''Simulium yahense'' is a species of
Black flies
A black fly or blackfly (sometimes called a buffalo gnat, turkey gnat, or white socks) is any member of the family Simuliidae of the Culicomorpha infraorder. It is related to the Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and Thaumaleidae. Over 2,200 speci ...
found in
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Maurit ...
n
rain forests. Their larval stages are found in "smaller, more shaded, cooler breeding waters."
One particular group, now eradicated, was found only on the island of
Bioko, and was an extremely effective vector for the parasitic worm ''
Onchocerca volvulus'' that causes
onchocerciasis
Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is a disease caused by infection with the parasitic worm ''Onchocerca volvulus''. Symptoms include severe itching, bumps under the skin, and blindness. It is the second-most common cause of blindne ...
, or "River blindness".
References
yahense
Insect vectors of human pathogens
{{Chironomoidea-stub