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

## TL;DR

This study reports new records of louse flies and their host associations in Romania, including a new species and novel parasite-host interactions.

## Contribution

The study documents new host-parasite and hyperparasite associations, including the first records of hyperparasitic mites in Romania.

## Key findings

- Pseudolynchia canariensis is a new record for Romania's fauna.
- New host associations are reported for Icosta minor, Ornithoica turdi, and Ornithophila metallica.
- Phoretic Mallophaga louse was observed attached to Ornithomya avicularia.

## 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 To the best of the authors' knowledge, many of the parasite-host associations are new and are previously unpublished.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.

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•The first records of hyperparasitic mites are documented from Romania.•Host associations were analyzed using the Gephi network.•New host associations are reported for Icosta minor, Ornithoica turdi, and Ornithophila metallica.•Phoretic Mallophaga louse was observed attached to Ornithomya avicularia.•The status of non-native species is re-evaluated, and a new record from Romania is presented.

The first records of hyperparasitic mites are documented from Romania.

Host associations were analyzed using the Gephi network.

New host associations are reported for Icosta minor, Ornithoica turdi, and Ornithophila metallica.

Phoretic Mallophaga louse was observed attached to Ornithomya avicularia.

The status of non-native species is re-evaluated, and a new record from Romania is presented.