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| Melophagus spp | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Diptera |
| Family | Hippoboscidae |
| Genus | Melophagus |
| Species | M. ovinus |
| Also known as: | Sheep Ked |
Hosts
Sheep
Identification
The adults are hairy, brown and around 6mm in length, and of the family Hippoboscidae. They have an segmented abdomen, and are wingless. M. ovinus has blood sucking mouthparts, and claws on the ends of the legs, designed to hold on to the host. They are dorso-ventrally flattened.
Life Cycle
They are permanent ectoparasites, feeding on the host. The female fly produce a single larvae at a time, and the larvae are held back until they are ready to pupate. The larvae undergo three larval stages before becoming fully developed. Pupation of the larvae occurs, and they are clearly seen on the fleeces of the sheep. These then later emerge as adults.