order
Coleoptera
“Adult Beetles”
Coleoptera
“Larval Beetles”
Diptera
“True Flies”
Ephemeroptera
“Mayflies”
Hemiptera
“True Bugs”
Lepidoptera
“Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
Megaloptera
“Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
Odonata
“Dragonflies and Damselflies”
Plecoptera
“Stoneflies”
Trichoptera
“Caddisflies”
family
Simuliidae
genus
Prosimulium
“Black Flies”
Genus Overview
38 species in North America. Often found with another blackfly genus Simulium. They occur in various sized streams as long as there is flowing water. They attach to various objects in the substrate, including trash. They produce a silk thread from their mouths and use it to attach to the substrate with the aid of small hooks on the last segment.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Southeast: up to 2.9
Upper Midwest: up to 3
FEEDING HABITS
Collector / Filterer
Engulfer / Predator
Scraper / Grazer
Engulfer / Predator
Scraper / Grazer
MOVEMENT
Clinger
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lotic-erosional
Diagnostic Characters
Order
Legs Absent
Family
Abdomen Swollen Posteriorly
Crochets
Head Complete and Exposed
Labral Fans
Genus
Postocciput Nearly Complete
+ Expanded Character List
Order:
Wings and wing pads absent. Eye spots sometimes visible, but compound eyes absent. Segmented legs absent, but sometimes fleshy prolegs present. Sometimes with distinct head, often without head or with head drawn deeply into thorax. Body flattened, cylindrical, or maggot-like.
Family:
Mandibles move against each other along a horizontal or oblique plane. Head complete, fully exposed, distinct from thorax, and usually without lengthwise incisions. Head capsule usually with pair of conspicuous fans. Prothorax with single proleg ventrally. Thoracic segments usually individually distinguishable. Posterior abdominal segments 5–8 swollen, with ballooned or bowling-pin appearance. Last abdominal segment ringed with several radiating rows of small hooks. Mature larvae usually 3–8 mm long, or greater.
Genus:
Antennae two toned with a darker apex, Prothoracic proleg with lateral sclerite extending 1/2 length of apical end of proleg, postocciput enclosed,
Dorsal
Lateral
Ventral