Diversity, Distribution and Host Blood Meal Analysis of Adult Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Thailand.

Understanding the factors associated with the species diversity and distribution of insect vectors is critically important for disease epidemiology. Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are significant hematophagous insects, as many species are pests and vectors that transmit pathogens to humans and other animals. Ecological factors associated with black fly species distribution have been extensively examined for the immature stages but are far less well explored for the adult stage. In this study, we collected a total of 7706 adult black fly specimens from various locations in forests, villages and animal shelters in Thailand. The integration of morphology and DNA barcoding revealed 16 black fly taxa, including , a species first found in Vietnam, which is a new record for Thailand. The most abundant species was the complex ( = 5739, 74%), followed by Takaoka and Kuvangkadilok (n = 1232, 16%). The complex was dominant in forest (3786 of 4456; 85%) and village (1774 of 2077; 85%) habitats, while predominated (857 of 1175; 73%) in animal shelter areas. The complex and Summers, which are significant pests and vectors in Thailand, occurred at a wide range of elevations, although the latter species was found mainly in high (>1000 m) mountain areas. , Puri and the Takaoka and Suzuki complex occurred predominately in low (<800 m)-elevation areas. Takaoka and Srisuka; Tangkawanit, Wongpakam and Pramual; and nr were only found in high (>1000 m) mountain areas. A host blood meal analysis revealed that the ; Takaoka and Suzuki; ; ; and the species group were biting humans. This is the first report of the latter two species biting humans. We also found that was biting turkeys, and was biting chickens, which are new host blood sources recorded for these species. In addition, we found that the Edwards complex was biting water buffalo, which is the first report on the biting habits of this species.