te ...

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 Golubac ( sr-cyr, Голубац, ; ro, Golubăț) is a village and municipality located in the Braničevo District of eastern Serbia. Situated on the right side of the Danube river, it is bordered by Romania to the east, Veliko Gradište to t ...

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 ''Simulium'' is a genus of black flies, which may transmit diseases such as onchocerciasis (river blindness). It is a large genus with several hundred species, and 41 subgenera. The flies are pool feeders. Their saliva, which contains anticoa ...

''. 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 A dovecote or dovecot , doocot ( Scots) or columbarium is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be free-standing structures in a variety of shapes, or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pige ...

'' from Slavic ''golub'' a dove/pigeon (see

Columbidae Columbidae () is a bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily ...

), cognate with , having the same meaning). ''S. colombaschense'' was a notorious insect pest of the

Banat Banat (, ; hu, Bánság; sr, Банат, Banat) is a geographical and historical region that straddles Central and Eastern Europe and which is currently divided among three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania (the counties of T ...

(part of the

Pannonian Basin The Pannonian Basin, or Carpathian Basin, is a large Sedimentary basin, basin situated in south-east Central Europe. The Geomorphology, geomorphological term Pannonian Plain is more widely used for roughly the same region though with a somewh ...

, bordered to the south by the

Danube The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...

), during the 18th century.Thompson, F. Christian (March 2001). "The Name of the Type Species of Simulium (Diptera: Simuliidae): an historical footnote". Entomological News 112 (2): 125. Retrieved 2011-04-08.

References

Bibliography

* Crosskey R. W. ; ''The natural history of blackflies.'' Willey, New York, 1990. * Honomichl K. ; Bellmann, H. ; ''Biologie und Ökologie der Insekten.'' CD-Rom. Gustav Fischer, Stuttgart, 1994. * Jedlicka, L.; Stloukalova V. ; ''Family Simuliidae.'' pp. 331–347 in: Papp, L. and Darvas, B. (eds.): ''Contributions to a Manual of Palaearctic Diptera'', Volume 2. Science Herald, Budapest, 1997. * Jensen, F. ; Diptera Simuliidae, Blackflies. pp. 209–241 in: Nilsson, A.N. (ed.): ''Aquatic Insects of North Europe. A Taxonomic Handbook''. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, 1997. * Kim, K. C. ; Merritt, R. W. (Eds.) ; ''Black flies, ecology, population management, and annotat. world list.'' University Park, London, 1987. * Laird, M. (Ed.) ; ''Blackflies.'' Academic Press, London, 1981. * Lechthaler, W. ; Car, M. ; ''Simuliidae − Key to Larvae and Pupae from Central− and Western Europe''. Vienna 2005, * Seitz, G. ; ''Verbreitung und Ökologie der Kriebelmücken (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Niederbayern.'' in: ''Lauterbornia.'' Mauch, Dinkelscherben 11.1992, pp. 1–230. * Timm, T. ; ''Dormanzformen bei Kriebelmücken unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Ei-Stadiums (Diptera: Simuliidae).'' in: ''Entomologia generalis.'' Schweizerbart, Stuttgart 12.1987, 133-142. * Timm, T. ; ''Unterschiede in Habitatselektion und Eibiologie bei sympatrischen Kriebelmückenarten (Diptera, Simuliidae).'' in: ''Mitteilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemeine und Angewandte Entomologie.'' Bremen 6.1988, 156-158. * Timm, T. ; Rühm, W. (Hrsg.) ; ''Beiträge zur Taxonomie, Faunistik und Ökologie der Kriebelmücken in Mitteleuropa.'' Essener Ökologische Schriften. Bd.2. Westarp Wissenschaften, Magdeburg 1993. * Wichard, W. ; Arens, W. ; Eisenbeis, G. ; ''Atlas zur Biologie der Wasserinsekten.'' Stuttgart, 1994. * Wirtz, H. P. ; ''Analyse der Histaminanteile im Speichel verschiedener Kriebelmückenarten (Diptera: Simuliidae).'' in: ''Mitteilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemeine und Angewandte Entomologie.'' Bremen 6.1988, 441-442. Insect vectors of human pathogens Culicomorpha genera Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille {{Chironomoidea-stub