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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Current situation and historical evolution of the study and research of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Spain. A tale of bleeding bites

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description

The black flies are nematocerous dipterans belonging to the Simuliidae family. This group of insects has become highly relevant in certain regions of the country since 1995. These insects, considered typical in natural lotic environments of clean fresh water, have colonized water channels of very different dimensions. They are currently present in most of the water courses around the country, as demonstrated in the Valencian Autonomous Region, where they can be found in headwaters, middle stretches and river mouths, as well as in irrigation systems with greater or lesser water permanence, such as irrigation reservoirs, channels and ditches. Since 2017 different regions of the country have increasingly suffered the discomforts characteristic of this arthropod, whose females cause serious damage to the human population with their bites. In this paper is studied deeply the current situation and historical evolution of the study and research of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Spain. Making special emphasis on publications as well as on oral and posters communications carried out about this important arthropod informing about the timeline and of the different and diverse issues studied.