Haematophagous

Guides

• Oeciacus

  swallow bug, barn swallow bug

  Oeciacus is a genus of haematophagous ectoparasites in the family Cimicidae, historically recognized as swallow bugs. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown the genus to be nested within Cimex, leading to its proposed synonymy with that genus. The three described species—O. hirundinis, O. montandoni, and O. vicarius—are specialized parasites of swallows (Hirundinidae), with distinct morphological characters associated with this host relationship. The American swallow bug O. vicarius is particularly well-studied, occurring primarily in cliff swallow colonies across North America.

  ectoparasitehaematophagousCimicidaeswallow-parasitesynonym-of-Cimex

• Ornithonyssus sylviarum

  Northern Fowl Mite

  Ornithonyssus sylviarum, commonly known as the northern fowl mite, is a blood-feeding ectoparasite of birds that has become a major economic pest of poultry worldwide. The entire life cycle occurs on the host, allowing populations to expand rapidly under favorable conditions. Heavy infestations cause anemia, reduced egg production, and can lead to death in severe cases. The mite has been reported on over 72 host species across 26 bird families and has shown ability to infest mammalian hosts including humans, though it does not permanently establish on non-avian hosts.

  ectoparasitepoultry-pesthaematophagouseconomic-pestveterinary-entomologyacarimacronyssidae

• Pangoniini

  horse flies

  Pangoniini is a tribe of horse flies (Tabanidae) within the subfamily Pangoniinae, containing some of the most morphologically primitive members of the family. Species exhibit diverse feeding strategies: some females are haematophagous (blood-feeding) while males and certain species are nectarophagous (nectar-feeding), as determined by mouthpart morphology. The tribe shows progressive evolutionary reduction in female mandibles and structural modifications of antennal and tibial characters. Australian members are predominantly low-flying insects that do not suck blood, contrasting with Chilean species that include both blood-feeding and non-blood-feeding forms.

  horse-fliesTabanidaePangoniinaeprimitivesexual-dimorphismfeeding-plasticityAustraliaChilescanning-electron-microscopymouthpart-morphologymicropilositymandible-reductionantennal-segmentationtibial-spurslow-flyingnectarophagoushaematophagousEsenbeckiaProtodasyaphaVepriusEctenopsisAustroplexCaenoprosoponTherevopangonia