Incidence of louse flies on birds from the Russian Far East (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) and investigation of the status of some taxa by DNA barcoding

Meissner BR, Rodriguez-Vera F, Hawlitschek O, Heim W, Jentzsch M

Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed

Abstract

We report seven species of bird louse flies (Hippoboscidae) collected from 33 bird hosts from Muraviovka Park for Sustainable Land Use (Amur Oblast, Russia). Overall, there is a distinct majority of female flies. Our record of Icosta holoptera represents the first observation in Russia. DNA barcoding showed Ornithomya aobatonis as a valid species (stat. rev., Ornithomya avicularia aobatonis). This species is the one most frequently observed in our investigations. Our records represent a westward expansion of the known distribution ranges of all species, which were previously restricted to an isolated area in the easternmost part of Russia and the neighboring border regions. Our records of Ornithomya chloropus suggest a gap closure the western distribution area. Five of the louse flies (5.6%) served as phorents for mites (Acari) and their egg deposits.