bjw
New Member
Posts: 1
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Post by bjw on Aug 21, 2016 6:28:18 GMT
I have been bitten by black fly several times in the last three years in my back garden in Walthamstow. Two weeks back I was bitten while leading a bike ride at the Waterworks roundabout nearby on the edge of Epping forest. I don't know which genus or species, I only met black fly in the past in the US - and as a student I was told we don't really get them in the UK. (I did work on sub fossil caddis larvae, I've got some knowledge of insects.) Much bigger than the standard Scottish midge. How do I start on identification? Is there a key I can use without buying a monograph? I'm a member of Buglife. My Ent Soc membership lapsed decades back.
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Post by Admin on Aug 26, 2016 13:57:21 GMT
There is a key to the british biting blackflies which can be obtained for a few pounds (see recent new thread under Blackflies in the British Isles). However, I have a few spare copies. If you can email your postal address to simuliidbulletin@gmail.com with subject "Blackfly Key" I will post you a copy. You will need something better than a hand lens however. This paper also gives references to other papers detailing surveys in the London area and SE England, and also has some interesting discussions on the distribution of biting species overall.
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