Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Previous data on Estonian louse flies (Diptera, Hippoboscidae) are dispersed across various, mainly local scientific articles and popular science writings, making them inaccessible to a broader interna‑ tional audience. No comprehensive species list or reviews are currently available. This study consolidates data from published sources, insect collections, and newly collected specimens to provide a comprehen‑ sive species list, supplemented with voucher specimen information. In total, nine species are confirmed to occur in Estonia, including two species, Ornithomya chloropus (Bergroth, 1901) and O. fringillina Curtis, 1836, recorded for the first time. Two species associated with livestock, Hippobosca equina Linnaeus, 1758 and Melophagus ovinus (Linnaeus, 1758), have been rarely encountered and are apparently nearing local extinction due to the increased use of effective insecticides and a decline in farming. Collection locality maps and habitus photographs from collected specimens are provided for all nine Estonian species.
Source: Check List
DOI: 10.15560/20.5.1083
Authors: Olavi Kurina, Kristjan Jaak Valk
Institution: Estonian University of Life Sciences
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $161
Funder: Eesti Teadusagentuur
OpenAlex ID: W4403184102