Definition of the word blackfly

The term "blackfly" refers to a type of insect belonging to the family Simuliidae. The name "blackfly" is a fairly self-explanatory one, as these flies are typically dark in color, with adults ranging from black to dark brown or even dusty gray. The word "blackfly" actually combines two common English terms: "black" and "fly". The first part of the compound word, "black", is rather obvious in its meaning, as these insects do, in fact, have a dark coloration. The second part of the compound word, "fly", comes from the traditional English meaning for this specific type of insect. Although technically these small insects are not true flies, as they do not belong to the order Diptera, they are commonly referred to as "flies" due to their resemblance to the common housefly. In short, "blackfly" is a simple but effective term that accurately describing these insects' physical attributes in a short and concise way.