DIP TER A. 
451 
Family SlMULUD^E (Sim-u-li'i-dae). 
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. 
Simulium. 
Fig. 
533 - 
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 )- 
