Haematobia exigua

{{Short description|Species of fly}} {{Speciesbox | image = | image_caption = | taxon = Haematobia exigua | display_parents = 3 | authority = Meijere, 1906 | synonyms =*''Haematobia australis'' <small>Malloch, 1932</small>

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'''''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.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Contrasting evolutionary patterns between two haplogroups of Haematobia exigua (Diptera: Muscidae) from the mainland and islands of Southeast Asia |journal=Scientific Reports |last1=Low |first1=Van Lun |date=2017-07-19 |issue=5871 |volume=7 |last2=Tan |first2=Tiong Kai |last3=Prakash |first3=Batah Kunalan |last4=Vinnie-Siow |first4=Wei Yin |last5=Tay |first5=Sun Tee |last6=Masmeatathip |first6=Roungthip |last7=Hadi |first7=Upik Kesumawati |last8=Lim |first8=Yvonne Ai Lian |last9=Chen |first9=Chee Dhang |last10=Norma-Rashid |first10=Yusoff |last11=Sofian-Azirun |first11=Mohd|doi=10.1038/s41598-017-05921-w |pmid=28724923 |pmc=5517420 |bibcode=2017NatSR...7.5871L }}</ref> 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; like other species of genus ''Haematobia'', buffalo flies must feed off the blood of mammals to survive, cutting through the skin with two separate mouthparts.

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.<ref>{{Citation |last=Williams |first=Lesley |title=Mackerras, Mabel Josephine (Jo) (1896–1971) |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mackerras-mabel-josephine-jo-11411 |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |place=Canberra |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |language=en |access-date=2022-11-02}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} *[https://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/name_c/a_634.htm buffalo fly] CSIRO

Category:Muscidae Category:Insects of Australia Category:Insects described in 1906 Category:Taxa named by Johannes C. H. de Meijere Category:Flies of Australasia