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Bovicola ovis
Scientific Classification
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Phthiraptera |
| Suborder | Ischnocera |
| Family | Trichodectidae |
Identification
Bovicola ovis is a chewing lice around 3mm in length. It is reddish brown in colour, and has a single claw on each of its tarsi.
Life Cycle
The female produces white eggs which can readily be seen by the naked eye. The female can produce a large amount of eggs in a short period of time, so the infection can become severe very quickly. The egg hatches into a nymph, which then undergoes two further transformations at 5-9 day intervals before eventually transforming into an adult.
The complete cycle takes around 2-3 weeks, and the adults are capable of living and reproducing for up to a month.
Linognathus ovillus
Scientific Classification
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Phthiraptera |
| Suborder | Anoplura |
| Family | Linognathidae |
Identification
Linognathus ovillus is a sucking louse, also known as the 'sheep face louse' It is a dark blue louse, with a long, thin body.
The eggs are dark blue, and are not easily seen on the hair by the naked eye.
Life Cycle
The eggs generally hatch into nymps within 2 weeks, and must undergo three further transformations before becoming mature adults. The complete cycle from an egg to an adult usually takes around 30 days.
Linognathus pedalis
Scientific Classification
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Phthiraptera |
| Suborder | Anoplura |
| Family | Linognathidae |