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The available keys for European Hippoboscidae are outdated and do not cover all species currently known from Europe.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. Ornithomya comosa (Austen, 1930) (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) is recorded for the first time from the territory of Slovakia based on one female found on a sand martin, Riparia riparia (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.

Ectoparasites such as louse flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) have tendency for host specialization, which is driven by adaptation to host biology as well as competition avoidance between parasites of the same host. However, some louse fly species, especially in genera attacking birds, show wide range of suitable hosts. In the presented study, we have surveyed the current status of bird attacking louse flies in Finland to provide comprehensive host association data to analyse the ecological requirements of the generalist species. A thorough sampling of 9342 birds, representing 134 species, recovered 576 specimens of louse flies, belonging to six species: Crataerina hirundinis, C. pallida, Ornithomya avicularia, O. chloropus, O. fringillina and Ornithophila metallica. Despite some overlapping hosts, the three Ornithomya species showed a notable pattern in their host preference, which was influenced not only by the host size but also by the habitat and host breeding strategy. We also provide DNA barcodes for most Finnish species of Hippoboscidae, which can be used as a resource for species identification as well as metabarcoding studies in the future.

Ornithomya avicularia (LINNAEUS, 1758) OÖ, Sengsengebirge, Bodinggraben, 22.7.01. Neu für Oberösterreich., Published as part of Schlüsslmayr, Gerhard, 2018, Erstnachweise von Fliegen (Diptera) für Österreich und einige Bundesländer, pp. 765-800 in Linzer biologische Beiträge 50 (1) on page 799, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4004374

Hippoboscid flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) include species that are ectoparasites of birds in the Northern Hemisphere, but little is known regarding their taxonomy, parasites, avian host associations, or geographical distribution in North America. In late August of 2013 and 2014, we collected hippoboscid flies from live birds trapped in mist nets as part of a banding study in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in southeastern Alberta, Canada. A total of 113 birds comprising 9 species was examined in 2013. Of these, 18 individuals were infested with 1-3 Ornithomya anchineuria Speiser (n = 22 flies; prevalence = 15.9%). Eight of these flies carried 1-8 adult female epidermoptid mites anchored to their ventral, posterior abdomens. Each female was associated with clusters of up to 30 stalked eggs. The first pair of tarsi on adult female mites was highly modified as anchors, indicating permanent attachment through the host cuticle. Morphological traits identified these mites as Myialges cf. borealis Mironov, Skirnisson, Thorarinsdottier and Nielsen. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 ( COX1) gene sequences obtained for 2 mites were distinct from those previously reported for species of Myialges, being most similar to Myialges trinotoni Cooreman. The paucity of available gene sequences for Myialges and related genera of epidermoptid mites prevents any further conclusions regarding taxonomy. These findings extend previous reports of O. anchineuria from Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Canada inland to the central migratory flyway of the Northern Great Plains and expand the limited information available for Myialges spp.

ambigua Lutz, Neiva & Costa-Lima, 1915: 185, pl. 27, fig. 5, pl. 28, fig. 7 (Pseudornithomyia). Type locality: Brazil, Minas Gerais and Santa Catarina. ST 4 (CEIOC), but three specimens are apparently loose]. Distr.: Colombia (Antioquia (Valdivia), Santander Norte (Buenos Aires)), Venezuela, Brazil, Peru. Refs.: Bequaert, 1954: 156; Maa, 1963: 14, 1969d: 271 (checklist); Guimarães, 1968: 2 (cat.)., Published as part of Graciolli, Gustavo, 2016, FAMILY HIPPOBOSCIDAE, pp. 771-779 in Zootaxa 4122 (1) on page 773, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4122.1.65, http://zenodo.org/record/265846, {"references":["Lutz, A., Neiva, A. & Costa Lima, A. da (1915) Sobre \" Pupipara \" ou \" Hippoboscidae \" de aves brasileiras. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 7, 173 - 199, pls. 27 - 28. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1590 / s 0074 - 02761915000200003","Bequaert, J. C. (1954) The Hippoboscidae or louse-flies (Diptera) of mammals and birds Part II. Taxonomy, evolution and revision of American Genera and species. Entomologica Americana, New Series, 34, 1 - 232.","Maa, T. C. (1963) Genera and species of Hippoboscidae (Diptera): types, synonymy, habitats and natural groups. Pacific Insects Monographs, 6, 1 - 186.","Guimaraes, L. R. (1968) 101. Family Hippoboscidae. In: Papavero, N. (Ed.), A catalogue of the Diptera of the Americas south of the United States. Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 7 pp."]}

One genus, Ornithoica Rondani, and two species, Ornithoica momiyamai Kishida, and O. unicolor Speiser, are reported for the first time from the Republic of Korea. A total of six species, including two new records, of louse flies were collected from 78 birds belonging to 35 species from Seoul and Incheon Metropolitan Areas and Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Gyeongsangbuk, Jeollabuk, and Jeollanam Provinces, 2005–2010. An updated checklist of Korean hippoboscids consisting of seven genera (Hippobosca L., Icosta Speiser, Lipoptena Nitzsch, Ornithoica Rondani, Ornithoctona Speiser, Ornithomya Lattreille, and Ornithophila Rondani) and 11 species is presented, including hosts, collection records, and repositories.

Using molecular and morphological data, we investigate the validity of two hippoboscid species, viz. Ornithomya fringillina (Curtis) and O. chloropus (Bergroth) that are parapatric in northern Europe and had previously been synonymized. We study four morphological characters that had been proposed as diagnostic for species separation, but only one, relatively weak character (a gena marking), has discontinuous variation across the putative species. In order to collect more evidence for deciding on the species status, we sequenced an approximately 810 bp long region of COI for 13 specimens from sympatric populations. The signal from the sequences suggests that O. fringillina and O. chloropus are different species because the interspecifi c genetic distances between the taxa are twenty times larger than the intraspecifi c variability of O. fringillina. We argue that even a small number of sequences can yield signifi cant information on taxonomic issues as long as the specimens are predominantly collected for (1) those species/populations whose status is diffi cult to resolve based on morphological information and (2) those specimens that come from sympatric populations of the “problematic” species. (3) We also suggest that the status of a rare species can be adequately addressed with very few sequences as long as the intraspecifi c variability of more common, close relatives have been adequately assessed.

Hippoboscid flies were found on 62 (17%) of 382 northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) captured between April and September, 1986 through 1990. Two species of hippoboscids were identified: Icosta americana and Ornithomya anchineuria. Male and female adult spotted owls had similar prevalences and relative densities of hippoboscid flies. Juvenile owls had lower prevalence and relative densities than adults. There were no significant differences in mean intensity of hippoboscids on adult male, adult female and juvenile spotted owls. Relative densities of flies infesting adult owls were significantly greater during years of increased fall temperatures, decreased winter precipitation, and decreased summer temperatures.

The ♀♀ of Strelkoviacarus quadratus (Haller), S. critesi Spory, Microlichus avus (Trouessart), Mi. uncus Vitzthum, Myialges macdonaldi Evans et al. and My. anchora Sergent & Trouessart are redescribed, illustrated and keyed. The first five species were collected at Gibraltar Point and Fair Isle Bird Observatories, Britain, from Ornithomya flies taken from birds. My. anchora is included on the basis of records in the literature. Only adult ♀♀ mites were collected from flies. Different birds, and sometimes different flies, were preferred as hosts by the various mites. The mites were topographically separated on the flies. Some were invariably accompanied by eggs, while others were not. Also, there were definite seasonal variations in abundance which generally correlated with the seasonal occurrence of the flies on the hosts. All of the mites are assumed to be primarily skin or feather parasites of birds. In some cases adult ♀♀ are phoretic on the flies whereas in others they are hyperparasitic. The association of mites-flies-birds is the chief means of dispersal of mites from bird to bird.