Simulium (Gomphostilbia) aziruni: First record of a black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) attracted to a human in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Izwan-Anas, Noor, Ya'cob, Zubaidah, Low, Van Lun, Lourdes, Emmanuel Y., Ramli, Rosli, Bolongan, Gilmoore, Takaoka, Hiroyuki
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier 2021
• Subjects: GE Environmental Sciences; QL Zoology
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/28806/

Most female black flies in the genus Simulium are blood-sucking flies and they can cause various parasitic diseases in human and animal. A total of 94 species of black flies have been reported in Malaysia, however, their biting behavior and role as vector of infectious agents remain understudied. To fill in this knowledge gap, we attempted to survey adult black flies from field populations in Peninsular Malaysia. In a survey carried out in 2017 at Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu, three females were caught while attracted and landed on human skin. Further morphological and molecular analyses showed that the specimens were identical to Simulium (Gomphostilbia) aziruni Takaoka, Hashim & Chen of the Simulium gombakense species-group. This is the first report on a black fly species attracted to human in Malaysia which serves as a steppingstone towards in-depth studies for black flies in this region.