BIPTERA. 



451 



Family SiMULliDiE (Sim-u-li'i-dse). 

 The Black-flies. 



The common name, black-flies, given to the members of 

 this family is not distinctive, for there are many species in 

 other families that are of this color ; but like many other 

 names that are descriptive in form, it has come to have a 

 specific meaning distinct from its original one. It is like 

 the word blackberry ; some blackberries are white, and not 

 all berries that are black are blackberries. 



In this family the body is short and stout (Fig. 532) ; the 

 legs are short, and the tibiae are without spurs. The anten- 

 nae, although composed of many seg- 

 ments, are comparatively short, and 

 taper towards the tip (Fig. 533) ; the 

 segments of the antennae are short 

 and closely pressed together ; they 

 are clothed with fine hairs, but do not 

 bear whorls of long hairs. There are 

 no ocelli. In the males the compound 

 eyes are contiguous, and are composed of two kinds of 

 ocelli, those of one part of the eye being much larger than 



Fig. 532. Fig. 533. 



Simulium. 



Fig. 534. — Wing of Simulium. 



the others. The wings are broad, iridescent, and not 

 clothed with hairs. The veins near the costal border are 

 stout ; those on the other parts of the wing are very weak 

 (Fig. 534)- 



