Diptera

Inverness-shire, Scotland - May 2012

Simuliidae are small, biting flies that are easily recognised by their hunchbacked appearance with particularly thick veins along the leading edge of the wing.

In the tropics, they are responsible for transmitting the parasitic filarial nematode, Onchocerca volvulus, which causes human onchoceriasis (River Blindness). In more temperate climes, they do not transmit any diseases but in some places occur in such high numbers that their blood-feeding habits can cause the death by exsanguination of animals.

Nottinghamshire, England - May 2012