Streblidae

Definition

A family of dipteran flies in the superfamily Hippoboscoidea, comprising ectoparasitic bat flies that may be winged or wingless as adults. Members possess elongated legs and exhibit pronounced host specificity, with individual fly species typically restricted to particular bat host species; multiple streblid species may concurrently infest the same host individual. Along with Nycteribiidae, they constitute the major lineages of bat flies.

Etymology

From Greek streblos (twisted, crooked), possibly referring to the contorted body form or leg posture of some species.

Example

Trichobius major, a winged streblid, parasitizes Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis), while the wingless Ascodipteron species embed themselves deeply in the host's wing membrane.

Related Terms

• Nycteribiidae
• Hippoboscoidea
• Diptera
• Ectoparasite
• host specificity
• bat fly
• Phoresy

Usage Notes

Distinguished from Nycteribiidae (the other bat fly family) by generally more robust body form, presence of wings in many adults, and typically less extreme dorsoventral compression. Streblidae are more diverse in the Neotropics, whereas Nycteribiidae dominate in the Palearctic. The family includes both sexes of adults as permanent parasites, unlike some hippoboscoid relatives where females become larvigerous.