Hippoboscoidea is a superfamily of Calyptratae. The flies in this superfamily are blood-feeding obligate parasites of their hosts. The Hippoboscidae are commonly called louse flies. The Streblidae and Nycteribiidae are known as bat flies. The family Mormotomyiidae contains one species, Mormotomyia hirsuta Austen, known from one locality in Kenya.

In older literature, this group is often referred to as the Pupipara, in reference to the fact that, unlike virtually all other insects, most of the larval development takes place inside the mother's body, and pupation occurs almost immediately after "birth" - in essence, a female lays pupae rather than laying eggs (though she only can produce them one at a time).

Reference

Borror, D.J., C.A. Triplehorn, and N.F. Johnson. 1989. An Introduction to the Study of Insects, 6th edition. Saunders College Publishing.

External links

1. Encyclopedia Britannica

Flies

Hippoboscoidea