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First record of the Simulium noelleri Friederichs species complex (Diptera, Simuliidae) in Central Kazakhstan
Summary
Scientists found a type of blackfly — an insect that can spread parasites and cause skin reactions — living in a river in a major Kazakhstan city for the first time, showing it has spread to a new region. Notably, the flies were thriving on floating plastic trash and construction debris in the water, suggesting that human pollution may actually be helping these disease-carrying insects colonize urban waterways. This matters because it means pest populations tied to human health risks could grow alongside our own waste problems, especially in cities with polluted rivers.
The blackfly species Simulium noelleri Friederichs species complex is recorded for the first time from the fauna of Central Kazakhstan. The study is based on materials collected from early May to September 2025 from the Esil River within the city of Astana. Despite their medical and veterinary importance as vectors of filarial parasites and agents of severe dermatological reactions, the blackfly fauna of Central Kazakhstan remains insufficiently studied. A total of 15 imagoes (5 males and 10 females), 146 larvae, and 85 pupae were examined and identified. Larvae and pupae were sampled from various submerged substrates, including stones, construction debris, and floating plastic waste, indicating the ability of the species to colonize heavily anthropogenically modified urban habitats. Morphological descriptions of the male genitalia, including the ventral plate, median sclerite and gonostyli, are provided and illustrated. The ecological and hydrological characteristics of the habitat are discussed, highlighting the preference of this taxon for lowland river systems with low current velocity (0.2–0.3 m/s) and water temperature of 20 °C. S. noelleri species complex is a multivoltine species with three generations per season. This finding significantly expands the known distribution range of S. noelleri species complex and provides the first detailed morphological description for Central Kazakhstan.