Austrosimulium (subgenus)

Austrosimulium
A. australense
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Simuliidae
Genus: Austrosimulium
Subgenus: Austrosimulium
Tonnoir, 1925

Austrosimulium is a subgenus of Austrosimulium, a genus of Simuliidae (black flies). The flies in this subgenre are found mainly in New Zealand, with a few in Australia.[1] They are the only Simuliidae found in New Zealand.[2]

In New Zealand, where they are known as sandflies, the females of three species – A. australense, A. tillyardianum and A. ungulatum – bite humans;[3][4] the males do not.[2] A. australense is found in the North Island, South Island, Stewart Island and some offshore islands; it is the sandfly that is encountered most commonly in the North Island and the main one that bites humans there.[5] A. tillyardianum is found in the North Island and the South Island.[6] A. ungulatum is found in the South Island and Stewart Island, and is well-known for biting humans.[7][8]

  1. ^ Peter H. Adler & Roger W. Crosskey (2009). "World Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae): A Comprehensive Revision of the Taxonomic and Geographical Inventory". p. 109.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Craig et al., 2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Early, John (2009). Know your New Zealand ... native insects & spiders. New Holland. p. 120. ISBN 9781869662530.
  4. ^ Walrond, Carl (24 September 2007). "Sandflies and mosquitoes - Sandflies: New Zealand's blackflies". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  5. ^ Craig, D.A.; Craig, R.E.G.; Crosby, T.K. (2012). Simuliidae (Insecta: Diptera). Fauna of New Zealand. Vol. 68. Manaaki Whenua Press. pp. 106–107.
  6. ^ Craig, D.A.; Craig, R.E.G.; Crosby, T.K. (2012). Simuliidae (Insecta: Diptera). Fauna of New Zealand. Vol. 68. Manaaki Whenua Press. pp. 141–142.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference catlife was invoked but never defined (see the help page).