Siphunculina is a genus of small flies known as tropical eye flies. They are known for their habit of lachryphagy, visiting the eyes of humans and other vertebrates to feed on fluids, and in doing so cause annoyance, spread bacterial or viral diseases or cause injury to the eye.K. Kanmiya (1982) Two New Species and Three New Records of the Genus Siphunculina Rondani from Japan (Diptera, Chloropidae). Japan. J. Sanit. Zool. 33 (2):111–121Brownstein S, Bernardo AI, Suprapto, Salim I. (1976) Neurofibromatosis with the eye fly Siphunculina funicola in an eyelid tumor. Can J Ophthalmol. 11(3):261-6 They have a habit of resting in large numbers on suspended strings, ropes and cobwebs.Chansang U, Mulla MS. (2008) Control of aggregated populations of the eye fly Siphunculina funicola (diptera: chloropidae) using pyrethroid aerosols. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 39(2):246-51
Several species are known from the Old World, including Asia, Europe and Africa.Nartshuk, Emilia P. (2001) Two new species of Siphunculina Rondani from South Africa [Diptera, Cyclorrhapha, Chloropidae]. evue française d'entomologie 23(2):147-151K. Kanmiya (1989) Study on the Eye-flies Siphunculina Rondani from Oriental Region and Far East (Diptera, Chloropidae). Japan. J. Sanit. Zool. 40 (Suppl.):65–89Mir S. Mulla and Uruyakorn Chansang (2007) Pestiferous nature, resting sites, aggregation, and host-seeking behavior of the eye fly Siphunculina funicola (Diptera: Chloropidae) in Thailand. J. Vector Ecology 32(2):292-301 PDF Siddiq, M.M. 1938. Siphunculina funicola (eye-fly). Ind. Med. Gaz. 73: 17-18Kanmiya, K. 1994. Studies on the eye-flies Siphunculina Rondani from Nepal (Diptera : Chloropidae). Jpn. J. Sanit. Zool. 45 (Suppl): 55-69Cherian, P.T. 1977. The genus Siphunculina (Diptera: Chloropidae). Orient. Insects 11: 636-368.
Species Some of the species include: Siphunculina aenea Macquart, 1835 Siphunculina aureopilosa Séguy, 1938 Siphunculina aureosetosa Nartshuk, 1992 Siphunculina breviseta Malloch, 1924 Siphunculina corbetti Duda, 1936 Siphunculina fasciata Cherian, 1971 Siphunculina freyi Sabrosky, 1957 Siphunculina funicola Meijere, 1905 Siphunculina intonsa Lamb, 1918 Siphunculina lobeliaphila Sabrosky, 1951 Siphunculina loici Nartshuk, 2001 Siphunculina lurida Enderlein, 1911 Siphunculina manipurensis Cherian, 1977 Siphunculina matilei Nartshuk, 2001 Siphunculina mediana Becker, 1912 Siphunculina minima Meijere, 1908 Siphunculina montana Spencer, 1977 Siphunculina nidicola Nartshuk, 1971 Siphunculina nitidissima Kanmiya, 1982 Siphunculina ornatifrons Loew, 1858 Siphunculina peraspera Séguy, 1957 Siphunculina punctifrons Sabrosky, 1954 Siphunculina quinquangula Loew, 1873 Siphunculina sharmai Cherian, 1977 Siphunculina stackelbergi Duda, 1933 Siphunculina stigmatica Kanmiya, 1994 Siphunculina striolatus Wiedemann, 1830 Siphunculina ulceria Cherian, 1971
References
External links Encyclopedia of Life