Austrosimulium australense, known as the New Zealand black fly or more commonly sandfly (namu in Māori), is a species of small fly of the family Simuliidae, endemic to New Zealand. Females consume blood for nutrients to produce eggs, and it is one of three species of Austrosimulium in New Zealand that often bite humans.
The bodies of adult females are 2.0–2.4 mm long; their wings are 1.9–2.5 mm long and 0.9–1.2 mm wide. The bodies of males are 1.8–2.8 mm long; their wings are 1.7–2.1 mm long and 0.8–1.1 mm wide.[1]
Larvae and pupae of the insect are found in small, cold-water streams, usually under heavy forest shade that serves to keep the water cool.[1]
Larva and pupa
Larva
Pupa
Distributionedit
This is the most widely distributed species of Austrosimulium in New Zealand, being found from North Cape to Stewart Island, although it is largely absent from Canterbury, Otago, and the South Island high country.[1]
Feedingedit
Female A. australense feeding on human blood
Most species of Austrosimulium in New Zealand do not attack humans; A. australense is one of the three which does.[1][2]
"...no sooner had the sun risen, and we issued from our tent to wash by the river side, than those peculiarly vexatious pests, the sand-flies (namu), commenced their attacks on our bare hands and feet. The sand-fly is a small black insect, and swarms in such myriads, that one is never free from their vengeance, if remaining for a single instant in the same position: whilst sketching, my hands are frequently covered with blood, and their numbers being inexhaustible, one at last gets weary of killing them.…The horrid sand-flies attacked us to-day more unmercifully than ever, and in such clouds that I should imagine them to be a species very nearly allied to those that constituted the fourth plague of Egypt." —account of A. australense near the Waikato River, 29 September 1844[3]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Austrosimulium australense.
^ abcdCraig, D. A.; Craig, R. E. G.; Crosby, T. K. (2012). Simuliidae (Insecta: Diptera). Fauna of New Zealand. Vol. 68. Manaaki Whenua Press. pp. 149–153.
^Edens, John (11 January 2017). "Sandflies: New Zealand's blood-sucking summer nightmare (actually, it's year-round)". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
^Angas, G. F. (1847) Chapter I: "Journey into the interior of New Zealand — The Waikato". In Savage Life and Scenes in Australia and New Zealand Vol. II. London, Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 21 & 23
January 01, 1970
austrosimulium, australense, known, zealand, black, more, commonly, sandfly, namu, māori, species, small, family, simuliidae, endemic, zealand, females, consume, blood, nutrients, produce, eggs, three, species, austrosimulium, zealand, that, often, bite, human. Austrosimulium australense known as the New Zealand black fly or more commonly sandfly namu in Maori is a species of small fly of the family Simuliidae endemic to New Zealand Females consume blood for nutrients to produce eggs and it is one of three species of Austrosimulium in New Zealand that often bite humans Austrosimulium australense Illustration by Des Helmore Scientific classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Diptera Family Simuliidae Subfamily Simuliinae Tribe Simuliini Genus Austrosimulium Subgenus Austrosimulium Species A australense Binomial name Austrosimulium australense Schiner 1868 Synonyms Simulia australensisSimulium tillyardi Tonnoir 1923 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Feeding 4 ReferencesDescription editThe bodies of adult females are 2 0 2 4 mm long their wings are 1 9 2 5 mm long and 0 9 1 2 mm wide The bodies of males are 1 8 2 8 mm long their wings are 1 7 2 1 mm long and 0 8 1 1 mm wide 1 Larvae and pupae of the insect are found in small cold water streams usually under heavy forest shade that serves to keep the water cool 1 Larva and pupa nbsp Larva nbsp PupaDistribution editThis is the most widely distributed species of Austrosimulium in New Zealand being found from North Cape to Stewart Island although it is largely absent from Canterbury Otago and the South Island high country 1 Feeding edit nbsp Female A australense feeding on human blood Most species of Austrosimulium in New Zealand do not attack humans A australense is one of the three which does 1 2 no sooner had the sun risen and we issued from our tent to wash by the river side than those peculiarly vexatious pests the sand flies namu commenced their attacks on our bare hands and feet The sand fly is a small black insect and swarms in such myriads that one is never free from their vengeance if remaining for a single instant in the same position whilst sketching my hands are frequently covered with blood and their numbers being inexhaustible one at last gets weary of killing them The horrid sand flies attacked us to day more unmercifully than ever and in such clouds that I should imagine them to be a species very nearly allied to those that constituted the fourth plague of Egypt account of A australense near the Waikato River 29 September 1844 3 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Austrosimulium australense a b c d Craig D A Craig R E G Crosby T K 2012 Simuliidae Insecta Diptera Fauna of New Zealand Vol 68 Manaaki Whenua Press pp 149 153 Edens John 11 January 2017 Sandflies New Zealand s blood sucking summer nightmare actually it s year round Stuff co nz Fairfax Media Retrieved 15 August 2017 Angas G F 1847 Chapter I Journey into the interior of New Zealand The Waikato In Savage Life and Scenes in Australia and New Zealand Vol II London Smith Elder amp Co pp 21 amp 23 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Austrosimulium australense amp oldid 1154071959, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
