Buffalo fly

Abstract

The buffalo fly, Haematobia irritans exiqua, is a parasite of cattle, buffalo and horses in some parts of Papua New Guinea. A parasite is an organism which lives by feeding on another live animal. The animal on which the parasite lives is called the host. Buffalo flies are always found in close contact with their hosts. They feed on the blood of the hosts. The buffalo fly was introduced with cattle into a few parts of Papua New Guinea, about 40 years ago. It has recently spread  into other parts of the country as new roads have been opened.