Family Simulidae
This family is also sometime referred to as buffalo gnats, and contains over 1,800 species. Like Mosquitoes most species in this family are blood feeders and can be damaging to animals and humans. This family is characterized by short legs and an atypically pronounced curved thorax. They are often black, grey, or yellow. Larvae are laid in water, mostly fast moving streams and rivers as well as the shallows of large lakes. These flies can be difficult pest to deal with as they often are found in large swarms that can get into the hair, eyes, and nostrils. Some spices can cause economic damage by killing poultry and others carry worms that transmit disease which can cause blindness in humans.
