Hippoboscidae
Encyclopedia
Hippoboscidae, the louse flies or keds are obligate parasite
s of mammals and birds. In this family
there are winged species
which can fly at least reasonably well, as well as others with vestigial or no wings which are flightless and highly apomorphic. As usual in their superfamily
Hippoboscoidea
, most of the larva
l development takes place within the mother's body, and pupation occurs almost immediately.
The sheep ked, Melophagus ovinus
, is a wingless, reddish-brown fly that parasitizes sheep. The Neotropical deer ked, Lipoptena mazamae
, is a common ectoparasite of white-tailed deer
(Odocoileus virginianus) in the southeastern United States. Both winged and wingless forms may be seen. A common winged species is Hippobosca equina
, called "the louse fly" among riders. Species in other genera are found on birds, for example, Ornithomya bequaerti has been collected from birds in Alaska
. Two species of Hippoboscidae - Ornithoica (Ornithoica) podargi and Ornithomya fuscipennis are also common parasites of the Tawny Frogmouth
(Podargus strigoides) of Australia.
Pseudolynchia canariensis
is commonly found on pigeons and dove
s, and can serve as the vector of pigeon malaria. There is some evidence that other Hippoboscidae can serve as vectors of disease agents to mammals.
and "Streblidae
"). It has been shown that two of the three traditional subfamilies (Hippoboscinae
and Lipopteninae
) are good monophyletic groups at least by and large. According to cladistic analysis of several DNA sequence
s, to make the Ornithomyinae
monophyletic their tribe
Olfersini deserves to be recognized as a full-blown family too.
Obligate parasite
An obligate parasite is a parasitic organism that cannot complete its life cycle without dependence on its host.-See also:*Obligate intracellular parasite*Parasitism*Parasitic plant*Facultative parasite...
s of mammals and birds. In this family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
there are winged species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
which can fly at least reasonably well, as well as others with vestigial or no wings which are flightless and highly apomorphic. As usual in their superfamily
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
Hippoboscoidea
Hippoboscoidea
Hippoboscoidea is a superfamily of Calyptratae. The flies in this superfamily are blood-feeding obligate parasites of their hosts. Five families are often placed here:* Glossinidae* Hippoboscidae...
, most of the larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
l development takes place within the mother's body, and pupation occurs almost immediately.
Melophagus ovinus
Melophagus ovinus, or the sheep ked, is a brown, hairy fly that resembles a tick. This wingless fly is about 4 to 6 mm long and has a small head, is a fly from the family Hippoboscidae. They are blood-feeding parasites of sheep. The legs of the sheep ked are very strong and are tipped with...
, is a wingless, reddish-brown fly that parasitizes sheep. The Neotropical deer ked, Lipoptena mazamae
Lipoptena mazamae
Lipoptena mazamae, the Neotropical deer ked, is a fly from the family Hippoboscidae. They are blood-feeding parasites of the white-tailed deer - Odocoileus virginianus in the southeastern United States and Central America, the red brocket deer - Mazama americana in Mexico to northern Argentina, and...
, is a common ectoparasite of white-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
(Odocoileus virginianus) in the southeastern United States. Both winged and wingless forms may be seen. A common winged species is Hippobosca equina
Hippobosca equina
Hippobosca equina, or the forest fly, is a fly from the family Hippoboscidae. They are blood-feeding ectoparasites of horses, and sometimes cattle. It is a permanently fully winged fly, not shedding its wings on finding its host, as in some other Hippoboscidae. this means it may leave its host to...
, called "the louse fly" among riders. Species in other genera are found on birds, for example, Ornithomya bequaerti has been collected from birds in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Two species of Hippoboscidae - Ornithoica (Ornithoica) podargi and Ornithomya fuscipennis are also common parasites of the Tawny Frogmouth
Tawny Frogmouth
The Tawny Frogmouth is an Australian species of frogmouth, a type of bird found throughout the Australian mainland, Tasmania and southern New Guinea. The Tawny Frogmouth is often mistaken to be an owl...
(Podargus strigoides) of Australia.
Pseudolynchia canariensis
Pseudolynchia canariensis
Pseudolynchia canariensis, the pigeon louse fly or pigeon fly, is a species of biting fly in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae.-Distribution:They are found in most parts of the tropical world where domestic pigeons are kept...
is commonly found on pigeons and dove
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
s, and can serve as the vector of pigeon malaria. There is some evidence that other Hippoboscidae can serve as vectors of disease agents to mammals.
Systematics
In some obsolete taxonomies, the name Hippoboscidae is applied to the group properly known as Pupipara, i.e. the present family plus the bat flies (NycteribiidaeNycteribiidae
Nycteribiidae of the true fly superfamily Hippoboscoidea are known as "bat flies", together with their close relatives the Streblidae. As the latter do not seem to be a monophyletic group, it is conceivable to unite all bat flies in a single family....
and "Streblidae
Streblidae
Streblidae are flies in the superfamily Hippoboscoidea, and together with their relatives the Nycteribiidae are known as "bat flies". They are winged or wingless ectoparasites of bats, and often have long legs...
"). It has been shown that two of the three traditional subfamilies (Hippoboscinae
Hippoboscinae
Hippoboscinae is a subfamily of the fly family Hippoboscidae. All are parasitic, and unlike some other members of the Hippoboscidae, all Hippoboscinae are winged species.-Systematics:*Genus Hippobosca Linnaeus, 1758 *H. camelina Leach, 1817...
and Lipopteninae
Lipopteninae
Lipopteninae is a subfamily of the fly family Hippoboscidae. All are parasitic. -Systematics:*Genus Lipoptena Nitzsch, 1818*L. arianae Maa, 1969*L. axis Maa, 1969*L. binoculus *L. capreoli Róndani, 1878...
) are good monophyletic groups at least by and large. According to cladistic analysis of several DNA sequence
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
s, to make the Ornithomyinae
Ornithomyinae
Ornithomyinae is a subfamily of the fly family Hippoboscidae. All are blood feeding parasites, for the most part on birds, though some have mammals as hosts.-Systematics:*Subfamily Ornithomyinae Bigot, 1853*Genus Allobosca Speiser, 1899...
monophyletic their tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Olfersini deserves to be recognized as a full-blown family too.
- Subfamily OrnithomyinaeOrnithomyinaeOrnithomyinae is a subfamily of the fly family Hippoboscidae. All are blood feeding parasites, for the most part on birds, though some have mammals as hosts.-Systematics:*Subfamily Ornithomyinae Bigot, 1853*Genus Allobosca Speiser, 1899...
BigotJacques-Marie-Frangile BigotJacques Marie Frangile Bigot was a French naturalist and entomologist most noted for his studies of Diptera. Born in Paris, where he lived all his life, though he had a small house in Quincy-sous-Sénart, Essonne.He became a member of the Entomological Society of France in 1844. His first paper...
, 1853 - Genus AlloboscaAlloboscaAllobosca is a genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There is only one known species, Allobosca crassipes Speiser, 1899.. It is a parasite of lemurs....
SpeiserPaul Gustav Eduard SpeiserPaul Gustav Eduard Speiser was a German entomologist who specialised in Diptera.He was first a physician then a Medizinalrat, a medical adviser to a district.He worked on world Diptera, especially...
, 1899 (1 species) - Genus AustrolfersiaAustrolfersiaAustrolfersia is a genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There is only one known species, Austrolfersia ferrisi Bequaert, 1953.. It is a parasite of Diprotodontia..-Hosts:...
BequaertJoseph Charles BequaertJoseph Charles Bequaert was an American naturalist of Belgian origin, born 24 May 1886 in Torhout and died on 12 January 1982 in Amherst ....
, 1953 (1 species) - Genus CrataerinaCrataerinaCrataerina is a genus of Louse Flies in the family Hippoboscidae. All are parasites of birds , feeding on the blood of various species of Apodidae and Hirundidae .-Species:...
von OlfersIgnaz von OlfersIgnaz Franz Werner Maria von Olfers was a German naturalist, historian and diplomat. Olfers was born in Münster. In 1816 he travelled to Brazil as a diplomat....
, 1816 (8 species) - Genus IcostaIcostaIcosta are genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are 52 known species, making it the largest Hippoboscid genus. All species are Parasites of birds.-Systematics:*Genus Icosta Speiser, 1905*Subgenus Ardmoeca...
SpeiserPaul Gustav Eduard SpeiserPaul Gustav Eduard Speiser was a German entomologist who specialised in Diptera.He was first a physician then a Medizinalrat, a medical adviser to a district.He worked on world Diptera, especially...
, 1905 (52 species) - Genus MicrolynchiaMicrolynchiaMicrolynchia are genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are four known species. All species are parasites of birds...
Lutz, 1915 (4 species) - Genus MyophthiriaMyophthiriaMyophthiria are genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are 13 known species. All species are Parasites of birds.-Systematics:*Genus Myophthiria Róndani, 1875*Species group '1'...
RóndaniCamillo RóndaniCamillo Róndani was an Italian entomologist noted for his studies of Diptera.-Early years:When Camillo Róndani was born in Parma the city was part of the French Empire Napoleon having crowned himself King of Italy...
, 1875 (13 species) - Genus OlfersiaOlfersiaOlfersia are genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are 7 known species.. All species are Parasites of birds..-Distribution:...
LeachWilliam Elford LeachWilliam Elford Leach FRS was an English zoologist and marine biologist.Leach was born at Hoe Gate, Plymouth, the son of a solicitor. At the age of twelve he went to school in Exeter, studying anatomy and chemistry. By this time he was already collecting marine samples from Plymouth Sound and along...
, 1817 (7 species) - Genus OrnithoctonaOrnithoctonaOrnithoctona are genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are 12 known species.. All species are parasites of birds..-Systematics:*Genus Ornithoctona Speiser, 1902*Species group '1'...
SpeiserPaul Gustav Eduard SpeiserPaul Gustav Eduard Speiser was a German entomologist who specialised in Diptera.He was first a physician then a Medizinalrat, a medical adviser to a district.He worked on world Diptera, especially...
, 1902 (12 species) - Genus OrnithoicaOrnithoicaOrnithoica are genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are 23 known species.. All species are parasites of birds..-Distribution:...
RóndaniCamillo RóndaniCamillo Róndani was an Italian entomologist noted for his studies of Diptera.-Early years:When Camillo Róndani was born in Parma the city was part of the French Empire Napoleon having crowned himself King of Italy...
, 1878 (24 species) - Genus OrnithomyaOrnithomyaOrnithomya are genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are 29 known species.. All species are parasites of birds.-Distribution:...
LatreillePierre André LatreillePierre André Latreille was a French zoologist, specialising in arthropods. Having trained as a Roman Catholic priest before the French Revolution, Latreille was imprisoned, and only regained his freedom after recognising a rare species he found in the prison, Necrobia ruficollis...
, 1802 (29 species) - Genus OrnithophilaOrnithophilaOrnithophila are genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are two known species. Both species are parasites of birds.-Distribution:Ornithophila are found worldwide with the exception of the Americas and Antarctica....
RóndaniCamillo RóndaniCamillo Róndani was an Italian entomologist noted for his studies of Diptera.-Early years:When Camillo Róndani was born in Parma the city was part of the French Empire Napoleon having crowned himself King of Italy...
, 1879 (2 species) - Genus OrtholfersiaOrtholfersiaOrtholfersia are genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are 4 known species. All species are Parasites of Macropods.-Distribution:Found in Australia, some species are very rare, because their hosts are endangered....
SpeiserPaul Gustav Eduard SpeiserPaul Gustav Eduard Speiser was a German entomologist who specialised in Diptera.He was first a physician then a Medizinalrat, a medical adviser to a district.He worked on world Diptera, especially...
, 1902 (4 species) - Genus PhthonaPhthonaPhthona is a genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are 3 known species. All are parasite of falconets of the genus Microhierax.-Hosts:They found on the genus Microhierax...
Maa, 1969 (3 species) - Genus ProparaboscaProparaboscaProparabosca is a genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There is only one known species, Proparabosca alata . It is a parasite of Lemurs.-Systematics:...
Theodor & Oldroyd 1965 (1 species) - Genus PseudolynchiaPseudolynchiaPseudolynchia are genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are 5 known species. One of the more well known speciec is the pigeon louse fly Pseudolynchia canariensis'...
BequaertJoseph Charles BequaertJoseph Charles Bequaert was an American naturalist of Belgian origin, born 24 May 1886 in Torhout and died on 12 January 1982 in Amherst ....
, 1926 (5 species) - Genus StilbometopaStilbometopaStilbometopa are genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are 5 known species. All species are parasites of birds.-Systematics:*Genus Stilbometopa Coquillett, 1899*S. fulvifrons...
CoquillettDaniel William CoquillettDaniel William Coquillett was an American entomologist who specialised in Diptera. He wrote Revision of the dipterous family Therevidae...
, 1899 (5 species) - Subfamily HippoboscinaeHippoboscinaeHippoboscinae is a subfamily of the fly family Hippoboscidae. All are parasitic, and unlike some other members of the Hippoboscidae, all Hippoboscinae are winged species.-Systematics:*Genus Hippobosca Linnaeus, 1758 *H. camelina Leach, 1817...
- Genus HippoboscaHippoboscaHippobosca is a genus of flies in the family Hippoboscidae. There are only 7 known species. There are numerous synonyms.-Distribution:The primary distribution is in Europe and Parts of Asia and Africa...
LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758Systema NaturaeThe book was one of the major works of the Swedish botanist, zoologist and physician Carolus Linnaeus. The first edition was published in 1735...
(7 species) - Genus StruthiboscaStruthiboscaStruthibosca is a genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There is only one known species, Struthibosca struthionis . It is a parasite of Ostrichs....
Maa, 1963 (1 species) - Subfamily LipopteninaeLipopteninaeLipopteninae is a subfamily of the fly family Hippoboscidae. All are parasitic. -Systematics:*Genus Lipoptena Nitzsch, 1818*L. arianae Maa, 1969*L. axis Maa, 1969*L. binoculus *L. capreoli Róndani, 1878...
- Genus LipoptenaLipoptenaLipoptena is a genus of Hippoboscidae, known as louse flies or keds.-Systematics:*Genus Lipoptena Nitzsch, 1818*Species group 'a'Lipoptena is a genus of Hippoboscidae, known as louse flies or keds.-Systematics:...
NitzschChristian Ludwig NitzschChristian Ludwig Nitzsch was a German zoologist. He is best remembered for his approach to classifying birds on the basis of their feather tract distributions or pterylosis of their young.-Career:...
, 1818 (30 species) - Genus MelophagusMelophagusMelophagus is a genus of biting flies in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. There are 3 known species and one subspecies. All are parasite of Bovines. All are wingless.-Distribution:They are native to Europe, Asia and North Africa. M...
LatreillePierre André LatreillePierre André Latreille was a French zoologist, specialising in arthropods. Having trained as a Roman Catholic priest before the French Revolution, Latreille was imprisoned, and only regained his freedom after recognising a rare species he found in the prison, Necrobia ruficollis...
, 1802 (3 species) - Genus NeolipoptenaNeolipoptenaNeolipoptena is a genus of Hippoboscidae, known as louse flies or Deer keds. There is only one known species - Neolipoptena ferrisi....
BequaertJoseph Charles BequaertJoseph Charles Bequaert was an American naturalist of Belgian origin, born 24 May 1886 in Torhout and died on 12 January 1982 in Amherst ....
, 1942 (1 species)
External links
- [
- Sheep Ked
- Pigeon Louse Fly
- Pseudolychia canariensis as Vector of Pigeon Malaria
- Photograph of A Louse Fly
- Images from Diptera.info.http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?photo_id=644
- Images from BugGuide http://bugguide.net/node/view/13382
- Pseudolychia canariensis, pigeon louse fly on the UFUniversity of FloridaThe University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
/ IFASInstitute of Food and Agricultural SciencesThe University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information...
Featured Creatures Web site - Lipoptena mazamae, Neotropical deer ked on the UFUniversity of FloridaThe University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
/ IFASInstitute of Food and Agricultural SciencesThe University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information...
Featured Creatures Web site