First palaearctic record of the bird parasite Passeromyia heterochaeta (Diptera: Muscidae) from the Iranian Persian Gulf Islands

Background: passeromyia is a muscid genus previously known from the old world afrotropical and oriental regions and eastwards from australia and the west pacific. the genus is known from nest-dwelling larvae which may be parasites of the nestlings. this study was aimed to identify of the passeromyia species in the iranian persian gulf islands. methods: the flies were collected during april 2010 to march 2011 on the 4 iranian persian gulf islands,greater tunb,lesser tunb,abu-mousa and qeshm with fly bottle trap and entomological net. results: during this sampling,18 representatives of p. heterochaeta,a species with free-living haematophagous larvae,have been collected. the species is reported herein from greater tunb,lesser tunb,abu-mousa and qeshm islands. conclusions: this is the first palaearctic record of the species as well as the first report of the genus passeromyia from the palaearctic region.