blackfly

blackfly
black fly n.
Any of various small, dark-colored biting flies of the family Simuliidae, the larvae of which attach to rocks in running streams. Also called buffalo gnat.

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Any member of the insect family Simuliidae, comprising 300 species of small, humpbacked dipterans found worldwide.

Usually black or dark gray, the blackfly has short mouthparts adapted for sucking blood. The females bite and are sometimes abundant enough to kill chickens and even cattle. Some species carry worms capable of causing human disease, including river blindness. In subarctic regions blackflies may be so numerous that human habitation is impossible.

Black fly (Simuliidae)

E.S. Ross

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Blackfly — Blackfly, black fly, or black fly can refer to: *a common name for flies of the family Simuliidae . *a common name for some aphids. *Blackfly (TV series), the name of a former Canadian comedy series. *The Black Fly Song, written by Wade Hemsworth …   Wikipedia

  • blackfly — ► NOUN 1) a black or dark green aphid which is a common pest of crops. 2) a small black bloodsucking fly …   English terms dictionary

  • blackfly — black fly lack fly, blackfly lackfly, (Zo[ o]l.) 1. In the United States, a small, venomous, two winged fly of the genus {Simulium} of several species, exceedingly abundant and troublesome in the northern forests; called also {buffalo gnat}.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Blackfly (TV series) — Infobox Television show name = Blackfly caption = format = Sitcom runtime = 30 minutes creator = starring = country = CAN network = Global Television Network first aired = 2001 last aired = 2002 num episodes = 26 imdb id = 0264226Blackfly was a… …   Wikipedia

  • blackfly — noun (plural flies or fly) Date: 1608 any of various small dark colored insects; especially any of a family (Simuliidae and especially genus Simulium) of bloodsucking dipteran flies whose larvae usually live in flowing streams …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • blackfly — noun a) A black or dark green aphid that is a common pest of agricultural crops. b) Any of various small black bloodsucking flies of the family Simuliidae …   Wiktionary

  • blackfly — black·fly blak .flī n, pl flies any of a family (Simuliidae) and esp. genus Simulium of bloodsucking dipteran flies …   Medical dictionary

  • blackfly — n. insect that invades plants; gnat; small (somewhat black) biting fly with a sturdy body that has aquatic larvae and sucks the blood of birds and humans and other mammals …   English contemporary dictionary

  • blackfly — noun (plural same or blackflies) 1》 a black or dark green aphid which is a common pest of crops and gardens. [Aphis fabae and other species.] 2》 a small black bloodsucking fly which can transmit a number of serious diseases. [Simulium and other… …   English new terms dictionary

  • blackfly — n. (pl. flies) any of various thrips or aphids, esp. Aphis fabae, infesting plants …   Useful english dictionary

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