Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Simulium antillarum
Moscas negra, Black fly
The females of this species are known to be bothersome to humans and domesticated animals, but we don't know much about their interactions with native wildlife or their potential to transmit diseases. Despite being considered pests, black flies are hard to spot when they feed on wild animals. It's important for biologists to consider that these flies might feed on native birds and mammals, especially larger ones like the Galapagos fur seal and the Galapagos sea lion (Adler et al., 2024).
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Diptera
Suborder
Nematocera
Family
Simuliidae
Genus
Simulium
Species
antillarum
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Simulium ochraceum Walker, 1861; This species was recognized as S. ochraceum until the work of Adler et al. (2024).
Origin: Cryptogenic
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Mainly found in the highlands on San Cristóbal. Occasionally also found on Floreana, Santiago and Isabela.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Simulium antillarum", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=25538. Accessed 1 November 2026.