Louse flies

Definition

Common name for Hippoboscidae, a family of obligate, blood-feeding ectoparasitic flies (Diptera) that infest mammals and birds. Adults are dorsoventrally flattened and often wingless or with reduced wings, adaptations for clinging to host feathers or fur. Most species are larviparous, retaining and nourishing larvae internally until they are ready to pupate immediately upon deposition.

Etymology

From 'louse' (referring to their flattened, clinging habit resembling lice) + 'flies' (their dipteran affinity).

Example

Sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus), a wingless louse fly, permanently infest sheep and cause irritation and wool damage; winged species such as those in the genus Lipoptena initially fly to locate hosts, then shed their wings and become permanently parasitic.

Synonyms

• keds

Related Terms

• Hippoboscidae
• Ectoparasite
• larviparity
• sheep ked
• Diptera
• obligate parasitism
• wing polymorphism

Usage Notes

The term 'keds' is sometimes used specifically for the wingless, sheep-infesting Melophagus, while 'louse flies' encompasses the broader family including winged forms. Not true lice (Phthiraptera), despite the name. Some species are important vectors of pathogens such as Anaplasma and Trypanosoma in livestock and wildlife.