Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are small blood-sucking insects of medical and veterinary importance. Some species are well-known as vectors of the filarial parasite, Onchocerca volvulus, which is responsible for human onchocerciasis. They are also vectors of some blood protozoa of animals. Furthermore, black fly bites on humans can cause rash, dermatitis, localized swelling, itching and pain at the biting site.

          The black fly research group concentrates on exploring and finding new black fly species, studying taxonomy, biology, ecology, molecular genetics, proteomics and allergenomics, vectorial role and distribution of black flies in Thailand. Over a decade of research, our group has discovered at least 60 new black fly species. We also confirmed that the human-biting black fly, Simulium nigrogilvum, is a natural vector of Onchocerca species type I (Infective stage) in Thailand. This filarial parasite belongs to the same genus that has been reported worldwide as the causative agent of zoonotic onchocerciasis.

1. Srisuka W., Takaoka H., Aupalee K., Saeung A. Discovery of a new black fly species in the Simulium (Simulium) striatum species-group (Diptera: Simuliidae) from northeastern Thailand and its phylogenetic relationships with seven Thai related species. Acta Tropica 2023;238;JIF 3.222: Q2.
2. Amelia-Yap Z.H., Low V.L., Saeung A., Ng F.L., Chen C.D., Hassandarvish P., Tan G.Y.A., AbuBakar S. , Azman A.S. Insecticidal activities of Streptomyces sp. KSF103 ethyl acetate extract against medically important mosquitoes and non-target organisms. Scientific Reports 2023;13;JIF 4.997: Q2.
3. Srisuka W., Aupalee K., Otsuka Y., Fukuda M., Takaoka H., Saeung A. A new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera, Simuliidae) from Thailand, with a key to identify females of 14 species of the Simulium varicorne species-group. ZooKeys 2022;1-12;JIF  1.496: Q3.
4. Aupalee K., Srisuka W., Saeung A., Takaoka H. A new species of the Simulium (Simulium) striatum species-group (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Thailand: Description and phylogenetic relationship with its Thai members. Acta Tropica 2022;230;JIF 3.222: Q2.
5. Jeyaprakasam N.K., Low V.L., Liew J.W.K., Pramasivan S., Wan-Sulaiman W.Y., Saeung A., Vythilingam I. Blood meal analysis of Anopheles vectors of simian malaria based on laboratory and field studies. Scientific Reports 2022;12;JIF 4.997: Q1.
6. Pusawang K., Sattabongkot J., Saingamsook J., Zhong D., Yan G., Somboon P., Wongpalee S.P., Cui L., Saeung A., Sriwichai P. Insecticide Susceptibility Status of Anopheles and Aedes Mosquitoes in Malaria and Dengue Endemic Areas, Thai–Myanmar Border. Insects 2022;13;JIF 3.141: Q1.
7. Niyomploy P., Mangmee S., Tipthara P., Saeung A., Reamtong O., Sangvanich P. Lipid biomarker profiling of adult Brugia malayi using mass spectrometry detection. 3 Biotech 2022;12;JIF 2.893: Q3.
8. Srisuka W., Aupalee K., Fukuda M., Saeung A., Takaoka H. Morphological description and phylogenetic position of a new cryptic species in the Simulium asakoae species-group, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) mokroense, from Western Thailand. Acta Tropica 2022 ;228;JIF  3.222: Q2.
9. Srisuka W., Sulin C., Sommitr W., Rattanarithikul R., Aupalee K., Saeung A., Harbach R.E. Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Diversity and Community Structure in Doi Inthanon National Park, Northern Thailand. Insects 2022;13;JIF 3.141: Q1.
10. Pethrak C., Posayapisit N., Pengon J., Suwanakitti N., Saeung A., Shorum M., Aupalee K., Taai K., Yuthavong Y., Kamchonwongpaisan S., Jupatanakul N. New Insights into Antimalarial Chemopreventive Activity of Antifolates. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 2022;66;JIF 5.938: Q1.
11. Huang F., Srisuka W., Aupalee K., Yasanga T., Phuackchantuck R., Pitasawat B., Junkum A., Limsopatham K., Sanit S., Saingamsook J., Takaoka H., Saeung A. Ultrastructure of sensilla on the antennae and maxillary palpi of the human-biting black flies, Simulium nigrogilvum and Simulium umphangense, (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Thailand. Acta Tropica 2022;232;JIF 3.222: Q2.
12. Prangtaworn P., Mahasongkram K., Saeung A., Chaisri U., Seesuay W., Reamtong O, Tungtrongchitr A., Chaicumpa W., Sookrung N. A Component-Resolved Therapeutic Vaccine for Cockroach Allergy Made of Per a 9 and Transforming Growth Factor-β Homologue, an Immunosuppressive Protein of Brugia malayi. Frontiers in Immunology 2021;12;JIF 8.787: Q1.
13. Srisuka W., Aupalee K., Low V.L., Yácob Z., Fukuda M., Saeung A., Takaoka H. A new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Northern Thailand, with its genetic relationship in the S. asakoae species-group Acta Tropica 2021;218;JIF 3.222: Q2.
14. Takaoka H., Srisuka W., Ya cob Z., Low V.L., Saeung A. A new species of the Simulium (Gomphostilbia) ceylonicum species-group (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Thailand. Acta Tropica 2021;217;JIF 3.222: Q1.
15. Srisuka W., Sulin C., Aupalee K., Phankaen T., Taai K., Thongsahuan S., Saeung A., Takaoka H. Community structure, biodiversity and spatiotemporal distribution of the black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) using malaise traps on the highest mountain in Thailand. Insects 2021;12;JIF 3.141: Q1.
16. Huang F., Srisuka W., Aupalee K., Streit A., Fukuda M., Pitasawat B., Junkum A. , Saingamsook J., Somboon P., Takaoka H., Saeung A. Diversity of nematodes infecting the human-biting black fly species, Simulium nigrogilvum (Diptera: Simuliidae) in central Thailand. Acta Tropica 2021;224;JIF 3.222: Q2.
17. Mattick J., Libro S., Bromley R., Chaicumpa W., Chung M., Cook D., Khan M.B., Kumar N., Lau Y., Misra-Bhattacharya S., Rao R., Sadzewicz L., Saeung A., Shahab M., Sparklin B.C., Steven A., Turner J.D., Tallon L.J., Taylor M.J., Moorhead A.R., Michalski M., Foster J.M., Hotopp J.C.D. X-treme loss of sequence diversity linked to neo-x chromosomes in filarial nematodes. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021;15; JIF 4.781: Q1.