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. 2022 Jul 29;1115:81–101. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1115.80146

Updated taxonomic keys for European Hippoboscidae (Diptera), and expansion in Central Europe of the bird louse fly Ornithomyacomosa (Austen, 1930) with the first record from Slovakia

Jozef Oboňa 1, Katarína Fogašová 1,✉, Miroslav Fulín 2, Stanislav Greš 2, Peter Manko 1, Jakub Repaský 3, Jindřich Roháček 4, Oldřich Sychra 5, Martin Hromada 1,6
PMCID: PMC9848778  PMID: 36761073

Abstract

The available keys for European Hippoboscidae are outdated and do not cover all species currently known from Europe. Therefore, identification keys to the eleven genera and 31 species of the European hippoboscids are provided here. Ornithomyacomosa (Austen, 1930) (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) is recorded for the first time from the territory of Slovakia based on one female found on a sand martin, Ripariariparia (Linnaeus, 1758). The list of keds and louse flies recorded from the territory of Slovakia is increased to 20 species. New host records for Slovakia are presented.

Keywords: Birds, hippoboscid, new host records, new record, parasite, Slovakia, taxonomic keys

Introduction

Keds and louse flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) are among the most fascinating as well as disregarded group of blood-feeding ectoparasites, and they thrive on many animal species (Bezerra-Santos and Otranto 2020). This family is included in the superfamily Hippoboscoidea, along with the families Glossinidae (tse-tse flies), Streblidae, and Nycteribiidae (bat flies) (Petersen et al. 2007; Reeves and Lloyd 2019). Hippoboscidae are divided into the subfamilies Lipopteninae (tribe Lipoptenini parasitising exclusively mammals), Ornithomyinae (tribes Olfersiini and Ornithomyini composed of species that mostly parasitise birds) and Hippoboscinae (tribe Hippoboscini with all species in Europe affecting mammals) (Reeves and Lloyd 2019). Phylogenetic studies have indicated a monophyly among Hippoboscoidea members and that the ancestor of this superfamily was a free-living insect feeding on mammal blood (Nirmala et al. 2001; Dittmar et al. 2006; Petersen et al. 2007).

Worldwide, more than 213 hippoboscid species are known (e.g., Maa 1963; Dick 2006; Rahola et al. 2011), and 31 species of Hippoboscidae have been described from Europe (Pape et al. 2015; Nartshuk et al. 2019a; Oboňa et al. 2019b).

Ornithomyacomosa (Austen, 1930) (Figs 1, 2), the most recent species found in Europe (see Nartshuk et al. 2019a) and originally described from India (Pusa, Bihar), was first collected from a grey-throated martin, Ripariachinensis (J. E. Gray, 1830) (Austen 1930). The host overview is presented in Table 1. According to Maa (1969a, b, 1977), O.comosa is distributed in India, Nepal (on R.chinensis; Maa (1969a) used the name Ripariapaludicolachinensis), and Thailand and Malaysia (on a barn swallow, Hirundorustica Linnaeus, 1758).

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

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Ornithomyacomosa, imago, dorsal view (left wing removed).

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

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Ornithomyacomosa, wing.

Table 1.

The overview of hosts of Ornithomyacomosa (Austen, 1930).

Host species Countries References
Cecropisdaurica Russia Nartshuk et al. (2019b)
Delichonurbicum Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia Doszhanov (1970); Nartshuk et al. (2019a)
Hirundorustica Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, Maa (1969a); Doszhanov (1970); Mogi (2014); Nartshuk et al. (2019a)
Otusscops Russia Doszhanov (2003)
Ripariadiluta Russia Matyukhin and Gashkov (2020)
Ripariachinensis India, Nepal Austen (1930); Maa (1969a)
Ripariariparia Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia Doszhanov (1970); Mogi (2014)
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Subsequently, Doszhanov (1970, 2003) recorded this species from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and West Siberia of Russia (Novosibirsk), mostly from the host Ripariariparia (Linnaeus, 1758), rarely from H.rustica and Delichonurbicum (Linnaeus, 1758), and also from the Eurasian scops owl, Otusscops (Linnaeus, 1758) of the Strigiformes. Mogi (2014) reported this species from Japan (Honshu, Kyushu and Ryukyu islands on R.riparia and H.rustica hosts). Most recently, Nartshuk et al. (2019a) recorded O.comosa for the first time in Europe from western Russia (Kaliningrad Province, hosts H.rustica and D.urbicum). Further Russian records are from Cecropisdaurica (Laxmann, 1769) from Primorskii krai in the Far East (Nartshuk et al. 2019b) and from Ripariadiluta (Sharpe & Wyatt, 1893) from Tomsk in west Siberia (Matyukhin and Gashkov 2020). In this study O.comosa is recorded for the first time from Slovakia, demonstrating its further expansion in Central Europe.

A series of new records of louse flies and keds from Slovakia with several new host records is appended to supplement the recent review by Oboňa et al. (2019b). Because the available taxonomic keys for European Hippoboscidae are outdated, we present updated keys covering all species currently known from Europe.

Materials and methods

The key for European genera of Hippoboscidae follows the previous descriptions by Bequaert (1954), Theodor and Oldroyd (1964), and Hutson (1984). Keys for species of European Hippoboscidae follow Falcoz (1926), Povolný and Rosický (1955), Theodor and Oldroyd (1964), Maa (1966, 1969c), Hutson (1981, 1984), Ducháč and Bádr (1998), Farafonova (2001), Petersen et al. (2007), Iwasa and Choi (2013), Nartshuk et al. (2019b), and Salvetti et al. (2020).

In addition, new louse fly specimens from Slovakia were collected by hand on birds caught in mist nets, or keds by hand from humans. The majority of the samples come from the ornithological station “Vtáčí raj – Šalgovské rybníky” (Bird’s Paradise – Šalgov ponds) near the village Uzovský Šalgov (49°05'34.8"N, 21°04'00.4"E, 366 m a.s.l.). The birds were mist-netted in the standardised method (for more information, see Olekšák et al. 2007). Other samples, especially from humans, represent random and non-targeted sampling.

The collected hippoboscids were placed in microvials with 96% ethanol and subsequently identified in the laboratory using determination keys by Povolný and Rosický (1955) and Theodor and Oldroyd (1964). The focus on the local primary hosts follows Oboňa et al. (2019a, b, 2021). The newly recorded species O.comosa (Austen, 1930) was identified by Nartshuk et al. (2019b) using a key modified according Farafonova (2001). The material is deposited in the collection of the Laboratory and Museum of Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Ecology, University of Prešov (LMEE PO). The terminology follows Cumming and Wood (2017).

Results

Key for European genera of Hippoboscidae (updated)

1 Wings fully developed and functional (Figs 3–11) 2
– Wings reduced, with strong veins (Figs 12–16) or absent (either by reduction or loss) 9
2 Tarsal claws simple (Fig. 17), but with a pale basal lobe; humeral callus weak (Figs 21–24), postpronotum rounded, not produced anteriorly as conical lobes 3
– Tarsal claw bifid and with a pale basal lobe (Fig. 18); humeral callus strong, postpronotum rounded, pair of conical lobes on either side of head (Figs 26–28), on birds 5
3 Wing with one or two cross-veins; R4+5 well separated from C until apex; on mammals (Figs 4, 5) 4
– Wings with three cross-veins enclosing cells posterior to radial veins; apical 1/2 of vein R4+5 running very close to C (Fig. 3); on birds Ornithoica
4 Wing clear and hyaline, with only one cross-vein (Fig. 4); head broader than long; thorax markedly flattened (Figs 21–25); on mammals Lipoptena
– Wing distinctly crenulated and tinted, with two cross-veins (Fig. 5); head not broader than long; thorax not so markedly flattened; on mammals Hippobosca
5 Wing with three cross-veins posterior to radial veins (Figs 6, 7); scutellum with four or more strong marginal setae (Figs 32–37) 6
– Wing with one or two cross-veins posterior to radius (Figs 8–11); scutellum at most with two strong marginal setae (Figs 31, 38) 7
6 Vein R2+3 with apical 3/5 fused with C; wing membrane entirely bare (Fig. 6) Ornithophila
– Vein R2+3 well separated from C except at apex; wing membrane usually with microtrichia (Fig. 7) Ornithomya
7 Wing with only one cross-vein (Fig. 8) Pseudolynchia
– Wing with two cross-veins (Figs 9–11) 8
8 Scutellum with two strong setae (Fig. 19) Icosta
– Scutellum with setulae (Fig. 31) Olfersia
9 Wing long and narrow, at least 6 × as long as wide and twice as long as head and thorax (Fig. 12); female abdomen with strong spiniform setae in posterolateral area; male abdomen without spiniform setae Stenepteryx
– Wing short and broad, at most 3 × as long as wide and ~ 1.5 × as long as head and thorax (Figs 13–16); tip of wing usually attenuated, C reaching to about 0.75 length of anterior wing margin; female abdomen only with short fine setae in posterolateral area Crataerina
10 Wings either reduced to a veinless knob or broken off; haltere absent Melophagus
– Wings absent, leaving a broad flat veined stump; haltere present Lipoptena
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Figures 3–16.

Figures 3–16.

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3Ornithoicaturdi, wing 4Lipoptenacervi, wing 5Hippoboscaequina, wing 6Ornithophilametallica, wing 7Ornithomyaavicularia, wing 8Pseudolynchiacanariensis, wing 9Icostaardeae, wing (with the border of microtrichia) 10Icostaminor, wing (with the border of microtrichia) 11Olfersiaspinifera, wing 12 Stenepteryx hirundinis, wing 13Crataerinaobtusipennis, wing 14Crataerinamelbae, wing 15Crataerinaacutipennis, wing 16Crataerinapallida, wing.

Figures 17–24.

Figures 17–24.

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17Lipoptenacervi, tarsal claws 18Ornithomyaavicularia, tarsal claws 19Icostaardeae, thorax 20Icostamassonati, thorax 21Lipoptenacervi, thorax 22Lipoptenacouturieri, thorax 23Lipoptenafortisetosa, thorax 24Lipoptenacapreoli, thorax. Abbreviations: ms – mesonotal suture, pos – postalar setae, ps – prescutum, sc – scutellum.

Figure 25–30.

Figure 25–30.

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25Lipoptenaarianae, thorax 26Olfersiaspinifera, thorax 27Olfersiafumipennis, thorax 28Pseudolynchiacanariensis, frontal part of thorax 29Melophagusovinus, head with palps 30Melophagusrupicaprinus, head with palps. Abbreviations: ah – alar horns, pos – postalar setae, ps – prescutum, sc – scutellum.

Figures 31–38.

Figures 31–38.

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31Olfersiafumipennis, scutellum 32Ornithoicaturdi, scutellum 33Ornithomyafringillina, scutellum 34Ornithomyachloropus, scutellum 35Ornithomyacomosa, scutellum 36Ornithomyaavicularia, scutellum 37Ornithomyabiloba, scutellum 38Pseudolynchiacanariensis, scutellum.

Keys to species of European genera of Hippoboscidae (updated)

The genus Crataerina von Olfers, 1816

1 Wing shorter than hind femur; wing tip broadly rounded (Fig. 13) Crataerinaobtusipennis Austen, 1926
– Wing longer than hind femur 2
2 Wing more than twice as long as hind femur (Fig. 14); male abdomen with tergites 3 and 4 one-third as wide as abdomen and tergite 5 nearly as wide as abdomen; female abdomen with long and thick setae on posterior margin and with group of fine and long setae ventral to genital opening Crataerinamelbae (Rondani, 1879)
– Wing < 2 × as long as hind femur; male abdominal tergites small or absent; all setae on posterior margin of female abdomen short and uniform in length 3
3 Wing length 2 × as long as hind femur, extended beyond posterior end of abdomen; distal 1/2 of trailing edge of wing strongly concave (Fig. 15) Crataerinaacutipennis Austen, 1926
– Wing length 1.3–1.5 × as long as hind femur, not extended beyond posterior end of abdomen; distal 1/2 of trailing edge of wing not strongly concave (Fig. 16) Crataerinapallida (Olivier in Latreille, 1811)
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Host-parasite associations: Aves (Apodiformes, Passeriformes).

The genus Hippobosca Linnaeus, 1758

1 Vein R2+3 meets vein C at same place as R1, shorter than distal section of R4+5 (measured from transverse vein r-m); front edge of thorax, with a transverse row of short thick setae; scutellum almost rectangular, with 2 dark and 3 light spots; wing length 7.0–8.0 mm Hippoboscavariegata Megerle, 1803
– Vein R2+3 end into vein C clearly separated from R1, length is approximately equal to distal section of vein R4+5; thorax without mentioned setae and characters; wing length shorter than 7.0–8.0 mm 2
2 Dark brown specimens; veins of wings dark pigmented; scutellum white in middle, dark on sides; wing length 6.0–8.5 mm (Fig. 5) Hippoboscaequina Linnaeus, 1758
– Pale specimens; veins of wings light, only transverse veins and sections of longitudinal veins adjoining them are completely or partially dark; scutellum almost entirely white, sometimes with dark edge; wing length 5.0–6.0 mm Hippoboscalongipennis Fabricius, 1805
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Host-parasite associations: Aves (Accipitriformes), Mammalia (Carnivora, Cetartiodactyla, Perissodactyla).

The genus Icosta Speiser, 1905

1 Large dark specimens; wing length 5.0–6.0 mm 2
– Small pale specimens; wing length 3.5–4.0 mm 3
2 Venter of hind femur bare; palp length more than twice width; microtrichia covering most of wing, but apical 1/2 of cell Cu+1A and entire 2A bare (Fig. 10); prescutum with setae reaching mesonotal suture; pale yellowish specimens; abdomen without tergite 3 (Fig. 39) Icostaminor (Bigot in Thomson, 1858)
3 Venter of hind femur densely setose except near base; length of palp ~ 1.5 × width; wing with microtrichia covering most of its surface, including anterior 1/3 of cell 2A (Fig. 9); prescutum with short setae in several rows not reaching mesonotal suture, smaller and disordered short postalar setae in several rows (Fig. 19); dark specimens; abdomen with distinct tergite 3 (Fig. 40) Icostaardeae (Macquart, 1835)
– Enigmatic species, so far known from a single specimen; prescutum with one row of fine longer setae that reach mesonotal suture, setae in one row (Fig. 20) Icostamassonati (Falcoz, 1926)
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Figures 39–44.

Figures 39–44.

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39Icostaminor, ♀ abdomen, dorsal and ventral view 40Icostaardeae, ♀ abdomen, dorsal and ventral view 41Ornithomyachloropus, head, ventral view 42Ornithomyarupes, head, ventral view 43Ornithomyarupes, ♀ abdomen, dorsal and ventral view 44Ornithomyarupes, ♂ abdomen, dorsal and ventral view. Abbreviations: tbs – triangle brown spot, tp – tergal plate, vs – vibrissal spines.

Host-parasite associations: Aves (Passeriformes, Pelecaniformes).

The genus Lipoptena Nitsch, 1818

1 Wing length 6.0 mm 2
– Wing length 4.0 mm or less 3
2 Body length 5.0–6.0 mm; scutellum with 6–8 setae; thorax mostly with 30–35 setae on each side, 9 postalar setae on each side (Fig. 21) Lipoptenacervi (Linnaeus, 1758)
– Body length 4.5–5.5 mm; scutellum with 8–10 setae; thorax mostly with 50–60 setae on each side, 6 postalar setae on each side (Fig. 22) Lipoptenacouturieri Séguy, 1935
3 Wing length 4.0 mm; body length 2.8–3.2 mm; scutellum with 4–6 setae; thorax mostly with 8–12 strong setae on each side, 4 postalar setae on each side (Fig. 23) Lipoptenafortisetosa Maa, 1965
– Wing length < 4.0 mm; scutellum with 6 setae; thorax mostly with 25 or more setae on each side, 3 or 4 postalar setae on each side 4
4 Wing length 3.0–3.2 mm; body length 3.0–3.75 mm; body pale; thorax mostly with 30–35 setae on each side (Fig. 24) LipoptenacapreoliRondani, 1878
– Wing length < 3.0 mm body length 2.3–2.6 mm; body extremely dark; thorax mostly with 25–30 soft setae on each side (Fig. 25) Lipoptenaarianae Maa, 1969
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Host-parasite associations: Mammalia (Cetartiodactyla, Carnivora).

The genus Melophagus Latreille, 1802

1 Palps almost as long as head, in rest position completely covering proboscis (Fig. 29); parafrontalia almost touching in middle, mediovertex reduced; parafrontalia covered with numerous setae; tergal plates completely absent in male, in females only remnants of tergal plate 7 Melophagusovinus (Linnaeus, 1758)
– Palps shorter than head, ~ 1/3 of head length, proboscis always protruding (Fig. 30); parafrontalia with few setae on inner margin; in males tergal plate 6 present, in females plates 6 and 7 present MelophagusrupicaprinusRondani, 1879
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Host-parasite associations: Mammalia (Carnivora, Cetartiodactyla, Perissodactyla).

The genus Olfersia Wiedemann, 1830

1 Head on posterior margin with 3 distinct protrusions and deep indentations between postvertex and posterior orbit; postvertex protrudes noticeably backwards over posterior orbites; tip of alar horns directed obliquely forward (Fig. 26); section of C between Sc and R1 is shorter than section between R1 and R2-3. First basal cell is ca. as long as section of R4+5 distal to transverse vein r-m (Fig. 11); female pygidium separate and finger-shaped Olfersiaspinifera (Leach, 1817)
– Head protruding only a little over posterior orbit; tip of alar horns blunt and serrated (Fig. 27); sections of C between Sc and R1 longer than section between R1 and R2+3. First basal cell is significantly shorter than section of R4+5 distal to transverse vein r-m; female pygidium short and fused Olfersiafumipennis (Sahlberg, 1886)
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Host-parasite associations: Aves (Accipitriformes, Gaviiformes, Charadriiformes, Pelecaniformes, Suliformes).

The genus OrnithoicaRondani, 1878 – one species only

Ornithoicaturdi (Olivier in Latreille, 1812)

Figs 3, 32

Host-parasite associations: Aves (Passeriformes).

The genus Ornithomya Latreille, 1802

1 C sector between R1 and R2+3 not longer than sector between R2+3 and R4+5 2
– C sector between R1 and R2+3 longer than between R2+3 and R4+5 3
2 Brown spots on ventral side of head do not reach jugular setae; scutellum with 4 setae (Fig. 33); wing in hind part with 4 longitudinal stripes of microtrichia; adult 1.9–2.5 mm Ornithomyafringillina Curtis, 1836
– Triangular brown spots on ventral side of head are sharp (Fig. 41), narrowed and reach jugular setae, which are situated on sides of occipital foramen; scutellum usually with 6 or more setae (Fig. 34); wing in hind part with 3 longitudinal stripes of microtrichia; adult 2.1–2.6 mm Ornithomyachloropus Bergroth, 1901
3 Wing dark and all surface evenly covered by microtrichia; scutellum with 10–12 setae (Fig. 35); all body covered by setae; adult 2.0–2.5 mm Ornithomyacomosa (Austen, 1930)
– Surface of wing covered by microtrichia no more than 2/3, base of wing without of microtrichia 4
4 Wing with microtrichia only on apex and in cell m1; scutellum with 8 setae (Fig. 36); abdomen on apex with numerous long setae; adult 3.0–3.5 mm Ornithomyaavicularia (Linnaeus, 1758)
– Microtrichia covered nearly all wing except base or only cells r3 and m2, long setae absent on apex of abdomen 5
5 Wing dark with intensive microtrichia; thorax with 16–18 mesopleural setae on each side; scutellum with 6 setae (Fig. 37); abdomen similar as in following species; vibrissal spines almost missing Ornithomyabiloba Dufour, 1827
– Wing light with extensive microtrichia, thorax with 6–10 mesopleural setae on each side; scutellum with 4 (6) setae; abdomen (Figs 43, 44); vibrissal spines present (Fig. 42) Ornithomyarupes Hutson, 1981
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Host-parasite associations: Aves (Accipitriformes, Anseriformes, Falconiformes, Passeriformes, Pelecaniformes, Strigiformes), Mammalia (Primates).

The genus OrnithophilaRondani, 1879

1 4.0–5.0 mm; scutellum dark, except for a narrow, light stripe at base; male tergal plates 3 and 4 as wide as scutellum Ornithophilametallica (Schiner, 1864)
– 5.0–7.0 mm; scutellum with a broad yellow band at base and a yellow triangle at apex; male tergal plates 3 and 4 as wide as a little more than 1/2 width of scutellum Ornithophilagestroi (Rondani, 1878)
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Host-parasite associations: Aves (Passeriformes).

The genus Pseudolynchia Bequaert, 1926

1 Hind scutellar margin in dorsal view straight or nearly straight (Fig. 38); interantennal area of frons as wide as or rarely slightly narrower than its distance to eye; prescutum with 20–30 long pale fine setae and before which with 2 or 3 series of shorter ones (Fig. 28); mid tarsus with group of peg-like modified spines under segment 1 at base Pseudolynchiacanariensis (Macquart in Webb & Berthelot, 1839)
– Hind scutellar margin in dorsal view distinctly curved; interantennal area of frons always much narrower than its distance to eye; prescutum with 12–18 long, fairly robust and generally black setae and before which, with 1 or 2 series of shorter ones; mid tarsus with only pointed setae under segment 1 at base Pseudolynchiagarzettae (Rondani, 1879)
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Host-parasite associations: Aves (Accipitriformes).

The genus Stenepteryx Leach, 1817 – one species only

Stenepteryxhirundinis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Fig. 12

Host-parasite associations: Aves (Passeriformes: Hirundinidae).

Discussion

Updated keys to eleven European hippoboscid genera comprising 31 species are provided. We hope that they will contribute as a tool for determining European specimens of the most fascinating and neglected group of blood-feeding ectoparasites from the family Hippoboscidae (see Bezerra-Santos and Otranto 2020).

The recent checklist of louse flies of the family Hippoboscidae from Slovakia (see Oboňa et al. 2019b) includes 19 species; the present paper increases this list to 20 species. Four new host-parasite associations from Slovakia are also recorded (O.avicularia on the reed bunting and European starling, and O.fringillina on the barn swallow and the lesser whitethroat; see also Table 2).

Table 2.

An overview of recorded host-parasites associations.

Parasites Hosts
Hippoboscaequina Mammalia: Primates: Homosapiens*
Lipoptenacervi Mammalia: Primates: Homosapiens*
Lipoptenafortisetosa Mammalia: Primates: Homosapiens*; Aves: Parusmajor*
Ornithomyaavicularia Aves: Passeriformes: Emberizaschoeniclus, Hirundorustica, Panurusbiarmicus, Sturnusvulgaris
Ornithomyabiloba Aves: Passeriformes: Hirundorustica, Ripariariparia
Ornithomyacomosa Aves: Passeriformes: Ripariariparia
Ornithomyafringillina Aves: Passeriformes: Currucacurruca, Hirundorustica
Stenepteryxhirundinis Aves: Passeriformes: Delichonurbicum
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* Accidental association, parasite species do not complete development on this host.

Of a total of 20 Slovakian hippoboscid species, 12 are native. The remaining eight species (Hippoboscalongipennis Fabricius, 1805, H.variegata Megerle, 1803, Icostaminor (Bigot, 1858), Olfersiafumipennis (Sahlberg, 1886), Ornithoicaturdi (Latreille, 1812), Ornithophilametallica (Schiner, 1864), Pseudolynchiacanariensis (Macquart, 1839), and the newly recorded Ornithomyiacomosa (Austen, 1930) have been recorded from Slovakia based on very few records due to their hosts being usually occasional visitors (Oboňa et al. 2019b).

According to Nartshuk et al. (2019a), there are two possible explanations for the current distribution of O.comosa: O.comosa migrates with adult swallows from West Siberia or Kazakhstan to western Russia or O.comosa has always or for a long time been present in western Russia, but it has not been previously collected. For the European records of O.comosa, migrating swallows cannot bring O.comosa from Africa, as O.comosa does not occur there, but some H.rustica do, spending the winter in Asia, where O.comosa occurs. We also assume that records by Doszhanov (1970, 2003) from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan could represent a bridge between the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and the African-Eurasian Flyway (see Boere and Stroud 2006). In this area, parasites can be transferred between hosts from East Asian countries (e.g., India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaya, Japan) to western Siberia, western Russia, and Europe. However, the question is whether O.comosa has already adapted to local conditions and become a native species in Europe or will it continue to be only an occasionally introduced species.

The collection dates by Austen (1930) from India (February–April), King (1969) from Thailand (Bangkok) (ectoparasites collected during “winter”), and Mogi et al. (2002) from Japan (September–December) suggest that O.comosa is active mainly in autumn and winter (native populations). However, the findings from Kazakhstan by Doszhanov (1970) are from the period May–October, and the most recent records from the Kaliningrad region (Nartshuk et al. 2019a) correspond to the findings presented in this article, i.e., July and August. Therefore, we believe that the parasite does not have to come from the spring migration but, on the contrary, from the summer/autumn migration (possibly also from the Kaliningrad area). A similar phenomenon is recorded for the non-native species Ornithoicaturdi (Olivier in Latreille, 1811) (e.g., records from Vienna from August, see Zittra et al. (2020)) transported by hosts from wintering grounds in Africa. The relatively late record after migration from the wintering grounds has two possible explanations. The first is that these parasites are able to live for more than two months (see Chalupský 1980). The second is that it could be a hatched fly, and therefore it may not be a casual traveller from Africa (O.turdi) or Asia (O.comosa), but that it is already breeding here (as a native species?). This is also indirectly confirmed by the negative findings from the spring migration.

Acknowledgements

We thank the subject editor and the anonymous reviewers for their valuable and constructive comments on the first version of the manuscript. The study was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. APVV-16-0411, by the grant VEGA 1/0876/21 (J. Oboňa, M. Hromada), by the Grant Agency of University of Prešov in Prešov under the contract No. GaPU 1/2022 (K. Fogašová), and by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic through the institutional financing of long-term conceptual development of a research institution (the Silesian Museum, MK000100595) (J. Roháček).

Citation

Oboňa J, Fogašová K, Fulín M, Greš S, Manko P, Repaský J, Roháček J, Sychra O, Hromada M (2022) Updated taxonomic keys for European Hippoboscidae (Diptera), and expansion in Central Europe of the bird louse fly Ornithomya comosa (Austen, 1930) with the first record from Slovakia. ZooKeys 1115: 81–101. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1115.80146

References

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