Three Phases of the Deer Ked (Lipoptena cervi) Attack on Humans

Three Phases of the Deer Ked (Lipoptena cervi) Attack on Humans: Field and Genetic Studies

Author: Krzysztof Kurpiecki Institution / project: Iławski Instytut Idei / IIILAB

Abstract

This study examines the attack behaviour of the deer ked (Lipoptena cervi) in relation to humans, with particular attention to the possible role of temperature-related cues during the later phase of host seeking. The work combines field observations and simple behavioural experiments with genetic analysis aimed at identifying elements potentially associated with thermoreception and sensory detection. The study proposes a three-phase model of deer ked attack behaviour and discusses whether heat sensing may become important after the insect has already approached or landed on a human host. The material comes from deer keds collected in forests near Iława, Poland. Sequence reads and/or assembled genomic contigs may be made available for non-commercial research upon request.

Keywords: Lipoptena cervi, deer ked, Hippoboscidae, ectoparasite, host-seeking behaviour, thermoreception, heat sensing, temperature, genetics, field study, Poland

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19075846

Citation: Kurpiecki, K. (2025). Three Phases of the Deer Ked (Lipoptena cervi) Attack on Humans: Field and Genetic Studies. Zenodo.https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19075846

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