Overview
A family of greatly modified ectoparasites on mammals and birds. There are some 24 described species in Australia, but some remain undescribed. Most fall in the large family Ornithomyinae, and more than 50% are introduced. The latter include the so-called 'sheep tick',
Melophagus ovinus
(L.), which can cause losses through anaemia and staining of the wool.
All species are blood-sucking ectoparasites. Adults live amongst the hair of mammals or the feathers of birds; in Australia most infest birds, but four species of
Ortholfersia
and one of
Austrolfersis
live on wallabies;
M. ovinus
on sheep; and
Hippobosca equina
L. on horses. Eggs develop within the body of the female fly and, when mature, are deposited away from the host (except in
M. ovinus
, where they are laid and pupate in the host's wool). This family contains wingless species.
Description
Adult morphology is strongly adapted to life on the host: the body flattened, the mouthparts porrect (directed forwards), and the legs long and robust with large claws for grasping the host's hair or feathers. The general appearance is louse- or tick-like. With the exception of
Melophagus
, all Australian species are winged and the venation is characteristic, with the strong veins all concentrated anteriorly.
Distribution
Many species have wide, cosmopolitan distributions - especially the parasites of sea-birds, with their wide-ranging hosts. Endemic Australian species are recorded mainly from the eastern states, including Tasmania.