Louse flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) of Romania: New records and novel host–parasite and hyperparasites associations

Abstract

This study presents records of ectoparasitic flies from the family Hippoboscidae collected in Romania between 2022 and 2024. A total of seven species were recorded, with Pseudolynchia canariensis (Macquart in Webb and Berthelot, 1839) representing a new record for the fauna of Romania. To the best of the authors' knowledge, many of the parasite-host associations are new and are previously unpublished. In addition, a graphical network illustrating these associations is provided. This network highlights the frequency and diversity of host-parasite interactions across the study sites. The recorded phoresis of Guimaraesiella (Mallophaga) on Ornithomya avicularia (Linnaeus, 1758) and the hyperparasites Hemimyialges macdonaldi (Evans et al., 1963) and Myialges anchora Sergent and Trouessart, 1907 (both Acariformes: Epidermoptidae) on Ornithoica turdi (Olivier in Latreille, 1811) are newly documented in Romania.

Keywords

• Hippoboscids
• Faunistics
• New record
• Phoresy