An Annotated List of Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) Occurring in Mississippi

Little is known of black fly species occurring in Mississippi, other than that provided in the historical work by Dr. George Bradley in the 1930′s. There has been a resurgence of black flies in the state over the past decade, prompting renewed interest in these blood-sucking pests. For this study, adult black flies were collected by hand netting from various locations throughout the state from 2015 through 2018. Samples were also periodically obtained/submitted from veterinarians and concerned citizens since 2009, and especially during outbreak years (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018). In addition, larval and adult specimens were found in the Mississippi State University Entomological Museum (MEM), which had been collected over several decades by a variety of entomologists and students. Data from approximately 14,771 black fly specimens were analyzed to compile a list of species from the state and to describe their seasonal and geographic distributions. Twenty-seven species of black flies were confirmed from Mississippi, including four new state records.