Hippoboscidae
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- Family : Hippoboscidae
- Genus : Hippobosca; Melophagus; Pseudolynchia
Common Morphological Characters
- Body is broad and flattened dorsoventrally
Head
- Large compound eyes are present, ocelli are absent
- Antenna immovable, single segmented and lies within a pit in the head region
- Mouthparts are biting type. Porrect
- The main portions of the proboscis is retracted into the head and generally the narrow terminal part is hidden by the 2 palps
Thorax
- Wings may or may not be present
- Few of this series do have wings which fall off once the host is reached
- Wings when present have a characteristic venation- veins crowded in the anterior margin while the posterior portion reveals fine wrinkling
- Legs are provided with strong claws, since the flies of this series are generally almost permanent ectoparasites of the host the strong claws provide them with firm attachment to the host
- In species affecting birds additional spurs are observed
Abdomen
- Abdomen is indistinctly segmented, soft and leathery
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Last modified: Wednesday, 30 June 2010, 9:52 AM
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