Hippobosca spp.

Hippobosca equina

Also known as:

Forest Fly Horse louse fly

Scientific Classification

Class	Insecta
Order	Diptera
Family	Hippoboscidae

Hosts

Cattle and horses.

Identification

The adults are around 1cm in length, and reddish brown in colour. They also have yellow spots on abdomen. Both the male and female are blood feeders, and have adapted mouth parts for this function.

Life Cycle

The female leaves mature larvae in dry soil. The larvae then pupate, and undergo further maturation and development. When they become adults they then attach to a host, and begin to blood-feed. Forest flies remain on their hosts for long periods of time.