Louse flies
Scientific name: Lipoptena
Louse flies
Scientific name: Lipoptena
Photo By gbohne , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
Despite belonging to the order of Diptera, Lipoptena defies the typical behavior expected of most flies. Uniquely, adults in this genus are winged initially but upon finding a suitable host, they shed their wings, a rare phenomenon in the insect world. This adaptation allows them to remain attached to their hosts, primarily deer, enhancing their parasitic efficiency.
Species of Louse flies
Photo By gbohne , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original