Dan,
In England we have a beer called 'Blandford Fly' named after Simulium
posticatum. You can read all about it here:
http://www.badgerbrewery.com/beers/fly.asp
Blackflies do not generally have a very high profile in the UK and rarely
seem to bite except in the case of the Blandford fly from the river Stour
that has gained a certain notoriety. See here for example.
http://www.dorsetshire.com/new/new.html
I am sure Roger Crosskey from this group and the Natural History Museum,
London, would be able to give you the true facts on this species if you want
them.
There is also some less usual info on biting Simuliids in Scotland (where
they are called 'birch flies') here:
http://www.mountaineering-scotland.org.uk/nl/54f.html
Apparently local businesses often place posters warning tourists of the
danger from these birch flies.
Patrick Roper
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan Molloy [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 24 September 2005 12:34
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [SIMULIIDAE] Little-Known Facts about Black Flies
>
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> For many years I was a researcher on black flies... but then
> moved on to another freshwater filter feeder, dreissenid
> mussels..... trading two wings for two shells!
>
> But for one evening this November, I will put on my wings again
> and give a talk on black flies to a lay audience here at the New
> York State Museum. It will be a general talk to familiarize the
> public about simuliid biology, ecology, control, etc.
>
> The talk is entitled "Top 10 Little-Known Facts about Black
> Flies" and I'm looking for suggestions on "little-known" or
> most-interesting facts relating to simuliids (ideally with nice
> photos/videos/etc.) from colleagues like you. Again, this is a
> talk for the general public, so there are general facts that we
> as scientists are aware of but the public typically is not (e.g.,
> only females take blood meals, our carbon dioxide is a key factor
> in their tracking us down, etc.) and I'm sure I can come up with
> 10, but I wanted to throw this question out to black fly
> specialists, even just for the fun of seeing what facts &
> graphics come back to me.
>
> So I would appreciate if you would inform me of some fact
> relating to simuliids that you personally find fascinating ....
> especially if you have a good graphic to go along with it (e.g.,
> the details of how they feed, how many species there are, what
> factors stimulate them to fly in search of a blood meal, where
> adults rest when not flying, what adult males eat,...).
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Dan
>
> Daniel P. Molloy, Ph.D.
> Director
> Field Research Laboratory
> Division of Research & Collections
> New York State Museum
> 51 Fish Hatchery Road
> Cambridge, NY 12816
> Voice: 518-677-8245 (X12)
> Fax: 518-677-5236
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> Website: http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/bio_molloy/
>
>
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