The adult lousefly produce larvae in the late summer months which then pupate and lie dormant during the winter months inside the vacated swift nest.

Crataerina pallida is a vertically transmitted ectoparasite, in that it is passed from parent host to offspring.

C. pallida are relatively benign, because their own species' fitness will depend on successful reproduction of swifts.

Evidence suggests that C. pallida had little if any effect on nestling growth or fledging success rate.

This article related to members of the fly superfamily Hippoboscoidea is a stub.