Abstract
B chromosomes are present in a cluster of closely related species of black fly in the Simulium vernum group including six sibling species within the S. vernum complex, Simulium costatum, and Simulium juxtacrenobium. The S. vernum siblings all possess the same small metacentric supernumerary, while S. juxtacrenobium carries three different supernumeraries (two telocentrics and one metacentric) and S. costatum has both a metacentric and a telocentric B chromosome. Analysis of the polytene chromosomes in the larval salivary glands has revealed relationships between the supernumeraries of the different species. The metacentric B chromosome of the S. vernum siblings apparently results from a fusion of the two telocentric supernumeraries of S. juxtacrenobium. Acquisition of a nucleolar organizer then gave rise to the metacentric B chromosome in S. juxtacrenobium. The acquisition of a nucleolus by a S. juxtacrenobium telocentric gave rise to one of the S. costatum supernumeraries. Two alternate models for the origin of black fly supernumeraries are presented.Key words: supernumerary chromosome, black fly, polytene chromosome, chromosome evolution.