Hippobosca

Abstract: Melophagus ovinus (Linnaeus 1758), Hippobosca equina Linnaeus, 1758, and Hippobosca longipennis Fabricius, 1805 (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) are economically and medically important ectoparasites that can act as mechanic vectors of pathogens and cause myiasis in both human and domestic animals. As essential olfactory organs, antennae of these adult hippoboscids were examined using stereoscopic and scanning electron microscopes. General morphology of the antenna is provided in detail, combined with distribution, types, size, and ultrastructures of antennal sensilla. On the antennal funiculus, two types of sensilla are observed, including basiconic sensilla and coeloconic sensilla. Four common characters are shared among the three species: (1) the scape is either obsolete or fused with the fronto-clypeus; (2) branched antennal structures (branched pedicellar microtrichiae and branched arista with only one segment) are detected; (3) the enlarged antennal pedicel completely envelops the antennal funiculus; and (4) less types of sensilla on funiculus. Disparity and diversity of the antennal and sensory structures are analyzed from the phylogenetic and functional perspective. We suggest that hippoboscids are potential model for the study of the function of coeloconic sensilla in Calyptratae.

Abstract: A 48-year-old female received the bite of an unidentified insect in summer time.Almost immediately she experienced generalized pruritus. Then she developedurticaria, abdominal pain, nausea, angioedema on the face, and dyspnoea. After-wards, in the out-patient department, she underwent an allergic screening throughskin prick tests to Hymenoptera venom and dosage of specific IgE (Cap System).They revealed sensitization to Apis m, Vespula spand Polistes sp. In fact the pa-tient reported urticaria and angioedema after previous Hymenoptera stings. Weperformed a skin prick test with Tabanus extracts and obtained a positive reaction(wheal 5 mm). Later on, the patient captured the culprit insect and, after havingconsulted an entomologist, we were able to identify it as a fly from Hippobosci-dae family: Hippobosca equina(H. e.). However, we cannot fully rely on skinprick tests and specific IgE, since for the time being the extract for H. e. allergyis not available. Our case is the first clinical report of an allergic reaction after thebite of Hippobosca. ein a patient with sensitization to Hymenoptera venom.Palabras clave: Anaphylaxis. Cross-reaction. Hymenoptera. Diptera. Hippo-bosca equina.Anaphylaxis to the sting of insect in Italy is very frequent, especially toHymenoptera family

Abstract: Our knowledge regarding the biology of Hippoboscidae is but fragmentary. Leuckart (1858) and Pratt (1900) have described the embryology of Melophagus ovinus L. Austen (1903), who described the puparium of Hippobosca maculata Leach, found that the females soon starve when removed from their host. Austen continues: “It is believed that the females of the genus Hippobosca deposit their larvae on the ground, but it is not definitely known, whether they bury them or merely place them on the surface. Several pupae of H. maculata have been found in the calf sheds of the King Institute, but it is not clear, as to whether they were intentionally or accidentally deposited there.” Theobald (1908), on the contrary, asserts that female H. camelina and H. maculata attach their pupae to their host's hair. Massonat (1909) relates that the pupation period of H. equina varies with the temperature.