Exercise 3

SANDFLIES, BITING MIDGES AND BLACKFLIES

All are small flies, measuring 1-5 mm. long.

A. Phlebotomus spp. (Sandflies, Owl midges)

The body, legs, wings, antennae and palpi are covered with hairs. Antennae beaded, long
with 16 segments.
The wings are hairy but devoid of scales; cross veins are absent except near the base.

B. Culicoides spp. (Biting midges, Punkees, No-see-ums)

The thorax is slightly humped and projecting forward over the head. Antennae long,
plumose in males and pilose in females.
The wings are short, broad, hairy and devoid of scales. White areas on dark background
are evident. The anterior veins are stouter than the posterior ones.
C. Simulium spp. (Blackflies or Buffalo gnats)

The thorax is humped over the head. Antennae short with 11 segments, no hairs, female
dichoptic, male holoptic.
The wings are short, broad, devoid of scales, spots or hairs except for bristles on the
anterior veins, which are thick while the others are poorly defined.

D. Instructions to students:
1. Draw and label a whole mount specimen.
2. Draw and label each species noting the differences in their morphology. All of which
shall be reflected on the drawings.
a. Eyes
b. Antennae
c. Wings
A. Phlebotomus sp.
B. Culicoides sp.
 C. Simulium sp.

Citation:
Laboratory Manual on Veterinary Entomology and Protozoology
Department of Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines – Los Baños
Salcedo L. Eduardo, DVM, MS, PhD (London)
Fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society