Solenopotes capillatus
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| Solenopotes capillatus | |
|---|---|
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Phthiraptera |
| Family | Linognathidae |
| Species | Solenopotes capillatus |
| Also known as: | Little blue cattle louse |
Solenopotes capillatus is a sucking louse.
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.