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 then attach to a host, and begin to blood-feed. Forest flies remain on their hosts for long periods of time.