Pigeon Louse Fly

Pigeon Louse Fly

Pseudolynchia canariensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Valencia, Spain

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

7 Verified sightings at Valencia, Spain
August Best month

About the Pigeon Louse Fly

Pseudolynchia canariensis, the pigeon louse fly or pigeon fly, is a species of biting fly in the family of louse flies, Hippoboscidae. Pseudolynchia canariensis are species-specific (Columbidae) obligate ectoparasites potentially found in many parts of world where domestic pigeons are kept. Known from wild or feral hosts in continental Africa, the Mediterranean Sub-region, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, the Philippines, Malaya, and Indonesia, as well as North America and South America in warmer latitudes.

In 1931, G. Robert Coatney conducted an experiment to determine if pigeon louse flies would bite humans and survive on human blood and he found they could not. The only wild hosts are pigeons and doves (Columbidae). In domestic settings they have been recorded from 33 genera, 13 families and 8 orders of birds.

Pseudolynchia canariensis is the definitive host (sexual reproduction takes place in the insect vector) for the protozoan Haemoproteus columbae or pigeon malaria and transmits this parasite to Columbiformes. This parasite can be fatal to young rock pigeons in extremely infected birds... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Valencia 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
2 Tel Aviv 🇮🇱 Israel
~10%
3 Bucharest 🇷🇴 Romania
~10%
4 Lisbon 🇵🇹 Portugal
<5%
5 Rome 🇮🇹 Italy
<5%
6 Kyiv 🇺🇦 Ukraine
<5%
7 Barcelona 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
8 Monterrey 🇲🇽 México
<5%
9 São Paulo 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
10 Bengaluru 🇮🇳 India
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Pigeon Louse Fly in Valencia, Spain?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Pigeon Louse Fly sighting in Valencia, Spain on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 100th most-seen of the 147 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Pigeon Louse Fly in Valencia, Spain?

August

In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Pigeon Louse Fly in Valencia, Spain on a given day, against under 5% in April, June and October–February, the lowest months. That is one of Valencia, Spain's driest months, with about 20 mm of rain against 50 mm in September.

Is Valencia, Spain the best place to see a Pigeon Louse Fly?

Yes

Of the 16 cities where we can rate Pigeon Louse Fly sightings, Valencia, Spain has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Tel Aviv (Israel, about 10%) and Bucharest (Romania, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Pigeon Louse Fly live in Valencia, Spain?

Same order: Diptera

The closest relatives of the Pigeon Louse Fly that you can see in Valencia, Spain (order Diptera, Flies) are Bathroom Moth Fly (about 20%), Marmalade Hover Fly (about 10%) and Stripe-Eyed Lagoon Fly (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Pigeon Louse Fly sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Pigeon Louse Fly is recorded against all the insects logged in Valencia, Spain (7 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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