Haematobia exigua, known as buffalo fly, is a fly of the family Muscidae. The species was first described from Java and occurs across mainland and island South-east Asia.[1] The species is introduced to Australia where it has a wide distribution, inhabiting tropical areas of Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. It is widely considered a pest, and continues to cause much damage to livestock; as they are of the genus Haematobia, buffalo flies must feed off the blood of mammals to survive, cutting through the skin with two separate mouthparts.
| Haematobia exigua | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Muscidae |
| Subfamily: | Muscinae |
| Tribe: | Stomoxyini |
| Genus: | Haematobia |
| Species: | H. exigua
|
| Binomial name | |
| Haematobia exigua Meijere, 1906
| |
| Synonyms | |
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In 1928-1930, Australian entomologists Ian Murray Mackerras and Mabel Josephine Mackerras did substantial research into buffalo fly, increasing knowledge into methods of their control. Josephine Mackerras' research on blowfly infestation led to many papers being published, both alone and in collaboration with her husband and scientific partner Murray Mackerras.[2]
References
edit- ^ Low, Van Lun; Tan, Tiong Kai; Prakash, Batah Kunalan; Vinnie-Siow, Wei Yin; Tay, Sun Tee; Masmeatathip, Roungthip; Hadi, Upik Kesumawati; Lim, Yvonne Ai Lian; Chen, Chee Dhang; Norma-Rashid, Yusoff; Sofian-Azirun, Mohd (2017-07-19). "Contrasting evolutionary patterns between two haplogroups of Haematobia exigua (Diptera: Muscidae) from the mainland and islands of Southeast Asia". Scientific Reports. 7 (5871). doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05921-w. PMC 5517420. PMID 28724923.
- ^ Williams, Lesley, "Mackerras, Mabel Josephine (Jo) (1896–1971)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2022-11-02
- buffalo fly CSIRO