376 



LYNCHIA MAURA 



[CH. 



Lynchia maura (Bigot), 1885. 



Olfersia maura Bigot, 1885. 



Description. Bigot gives the following diagnosis of this 

 species : 



" Antennae chestnut-coloured with yellowish setae ; epistome and vertex 

 testaceous ; frons brown, shining on either side. Thorax brownish-black, 

 scarcely shining, with the shoulders and scutellum dirty fulvous. Abdomen 

 obscurely infuscate ; apex of the second segment with a fulvous margin. 

 Legs testaceous ; upper surfaces of femora slightly infuscated and with scanty 

 black setae ; posterior femora marked on the outside with a slender brownish 

 line. Wings nearly hyaline ; costal and first four longitudinal veins tinctured 

 with black along the whole length, and the fifth vein as far as the first black 

 transverse vein." 



Fig. 85. Lynchia maura ? . ( x6.) Drawn from Bigot's type specimen. 



Bionomics. L. maura generally occurs on young pigeons 

 about 15 to 20 days old, in which the feathers have commenced 

 to grow. As many as 50 or 60 may be found on a nestling 

 pigeon, whereas it is uncommon to find any on the adult birds. 



The insects usually remain hidden amongst the plumage 

 and their smooth flat body enables them to glide under the 

 feathers. If the bird is taken in the hand, or shakes itself 

 very thoroughly, the Lynchia take flight. They change hosts 

 readily and their flight is very rapid. 



