Hippobosca spp.
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Hippobosca equina
| Hippobosca spp. | |
|---|---|
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Diptera |
| Family | Hippoboscidae |
| Also known as: | Forest Fly Horse louse fly |
Hosts
Cattle and horses
Identification
Hippobosca spp. are of the class Insecta. 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 attach to a host and begin to blood-feed. Forest flies remain on their hosts for long periods of time.