Cattle and Equine Lice Quiz

Wingless insects with flattened bodies, typically 2-6 mm long.

The difference in appearance between male and female lice is usually subtle, with males being slightly smaller.

Four segments in amblyceran lice, 3-5 segments in ischnoceran (blood-sucking) lice.

Mouthparts used for chewing or sucking blood.

Lice have three pairs of legs, with chewing lice possessing two claws on each leg for gripping onto their host.

The first pair of legs in Linognathidae lice are shorter than the other two pairs.

Lice are highly host-specific, meaning they usually only infest one type of animal.

Factors like seasonality, grooming, host immunity, and animal health can influence lice population size.

A type of louse that commonly infects horses and donkeys. They are a common cause of irritation, leading to hair loss, scratching, and even sores.

A type of louse that commonly infects cattle, often found in high numbers on their heads and bodies. It can cause skin irritation and hair loss.

A blood-sucking louse that primarily infects donkeys, but can also be found on horses. It can lead to anemia due to blood loss.

Small patches of hair loss on cattle, often caused by heavy infestations of chewing lice.

A term used to describe the clusters of lice nits (eggs) often found above the hooves of horses.

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are chemicals that disrupt the growth and development of insects, preventing them from reaching maturity.

Vacuuming removes fleas from the environment, particularly from carpets and furniture.

Washing bedding in hot water kills fleas and their eggs, preventing reinfestation.

Combing your pet's fur for several minutes, focusing on the neck, helps remove fleas and their eggs.

Light traps attract and trap adult fleas.

Steinernema carpocapsae is a type of entomopathogenic nematode that can be sprayed in flea breeding areas to kill larvae and cocoons.

Integrated flea management (IFM) combines various methods for long-term flea control, including IGRs, vacuuming, washing bedding, and biological control.

The "true bugs" comprise a large group of insects with around 90,000 species, most of which feed on plants (phytophagous).

Linognathus setosus, a type of blood-sucking louse, is a common parasite of cats.

Haematopinus suis, also known as the hog louse, is a blood-sucking louse that primarily infests pigs.

Felicola subrostratus is a chewing louse that commonly infects cats.

While blood-sucking lice are present in many animals, cats are known to only have chewing lice.

Menacanthus stramineus is a chewing louse that is most important in poultry, often causing significant health issues.

Chewing lice are the only type of lice found on poultry.

Lousiness is common in dogs and cats, particularly in older, younger, or immunocompromised animals.

Lice are more prevalent in areas where animals are kept in close proximity.

Tabanids are attracted to mainly black and brown fur coats using reflected polarized light, acting as a signal to find a host.

Tabanids are attracted to a range of stimuli, including carbon dioxide, visual cues, like movement, and polarized light.

Tabanids are a nuisance as they bite and cause blood loss, leading to allergic dermatitis in some animals.

Some Tabanids are vectors, meaning they can transmit diseases like equine infectious anemia, hog cholera, anthrax, tularemia, and trypanosomiasis.

The main vector of trypanosomiasis is the tsetse fly, which belongs to the Tabanidae family.

Tabanids have a life cycle known as holometabolism, which involves four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

Tabanids are primarily diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, though some species are nocturnal. Most are exophilic, preferring to be outdoors, and exophagic, feeding outside.

Tabanids are a diverse group of flies, with approximately 3,500 species found worldwide. Some common genera include Tabanus, Haematopota, and Chrysops.

Tsetse flies are a genus of biting flies belonging to the family Glossinidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, particularly in areas with suitable rainfall, temperature, and vegetation.

Tsetse flies primarily inhabit areas with an annual rainfall of at least 0.5 mm and temperatures ranging between 16°C and 40°C. They prefer habitats that provide shelter and access to hosts, such as forested areas, vegetation around lakes and rivers, and dry savanna.

The Tsetse fly's life cycle is holometabolic, meaning it undergoes complete metamorphosis, transitioning from egg to larva to pupa to adult.

Tsetse flies are known for their unique adaptation of feeding exclusively on blood, and this is essential for their survival and reproduction.

Tsetse flies are vectors for Trypanosoma parasites, responsible for causing sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis) and Nagana (animal African trypanosomiasis) in mammals.

Tsetse flies have a unique feature: the female fly remains fertile for life and typically mates only once.

The genus Glossina consists of 31 species and subspecies categorized into three groups: fusca, palpalis, and morsitans, each with specific habitats and geographical distribution.

Controlling Tsetse fly populations can be challenging and requires a multi-faceted approach. Methods include mechanical traps, chemical sprays, water management, and biological control strategies.