Bovicola ovis
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| Also known as: | Damalinia 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.