Small-headed Fly vs Pigeon Louse Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Small-headed Fly Pigeon Louse Fly
Scientific Name Ogcodes pallidipennis Pseudolynchia canariensis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Acroceridae Hippoboscidae
Size 4-8 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Grasslands Woodlands
Diet Parasitoids Blood Feeders
Regions Europe Cosmopolitan - worldwide wherever pigeons occur
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Small-headed Fly

A round-bodied fly with a tiny head whose larva parasitizes spiders from the inside.

💡

Did You Know?

The first-instar larva attaches to a passing spider and burrows inside to feed.

Pigeon Louse Fly

A flattened, tough-bodied blood-sucking fly found on pigeons and doves worldwide. It has a leathery appearance, strong claws, and wings that allow it to move between bird hosts.

💡

Did You Know?

It is the primary vector of pigeon malaria, a Haemoproteus blood parasite that infects domestic and wild pigeons.