Hardened, flattened with a pair of long membranous wings
A dark figure holding on tight in a wall so white
Its head bears a pointed proboscis
It was a cool, windy and cloudy afternoon, I was onsite, overseeing a bird control project for a premiere hospital site. I was in the midst of checking the progress of the work with our Staff, when all of a sudden I abruptly cut our conversation. I saw a small, dark and flattened creature clinging all by itself in a light colored post. I was quite intrigued with this winged insect! I immediately took a few photo shots of my insect target before it flew away. This is the first time I have observed such a strange fly - the top potion of its thorax looks like a hardened, leather shield with outgrowths of hair, it has long creepy looking legs and the tip of its head bears a pointed proboscis. This fly is a blood sucker! This strange looking fly is the pigeon louse fly or flat fly!
PIGEON LOUSE FLIES, Pseudolynchia canariensis (DIPTERA: HIPPOBOSCIDAE)
Pigeon louse flies or pigeon flies are also called flat flies. They are brown to dark brown in color, 5-6 mm head and body length, 6-7 mm wing span. Its dorso-ventrally flattened body bear a pair of membranous wings. Their legs have specialized claws which aids them in clinging to the feathers of their bird host.
DISTRIBUTION OF PIGEON LOUSE FLIES
Pigeon louse flies are reported to be present in locations worldwide wherever pigeons and doves are domestically raised. They are reported to be associated with feral populations of pigeons in continental Africa, in Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, in Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands (Japan), Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and in the USA (in Florida and the Southeastern States).
This sighting might be the first time it was reported to be present in the UAE. (Please post a comment if you have reports of earlier or other sightings).
BIODYNAMIC NOTES
Pigeon house flies are OBLIGATE PARASITES of pigeons and doves.
Obligate parasites depend completely on their hosts for their habitat, food, reproduction and survival. Without its host it will die!
Pigeon louse flies have transparent membranous wings which they retain throughout their entire adult life. A related species., the deer ked (Lipoptena cervi) lose their wings once the newly emerged adults find a deer host.
Both male and female pigeon louse flies are blood feeders.
Pigeon louse flies have tough exoskeletons that protect them from being crushed by their host bird when it is grooming.
These hippoboscid flies are vectors and intermediate host of the protozoan parasites of pigeons, Haemoproteus columbae. This is a malaria-like parasite that has minimal effect on adult birds but is fatal when it infects the young. They can also carry phoretic mites and bird biting lice.
TAKE NOTE: These flat flies rarely bite humans and are reported that they are NOT ABLE to transfer any diseases to us.
This was truly an awesome chance encounter with a truly awesome and ferocious bird parasitic insect. I was only able to secure a few photo shots, hopefully I will be able to encounter these flies again.
Awesome creatures! Awesome CREATOR!
Thanks for your support and careful attention.
If you need Pest Management Training, Technical Field Support, On-Line and On-Site Consultancy, please feel free to send me an email: odelon.reyes@gmail.com
