Solenopotes capillatus

Also known as:

Little blue cattle louse

Solenopotes capillatus is a sucking louse.

Scientific Classification

Class	Insecta
Order	Phthiraptera
Suborder	Anoplura
Family	Linognathidae

Identification

Adults are small, blue mites, and tend to accumulate on the head, neck and tail. They have distinctive abdominal spikes, which protrude from the abdomen. They are around 1.5mm in length and have three pairs of legs.

The eggs are small, and are dark blue.

Life Cycle

The small eggs hatch after around 10 days, and then undergo three further transformations before becoming adults. The complete transformation from egg to adult is around 5 weeks.