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Photo#375286
Hippoboscid Fly, from Hermit Thrush - Ornithoctona

Hippoboscid Fly, from Hermit Thrush - Ornithoctona
Metro Beach Metropark, Macomb County, Michigan, USA
September 30, 2009
Size: Approx. 1/4 inch
Definitely a Hippoboscid fly, as it came from a Hermit Thrush I was banding, but which species?

Images of this individual: tag all
Hippoboscid Fly, from Hermit Thrush - Ornithoctona Hippoboscid Fly, from Hermit Thrush - Ornithoctona

Which species?
You can narrow it down to two species, as that's all there are in North America in this genus: Ornithoctona fusciventris (Wiedemann) and Ornithoctona erythrocephala (Leach). I just spent several hours trying to key out a specimen from a Malaise trap in WV and gave up. This is one of the three most evolved families of Diptera, and they may as well be a different order entirely.

Moved
Moved from Louse Flies.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Don't know, but...
My compliments to you for bothering to get images, let alone such nice ones! I'm sure we will collectively come up with an answer for you, if only because there aren't that many species of these to choose from.

 
Even if a specific ID is not
Even if a specific ID is not possible, I did want to get these into the Guide as I noticed there aren't very many...

 
Allen...
I am building a reference parasite collection for the Division of Parasitic Diseases at the CDC (from all vertebrates, not just humans). I'd be very interested in getting specimens of hibboboscids you find. If possible, my email is on my profile! Thanks!

 
Collecting Hippoboscids
Blaine,

I will keep your information on file and send you any that I find. I should say, though, that I band mainly songbirds which rarely have Hippoboscids on them. They are much more frequent on hawks and owls. Also, how would you like them preserved, and how mailed to you?

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