''Microlynchia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of biting

flies Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

of louse flies,

Hippoboscidae __NOTOC__ Hippoboscidae, the louse flies or keds, are obligate parasites of mammals and birds. In this family, the winged species can fly at least reasonably well, though others with vestigial or no wings are flightless and highly apomorphic. As ...

. There are four known species. All species are

parasites Parasitism is a Symbiosis, close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the Host (biology), host, causing it some harm, and is Adaptation, adapted structurally to this way of lif ...

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

s. ''Microlynchia'' differs from '' Pseudolynchia'' in the presence of minute

ocelli A simple eye (sometimes called a pigment pit) refers to a form of eye or an optical arrangement composed of a single lens and without an elaborate retina such as occurs in most vertebrates. In this sense "simple eye" is distinct from a multi-l ...

and a differently shaped scutellum.

Distribution

Found throughout North and Central America, and parts of South America,

Galápagos Islands The Galápagos Islands (Spanish: , , ) are an archipelago of volcanic islands. They are distributed on each side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere, and are part of the Republic of Ecuador ...

Systematics

*Genus ''Microlynchia'' Lutz, 1915 :*Species group 'a' ::*'' Microlynchia crypturelli''

Bequaert Joseph Charles Bequaert was an American naturalist of Belgian origin, born 24 May 1886 in Torhout (Belgium) and died on 12 January 1982 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Clench WJ (1982). "Joseph Charles Bequaert". '' The Nautilus'' 96(2)page 35 Career ...

, 1938 ::*'' Microlynchia furtiva''

, 1955 ::*'' Microlynchia pusilla'' (

Speiser Speiser is a German and Yiddish surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Ambros Speiser (1922–2003), Swiss engineer and scientist *Andreas Speiser (1885–1970), Swiss mathematician *Elisabeth Speiser (born 1940), Swiss operatic sopra ...

, 1902) :*Species group 'b' ::*'' Microlynchia galapagoensis''

, 1955

References

Hippoboscidae Parasites of birds Parasitic flies Hippoboscoidea genera {{Parasite-insect-stub