Phoresy of a sucking louse, Linognathus sp. (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Linognathidae), by Musca (Byomya) conducens Walker (Diptera: Muscidae) in South Africa

This paper reports the capture of a specimen of Musca (Byomya) conducens Walker, 1859 from Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa, with two living lice (Linognathus sp.) attached to the legs, one to the left fore tarsus and another to the right mid tarsus. Phoresy in the Anoplura as a whole is extremely rare, and this case represents only the tenth record of phoresy of Anoplura on Diptera and only the fifth record on members of the family Muscidae. This case further represents the first recorded case of the same genus of lice being transported phoretically by more than one dipterous family, i.e., Culicidae and Muscidae. A photograph of one of the lice attached to the right mid tarsus is provided and previous records of anopluran phoresy are reviewed and discussed.