Thread subject: Diptera.info :: do hippoboscidae attack human?
Posted by
paqui on 28-10-2005 18:51
#1
I?ve seen photographs of these families:
Nycteribiidae
Braulidae
Hippoboscidae
Carnidae
It seems they only feed on birds or mammals (not including us), but I?d like to know if there is any possibility of "mistake" with this
a really strange question, maybe only for hipersensibility cases allergy-like?
flies without wings and now I?ve foundt celyphidae, like a beetle!, Diptera are really amazing!
#2
The dear louse fly,
Lipoptena cerva is known to occasionally make the mistake to take on a human. I imagine that
Hippobosca equina could do the same but I have not heared of it.
Posted by
paqui on 28-10-2005 19:23
#3
wow! I?ll look for this species distribution, thank you very much!!
Posted by
Andre on 30-10-2005 15:08
#4
Usually, the specimens that land in human's necks, have wings.
Sometimes reduced, sometimes fully develloped.
In other words, these specimens are better equiped to disperse than the non-winged brothers and sisters.
Edited by
Andre on 30-10-2005 15:09
Posted by
Zeegers on 30-10-2005 15:43
#5
Hippobosca equina is actually quite fond of man, as long as you sweat.
I once caught several specimens on fellow travellers in the north of Spain (northwest of Barcelona).
You can find Hipppobosc at least from May till end of September, on warmer days.
Lipoptena cervi is typically a very late autumn species: end of August till end of October. Any small Lipoptena from eastern Europe from spring or summer is bound to be our second species: L. fortisetosa (also attacking man).
Other Hippoboscidae are known to attack man only incidently (for instance, when a bird ringer handels an infected bird).
Theo Zeegers
#6
Hello!
Paul Beuk wrote:
The dear louse fly, Lipoptena cerva is known to occasionally make the mistake to take on a human.
They do it definitely as known from own experience - and not only occasionally.
Lipopterna cervi is very frequent here and can be a real pest in autumn - just when one is relieved that the Tabanids like
Haematopota pluvialis have disappeared for this year...
On some days the flew on me by the dozen. When they land on my clothing or not very hairy skin parts, most of them realize their mistake and fly away again. But in several cases I have been bitten by individuals who had already stripped their wings. For some strange reason they seem to not only like the hair on my head but especially my
elbows (which are not particually hairy ;-)).
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Posted by
paqui on 31-10-2005 19:14
#7
wow, I?ll have to wait, then to find any of this strange "ifo?s"
