Blood feeding by black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) on black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) in Finland

Abstract

We investigated the species composition of blood-sucking black flies harassing black grouse (Tetrao tetrix L.) by exposing live black grouse to insects in field conditions. Fieldwork was conducted in northern and central Finland in 1995 and 1996. Among identified specimens (n = 493) we observed five engorged black fly species: Metacnephia lyra (Lundström), Simulium (Nevermannia) vernum Macquart, Simulium (Nevermannia) bicorne Dorogostaisky, Rubtsov and Vlasenko, Simulium (Parabyssodon) transiens Rubtsov, Simulium (Eusimulium) aureum Fries, and Greniera sp. All observed species were present in northern Finland but only two of them, Simulium vernum and S. aureum, were observed in central Finland. Metacnephia lyra was the most common species harassing grouse in northern Finland. In central Finland the density was much lower, and Simulium vernum was the most prevalent. The black grouse is a novel host for all engorged species observed in this study. Also, black grouse is the first ever recorded host for Metacnephia lyra and for any member of the genus Greniera. The most likely vectors for Leucocytozoon and filarial nematodes parasitizing grouse in Finland are Metacnephia lyra and Simulium vernum in northern Finland and S. vernum in central Finland.