| Haematopinus eurysternus
|
| Class
|
Insecta
|
| Order
|
Phthiraptera
|
| Family
|
Haematopinidae
|
| Species
|
Haematopinus eurysternus
|
| Also known as:
|
Short-nosed louse
|
Haematopinus eurysternus is a sucking louse.
Identification
Haematopinus eurysternus is one of the largest louse currently seen on domestic mammals, at around 4mm in length. The abdomen is dark blue and the head and thorax is a greyish yellow. The eggs have a very thick outer shell, and are white in colour.
Life Cycle
The females lay one egg per day for around 2 weeks, which is their approximate lifespan. The eggs are sticky and glue themselves to the hairs of the host, in this case, cattle. The eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks, transforming into nymphs. Nymphs then transform into mature adults about 14 days later. The female will then begin to lay eggs, and infect the host.
