parasitic fly Philornis downsi

E764946

Philornis downsi is an invasive parasitic fly whose larvae infest and kill nestling birds, posing a major conservation threat to several Galápagos finch species.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Philornis downsi 0

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf invasive species
parasitic fly
species of fly
adultFeedingBehavior feeds on decaying organic matter and other resources outside nests
associatedWith population declines of some Galápagos bird species
class Insecta NERFINISHED
conservationConcernRegion Galápagos National Park NERFINISHED
controlResearch attractant-baited traps for adults (investigational)
biological control using parasitoid wasps (investigational)
self-fumigation of nests by birds using insecticide-treated materials (investigational)
discoveredAsProblemIn Galápagos Islands in the 1990s
family Muscidae
feedingBehavior hematophagous ectoparasite in nests
genus Philornis NERFINISHED
host Darwin’s finches NERFINISHED
Galápagos finches NERFINISHED
medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis)
small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa)
warbler finch (Certhidea olivacea) NERFINISHED
hostLifeStage nestling birds
impact causes high mortality of nestling birds
major conservation threat to Galápagos finches
introducedTo Galápagos Islands NERFINISHED
kingdom Animalia
larvalEffectOnHost blood loss
increased susceptibility to infection
tissue damage
larvalFeedingSite skin of nestling birds
larvalHabitat nest material
lifeCycleStage adult
egg
larva
pupa
managementChallenge difficult to control without harming non-target species
monitoringMethod nest inspections for larvae and pupae
trapping of adult flies with attractants
nativeRange South America NERFINISHED
order Diptera NERFINISHED
parasiticStage larva
phylum Arthropoda NERFINISHED
reproductionSite bird nests
studiedBy Charles Darwin Foundation researchers
taxonRank species
threatens critically endangered mangrove finch (Camarhynchus heliobates) NERFINISHED
endemic Galápagos land birds
medium tree finch (Camarhynchus pauper)
vectorStatus not known as a human disease vector

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

medium tree finch threatenedBy parasitic fly Philornis downsi