Category:Lice - Cattle

This article is still under construction.

Lice exist naturally on cattle, and in small numbers are of little pathological importance. Moderate infections may be associated with dermatitis, and heavy infections may be more serious. Heavy louse infestation is referred to as Pediculosis. Transfer of lice from animal to animal is usually via direct physical contact.

Bovicola bovis

Haematopinus eurysternus

Haematopinus quadripertusus

Scientific Classification

Identification

The adults are around 4-5mm in length. They have a dark thoracic sternal plate, and all legs are of similar sizes.

Life Cycle

The lifespan of H. quadripertusus is around one month. The female lays white eggs, that stick to the hair of the host, in this case, particularly the tail. After between 9 and 25 days the eggs hatch into nymphs. The nymphs then transform into adults, which are commonly found on the head and tail.

The whole cycle, on average, takes around 2-3 weeks.

Linognathus vituli

Scientific Classification

Identification

L. vituli is a elongated dark blue louse around 2mm in length. The forelegs are smaller than both the midlegs and the hindlegs.

The eggs are dark, and often cannot be seen on the host by the naked eye alone.

Life Cycle

The female lays eggs on the host, and these hatch generally within 2 weeks into nymphs. Like many other cattle louse, the nymph is similar in appearance to the adult, just slightly smaller. The nymph then undergoes three further transformations before becoming a mature adult.

The adults are capable of living for around one month, and the lifecycle of L. vituli is between two and three weeks.

Solenopotes capillatus

Scientific Classification

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.