''Olfersia'' 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 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 ...

. The genus was erected by

William Elford Leach William Elford Leach Royal Society, FRS (2 February 1791 – 25 August 1836) was an English zoologist and marine biologist. Life and work Elford Leach was born at Hoe Gate, Plymouth, the son of an attorney. At the age of twelve he began a me ...

in 1817. There are seven known species, and all 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 ...

Distribution

''Olfersia'' are found worldwide with the exception of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, but are most abundant in North and Central America.

Systematics

*Genus ''Olfersia''

Leach Leach may refer to: * Leach (surname) * Leach, Oklahoma, an unincorporated community, United States * Leach, Tennessee, an unincorporated community, United States * Leach Highway, Western Australia * Leach orchid * Leach phenotype, a mutation in ...

, 1817 :*Species group 'a' ::*'' O. sordida''

Bigot Discrimination is the act of making unjustified distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong. People may be discriminated on the basis of race, gender, age, rel ...

, 1885 :*Species group 'b' ::*'' O. bisulcata'' Macquart, 1847 ::*'' O. fossulata'' Macquart, 1843 ::*'' O. fumipennis'' (J. Sahlberg, 1886) :*Species group 'c' ::*'' O. aenescens'' C. G. Thompson, 1869 ::*'' O. spinifera'' (Leach, 1817) :*Species group 'd' ::*'' O. coriacea'' van der Wulp, 1903

References

Hippoboscidae Parasites of birds Hippoboscoidea genera Taxa named by William Elford Leach {{Parasite-insect-stub