New Record of Carnus Hemapterus Nitzsch, 1818 (Cyclorrhapha: Carnidae) in Spain

NEW RECORD OF CARNUS HEMAPTERUS NITZSCH, 1818 (CYCLORRHAPHA: CARNIDAE) IN SPAIN

J. LUCIENTES, M. FERRER-DuFOL, M.A. PERIBANEZ, M.J. GRACIA-SALlNAS, J.L. GUARGA-PENELLA, M.I. BENITO DE MARTIN & J.A. CASTILLO Departamento de Patologia Animal, Facultad de Yeterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/Miguel Servet /77, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain

Received 23 January 1996; accepted 2 April 1996 REFERENCE:LUCIE TES(J.), FERRER-DuFOL(M.), PERIBA-EZ (M.A.), GRACIA-SAUNAS(MJ.), GUARGA-PEELLA(J.L.), BE ITODEMARTIN(M.I.) & CASTILLO(J.A.), 1996.- ew record of Carnus hemapterus Nitzsch, 1818(Cyclorrhapha: Camidae) in Spain. Research and Reviews in Parasito- logy, 56 (I): 63.

ABSTRACTTh: e presence of 25 adult specimens of the dipteran Carnus hemapterus on a young barn owl, Tyto aLba captured alive in spring time in Estiche, a village of the Huesca province, Arag6n (Northeast of Spain) is reported.

KEy WORDS:Carnus hemapterus, Tyto alba, Spain, ectoparasite, Diptera.

The dipteran Carnus hemapterus Nitzsch, 1818 (Cy- Kestrel (Falco naumanni) chicks but they did not spe- clorrhapha: Carnidae) is a small fly, about 2 mm long, cify the degree of parasitation. whose larva feeds upon organic debris in birds' nests. However, the adult fly has adopted a parasitic mode of life. An ectoparasite of nesting birds, once on its host it REFERENCES loses its wings and its abdomen becomes distended (AS- KEW,1973). Its diet is not definitively known. Some aut- ASKEW (R.R.), 1973.- Parasitic Insects. Heinemann Educational hors have reported its haematophagous behaviour (No- Books, London, 313 pp. BOTrIKER (W.), 1975.- Die Gefiederfliege Carnus hemapterus LLER, 1920; GUIGUEN & LAUNAY, 1990), but other Nitzsch (Milichiidae, Dipt.) in der Schweiz. Bulletin de la So- works affirm that its only source of food is cutaneous se- ciete Entomologique Suisse, 48: 311-314. cretions (MARSHAL,1981). GUIGUEN(C.) & LAUNAY(H.), 1990.- Preuve de I'hematophagie This fly is widespread all over Europe and North de Carnus hemapterus Nitzsch (Diptera: Carnidae), parasite America (ROTHERAY, 1989; WALTER, 1990), although d'oiseaux. In: VII International Congress of Parasitology (Pa- the number of observations is not really very high due to ris), BuLLetin de la Societe Francaise de Parasitologie, 8 (Suppl. 2): SIO.B 12: 1154. its exclusive parasitism in young chicks in the nest GUlGUE (C.), LAUNAY(H.) & BEAUCOURNU(1.C.), 1983.- Ectopa- (WALTER& HUDDE, 1987). This parasitism is not very rasites des oiseaux en Bretagne. 1. Repartition et ecologie d'un specific and host choice depends mainly on ecological diptere hernatophage nouveau pour la France: Carnus hemapte- rather than phyletical relationships (GUIGUEN,LAUNAY rus Nitzsch (Cyclorrhapha, Carnidae). Revue Francaise d'Ento- & BEAUCOURNU,1983). The most frequent hosts are four mologie, nouv. ser., 5: 54-62. families of birds: falconiforms, strigiforms, piciforms MARSHAL(A.), 1981.- The ecology of ectoparasitic insects. Aca- and passeriforms. demic Press, London, 459 pp. MUNOZ LOPEz (E.), CASTELLOESPUNY (1.), POMAROLI CLOTET In this study we record the discovery of this ectopa- (M.) & GUTIERREZGALlNDO (I.F.), 1991.- Observations on rasite on one barn owl (Tyto alba), one of the bird spe- some Dipteran parasites found on chicks of Falco naumanni and cies quoted by BOTTIKER(1975) as acting as a host of Falco tinnuncuLus in Monegros (North-east of Spain). Biology this parasite. The specimen was a young barn owl in and Conservation of Small Falcons, Canterbury, September down that had been captured alive in spring time in Es- 1991: 30. tiche, a village of the Huesca province (Northeast of NOLLER(W.), 1920.- Die neueren Ergebnisse der Haemoproteus- Forschung. Zugleich vorlaufige Mitteilung uber Zuchrungsver- Spain). suche an einigen anderen Trypanosomen. Archiv fiir Protisten- After checking the bird, 25 adult specimens of Carnus kunde, 16: 149-168. hemapterus were found, 23 of them were females wit- ROTHERAY(G.E.), 1989.- E.B. Basden's collection of diptera from hout wings (19 of them engorged) and 2 were winged bird and mammal nets, and mammal runs, burrows and drop- males. They were placed mainly on the axillary part, the pings. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 125: 5-8. usual location (GUIGUEN, LAUNAY & BEAUCOURNU, WALTER (G.), 1990.- Dipteren (Diptera: Cyclorrhapha) als Ekto- parasiten von Vogeln in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Die 1983). Vogelwarte. 35: 231-242. This ectoparasite has been quoted only once in Spain WALTER (G.) & HUDDE (H.), 1987.- Die gelierderfliege Carnus by MUNOZLOPEz et al. (1991), who found it in Arag6n hemapterus (Milichiidae, Diptera), ein Ektoparasit der Nes- on Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and Lesser tlinge. Journal fur Ornithologie, 128: 251-255.