Species | Description | Predilection Sites |
---|---|---|
Chewing Lice | ||
Bovicola (Damalinia) bovis (cattle biting louse, red louse) | Length ~2 mm | Most commonly found on dorsum. Infestations may extend cranially to head and caudally to tailhead. |
Bloodsucking Lice | ||
Linognathus vituli (long-nosed cattle louse) | Length ~2.4 mm in females, ~1.8 mm in males Head and body elongated Color: bluish | Most commonly found over withers, lateral shoulders, and dewlap. May have generalized distribution over animal. In early infestations, may be found in clusters. In heavy infestations, may be found over most of body. |
Solenopotes capillatus (little blue cattle louse) | Length ~1.5 mm in females, ~1.1 mm in males Can be mistaken for L vituli nymphs; however, head and body are less elongated | Found in distinct clusters, mainly on head and face. Heavy infestations may extend to dewlap or surround eyes. |
Haematopinus eurysternus (short-nosed cattle louse) | Length ~2.9 mm in females, ~2.3 mm in males | Often found on front half of host from ears to dewlap. Infestations tend to be heavier in cranial portions of body, including ears, during warm weather. |
Haematopinus quadripertusus (cattle tail louse) | Large louse: length ~4.0 mm in females, ~3.2 mm in males | Adults often confined to tail; eggs commonly noted on tail switch. |