Lipoptena
Lipoptena
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Diptera
- Superfamily: Hippoboscoidea
- Family: Hippoboscidae
- Subfamily: Lipopteninae
- Genus: Lipoptena
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Lipoptena: /lɪˈpɒptənə/
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Images
Summary
Lipoptena cervi, also known as the deer ked, is a parasitic biting fly from the Hippoboscidae family. It primarily feeds on deer and has been introduced to parts of North America. While typically a nuisance, it has been documented to bite humans and carry certain pathogens.
Physical Characteristics
Adults are 5–7 mm in length, brownish in color, flat and elastic bodies.
Identification Tips
Deer ked (L. cervi) are poor fliers and shed their wings upon reaching a host.
Habitat
Temperate areas of Europe, Siberia, Northern China, and the Eastern United States.
Distribution
Found in most of Europe (including Great Britain and Ireland), Algeria, eastern Siberia, northern China, and established in the Eastern United States (New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Idaho, New York).
Diet
Blood of various members of the deer family, including red deer, elk, roe deer, fallow deer, and Siberian musk deer.
Life Cycle
Females retain developing larvae in their bodies until they are ready to pupate, producing fully mature prepupae. The prepupa immediately darkens and begins to pupate after shedding its outer layer.
Reproduction
The female produces one larva at a time, with feeding lasting 15 to 25 minutes and the female giving birth to a fully mature white prepupa.
Ecosystem Role
Parasites of deer and other ungulates, contributing to the ecosystem dynamics by influencing host populations.
Economic Impact
Potential annoyance to humans and pets; can transmit pathogens but remains largely understudied.
Cultural Significance
Remains of L. cervi have been found on Ötzi, the Stone Age mummy from the Schnalstal glacier.
Health Concerns
May bite humans, producing responses ranging from unnoticed to highly allergic; associated with various pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi.
Collecting Methods
- Netting adults off hosts
- Light traps
Preservation Methods
- Ethanol preservation
- Dry preservation in envelopes
Misconceptions
Often confused with common flies; may be assumed to have a significant medical threat due to their presence on deer.
Tags
- Lipoptena
- deer ked
- Hippoboscidae
- parasite