Entomology

Module 8: Order: Hemiptera, Orthoptera, and Coleoptera

Order Hemiptera is a major order of insects, collectively known as true bugs, characterized by sucking mouthparts, rather than chewing mouthparts

Order Hemiptera is a very successful group of insects, with about 80,000 species, and found in terrestrial and aquatic environments, including the only known marine-pelagic insects

Order Hemiptera includes cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, shield bugs, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and others

While many bugs feed on sap and other plant material, some feed on animal sources, such as the hemolymph of other arthropods and the blood of mammals and birds.

The body of a hemipteran is flattened dorsoventrally

Hemipterans have jointed proboscis which is flexed under the head when not in use

Hemipterans are blood suckers

Hemipteran wings may or may not be present

Family Cimicidae (Bedbug or Surot)

Cimicids are small, oval-shaped, and flat in appearance, although their bodies bulge after feeding

Feeding is required for egg production in female cimicids and possibly for sperm production in male cimicids.

Egg-laying behavior varies among cimicid species.

C. lectularius stops laying fertile eggs about 35 to 50 days after the last insemination.

The swallow bug, Oeciacus vicarius, hibernates after mating in autumn and begins laying in spring, to coincide with the return of the host.

The five nymphal instars (stages) of cimicids must each take a blood meal to develop to the next stage.

Cimicid adults have been reported to live 3–12 months in an untreated household situation.

A given undisturbed bedbug may take 3–15 minutes to take a full meal depending on its life stage.

Bedbugs can survive long periods of time without feeding, reappearing from their hiding places when hosts again become available.

Bedbugs have special scent glands and often emit a characteristic odor that can usually be detected in heavily infested sites.

Cimicids practice traumatic insemination. Although the female has a normal genital tract for laying eggs, the male never uses it (except in the species Primicimex cavernis), instead piercing the female's abdominal wall; the sperm then migrate through the female's paragenital system.

Cimex lectularius “common bedbug” – attacks mammals and poultry

C. hemipterus “oriental bedbug” – attacks mammals and birds

Haematosiphon inodora – attacks poultry in US and Mexico

Cimicid wings are vestigial

Cimicid body is covered with thick bristles and hairs

Cimicid adult has a pair of ventral thoracic stink glands while the nymph has dorsal abdominal stink gland responsible for the characteristic bedbug odor

Cimicid life cycle is direct; egg → nymph → adult

Cimicid female lays 150-200 eggs in the cracks and crevices in floor, bed, and other objects

Cimicid eggs hatch in 3-14 days

Cimicid nymph resembles adult except in size; molts 5 times in 6-8 months

Cimicid adults develop after 4-6 weeks

Cimicid adults live for a year or more.

Cimicid nymphs and adults are blood suckers.

Cimicids survive long period of starvation (adults – at least 1 year; nymph – 70 days)

Cimicids are nocturnal feeders, but may bite even during daytime.

The pathogenic effects of cimicids include severe irritation and anemia in poultry; allergy, asthma, insomnia, and nervousness in man; production of influenza-like symptoms; transmission of Pasteurella spp. (plague), leprosy, Leishmania donovani (kala-azar), Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas dsisease), Rickettsia sp. (relapsing fever), and Leptospirosis

Control of cimicids include eliminating hiding places, fumigating hiding places with methyl bromide, and spraying bedframes and mattress with 1% chlordane.

Family Reduviidae (Kissing Bugs)

Kissing bugs are members of the suborder Heteroptera of the order Hemiptera

Almost all kissing bugs are predatory, except for a minority that are blood-sucking species of importance as disease vectors.

About 7000 kissing bug species have been described, making it one of the largest families in the Hemiptera.

The name Reduviidae is derived from the type genus, Reduvius.

Reduvius comes from the Latin reduvia, meaning "hangnail" or "remnant". Possibly this name was inspired by the lateral flanges on the abdomen of many species.

The genera and species of veterinary importance under the Family Reduviidae include Triatoma rubrofaciata, T. sanguisuga, T. protracta, Panstrongylus sp., Rhodnius sp., and Reduvius sp.

·Adult kissing bugs range from about 4.0 to 40 mm, depending on the species.

Most kissing bugs commonly have an elongated head with a distinct narrowed 'neck', long legs, and prominent, segmented, tubular mouthparts, most commonly called the proboscis, but some authors use the term "rostrum".

Most kissing bug species are bright in color with hues of brown, black, red, or orange.

Most distinctive feature of kissing bugs is that the tip of the proboscis fits into a ridged groove in the prosternum, where it can be used to produce sound by stridulation

Sound by stridulation is made by rasping the proboscis against ridges in this groove stridulitrum (stridulatory organ).

Stridulation sounds are often used to discourage predators.

When harassed, many kissing bug species can deliver a painful stab with the proboscis, injecting venom, or digestive juices. The effects can be intensely painful and the injection from some species may be medically significant.

Kissing bug females lay egg singly (about 100-300 eggs) in dusty corners or on ground cracks and crevices.

Kissing bug eggs hatch into nymph in 1-4 weeks

Kissing bug nymph molts 5x over several weeks

Entire life cycle of a kissing bug takes 1-2 years

Kissing bugs are parasitic on man and animals

Kissing bugs are nocturnal feeders

Kissing bugs defecate on skin of host during feeding

The pathogenic effects of kissing bugs include painful bites, being intermediate host and transmitter of Trypanosoma cruzi “chagas disease” in man.

Kissing bug control include using screen houses or mosquito net, eliminating hiding places, and spraying with insecticides.

Order Orthoptera (Cockroaches)

Cockroaches possess 2 pairs of wings, the anterior mesothoracic pair which is thickened and the posterior or metathoracic pair which is membranous.

The antennae of cockroaches are long, filamentous and many jointed.

Mouthparts of cockroaches are adapted for chewing.

Cockroaches are dorsoventrally flattened with size ranging from 1 cm to several cm long.

Cockroaches move rapidly since their legs are fit for running

Blatella germanica “german roach or croton bug” – small, light brown in color with 2 longitudinal black stripes prothorax and wings.

Blatta orientalis “oriental cockroach” – large, dark brown; wings vestigial in female and not reaching tip of abdomen in male.

Periplaneta americana “American roach” – 1.5 inched, chestnut brown; pronotal markings less defined and the last segment of cercus twice as long as it is wide.

Periplaneta fuliginosa – smokey brown in color; pronotum solid dark brown to black.

Periplaneta australasiae “Australian roach” – resembles P. americana but pronotum has yellow borders

Supella supellectilem – tropical cockroach with 2 brown cross band on tegmina

Cockroach eggs are laid in egg cases (ootheca) and deposited in crevices (no. of eggs/ootheca - 16-24).

Cockroach egg capsule may be carried in the ovipositor for several days or weeks but in most cases are deposited in 1-2 days in crevices.

After 30-80 days, cockroach eggs hatch into nymph (white in color, wingless).

Cockroach nymph molts 5-6x to become adult in 10-12 months.

Life span of adult cockroaches is 1-2 years average.

Cockroaches are nocturnal – active at night and hide in dark, humid places during the day.

Cockroaches are scavengers – feed on excrement, sputum, decaying organic matter, human and animal food.

Cockroaches are omnivorous – nymph and adults prefer starchy and sugary foods but will eat anything from dead insects to dried or fresh blood, vegetable, cheese, grains etc.

Cockroaches are gluttonous – even when a stomach is full, when they find a better food, they disgorge the stomach contents and eat again; defecates anywhere.

Cockroaches can survive without food for five months.

Cockroaches prefer warm places.

Cockroaches are not parasitic, it is a household pest.

Cockroaches’ omnivorous habits cause damage to materials.

Cockroaches leave a “roachy odor” from gland secretions that spoils food with which it comes in contact with.

Cockroaches are potential mechanical transmitters of the following: bacteria (around 40 enterobacteria, anthrax, tetanus, pneumonia, TB, Diphtheria, Brucellosis), fungal Infection (aspergillosis), and protozoa (Entamoeba, Giardia sp., Balantidium Coli, Trichomonas sp.)

Cockroaches serve as intermediate host or cyclic transmitter of the following: Oxyspirura mansoni (eyeworm of chicken), Tetrameres americana (proventricular worm of chicken), Physaloptera praeputialis (stomach worm of dog and cat), Gongylonema neoplasticum (produce malignant tumors in rats).

Control of cockroaches include cleanliness, application of insecticides in hiding places (2.5% chlordane, 1.5% malathion, Baygon, raid, shelltox), molasses bait trap, and birth control spray (sterilize the roaches and stops breeding).

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Coleoptera comprises the largest order (40%) of the Class Insecta.

Beetles have leathery integument.

Beetles have 2 pairs of wings; anterior pair is horny (elytra)

Beetles have mandibulate mouthparts

Beetles are holometabolous.

Beetles produce a vesicating substance called cantharidin which is found in the whole body primarily in the elytra.

Staphylinidae “rove beetles” – larvae and adult feeds on dung, decaying animal matter, etc.

Silphidae – “burying beetles”; feeds on dead animals and decomposing flesh

Dermestidae – “hide beetles”; feeds on dead animals, cured meat, cheese, cereals, dried flesh, blood etc. (Dermestes ater; Attagenus megatona)

Tenebrionidae – Tribolium castaneum; T. confusum “grain beetles” – common feeds

Cucujidae – “flat bark beetles” Cryptolestes ferrugineus

Curculionidae – Sitophilus oryzae (rice weevil); S. zeamais (corn weevil)

Meloidae – Blister beetles

Beetles are potential transmitters of B. anthracis and other pathogens.

Beetles are cyclic transmitters of the following: Ascarops strongylina (stomach worm of pig), Physocephalus sexalatus (stomach worm of pig), Gongylonema pulchrum (esophagus of pig and rumen of ruminants), Macrocanthorhynchus hirudinaceus (thorny headed worm of pig), Spirocerca lupi (nodules in the aorta, esophagus, and stomach of dogs), Physaloptera preputialis (stomach worm of dog and cat), Moniliformis moniliformis (small intestine of rodents), Hymenolepis nana (tapeworm in the SI of rats), Raillietina cesticillus (tapeworm in the SI of chickens), Hymenolepis carioca (tapeworm in the SI of chickens), and Choanotaenia infundibulum (tape worm of chicken).

Some beetles are poisonous to chickens, ducklings, and turkeys; lethal in 24 hours e.g., Macrodactylus subspinosus

Some beetles cause blister formation e.g., Lytta vesicatoria “Spanish fly beetle”

Other species of blister beetles: Sessinia collaris “skin blister/ coconut beetles; Sessinia decolor “skin blister beetle”; Oxicopis vittala; Epicauta pestifera; Zonabris nubica

Control of beetles include cleanliness and spraying insecticides.

Module 9: Order Siphonaptera (Fleas or Pulgas)

The name Siphonaptera is derived from the Greek words "siphon" meaning a tube or pipe and "aptera" meaning wingless. This is an appropriate appellation for these secondarily wingless insects whose mouthparts are adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood.

Flea, the common name for the order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that survive as external parasites of mammals and birds.

Fleas live by consuming blood, or hematophagy, from their hosts.

Flea Characteristic #1 Wingless with laterally compressed bodies

Flea Characteristic #2 Chitinous glossy covering is thick and dark brown

Flea Characteristic #3 Compound eyes are absent but some have simple eyes

Flea Characteristic #4 Abdomen has 10 segments, the 9th bears a dorsal plate called sensilium or pygidium which is covered by sensory setae

Flea Characteristic #5 The tergum of the 9th abdominal segment is modified to form the claspers

Flea Characteristic #6 The penis (aedeagus) is chitinous and coiled

Flea Characteristic #7 The 3rd leg pair are much longer than the rest which are adapted for leaping

Flea Characteristic #8 The head may bear dark spines called “combs” or “ctenidia”

Flea Characteristic #9 The antennae are 3-segmented, club-shaped located in a groove behind the simple eye

Flea Characteristic #10 Mandibles are cutting structures

Flea Characteristic # 11Not markedly host specific

Echidnophaga gallinacea “stick tight flea”- affects chickens in Southeastern US; head is angular; no ctenidia; may attack other animals like horse, cattle, dogs, rats, etc.

Tunga penetrans “chigoe flea or jigger”- affects man primarily but may also attack pigs, rats, skunks, etc; thorax reduced; frons sharply angled or angular

Pulex irritans “human fleas”- affects man and other mammals; genal and pronotal ctenidia absent; mesopleural rod absent; smoothly rounded frons.

Xenopsylla cheopis “oriental rat flea”- occurs in brown rats but readily bites man; common in brown and black rats; frons smoothly rounded; mesopleural rod present; genal and pronotal ctenidia absent.

Ctenocephalides felis et felis “cat flea” – oral and pronotal ctenidia present; frons pointed; 1st oral/genal ctenidia about as long as the 2nd; head is elongated; most common species in dogs and cats

Ctenocephalides canis “dog flea”- less common than Ct. felis; occurs in both dogs and cats; 1st spine about half as long as the 2nd; head is rounded

Ceratophyllus fasciatus “northern rat flea” – present in the Philippines; occurs in rodents; oral ctenidia present; pronotal ctenidia present

Ceratophyllus gallinae – occurs in chickens

Ceratophyllus niger – occurs in chicken

Leptopsylla cuniculli - rabbit flea

Leptopsylla segnis “mouse flea”- presence of vertical genal ctenidia

Female flea lays up to 20 eggs at a time and some 400 to 500 during her lifetime

Flea eggs are deposited in dust or dirt [dried fecal matter]

Flea eggs hatch in 2-16 days [average of 7-9 days]

Flea larvae are slender, 13 segmented, yellowish white in color, with long bristles.

Flea larvae has chewing mouthparts and subsist on dried blood, feces and organic matter

The last abdominal segments of flea larvae bears two hooked processes called “anal struts” which are used for locomotion and for holding on to strata

After 7-10 days, flea larvae becomes a pupa then adult.

Flea life cycle ranges from 3-6 weeks

Flea life span without food: 1-4 months; with food: 3-34 months

Direct pathogenic effects of fleas include: allergic flea bite dermatitis or chronic non-specific dermatitis, irritation and wounds from scratching to relieve itchiness, ulceration and subsequent bacterial infection in the feet (Tunga penetrans), nodule formation and ulcers in the comb and wattles and around the eyes of chickens as Echidnophaga gallinacea burrows deep into the skin.

Indirect pathogenic effects of fleas include: mechanical transmitter of Xenopsylla cheopis (Bubonic plague (Y. pestis) and Typhus (R. typhi)) and Leptopsylla cuniculi (transmits myxomatosis of rabbits); and intermediate host of Ctenocephalides felis, C. canis, P. irritans (Dipylidium caninum of dog, cat and man); C. canis and C. felis (Dipetalonema reconditum), C. fasciatus and X. cheopis (Hymenolepsis diminuta); C. canis, P. irritans, X. cheopis (Hymenolepis nana); C. fasciatus (Trypanosoma lewisi)

Treatment and control of fleas include giving corticosteroids as palliative treatment if there is much distress in flea-bite allergy, applying insecticides on hosts and surrounding, and burning of litter and debris; maintain cleanliness.

Order Phthiraptera

Phthiraptera characteristic # 1 Dorsoventrally flattened

Phthiraptera characteristic # 2 Wingless

Phthiraptera characteristic # 3 Most are blind but a few have primitive eyes which are merely photosensitive spots

Phthiraptera characteristic # 4 Legs terminate in claws (lice of mammals - 1 claw; lice of birds - 2 claws)

Phthiraptera characteristic # 5 Permanent ectoparasites; most being unable to survive away from the host for more than a day or two

Phthiraptera characteristic # 6 Head, thorax and abdomen distinct

Phthiraptera characteristic # 7 Incomplete metamorphosis

Phthiraptera characteristic # 8 Entire life cycle is spent on the host

Two suborders of Phthiraptera are Anoplura (sucking lice) and Mallophaga (biting lice).

Anoplura habit # 1 Slow-moving but have a powerful leg

Anoplura habit # 2 Attach their eggs individually to hairs of host or in the case of human body louse, to the fibers of the host’s clothing

Anoplura habit # 3 With 3 nymphal stages living and feeding in the same way as the adult; all stages feed on the host’s blood and maintain contact with their host by a number of relatively simple responses

Anoplura habit # 4 Pediculus and Hematopinus sp. respond to warmth and smell

Anoplura habit # 5 They are thigmotactic- move less in rough surfaces

Anoplura habit # 6 Negatively phototactic- move toward dark objects

Anoplura habit # 7 Live at relatively high temperature but leaves the host at too high temperature as in fever and transfer to another host

Important families under suborder Anoplura include Hematopinidae, Linognathidae, and Pediculiidae.

Family Haematopinidae (Short-nosed Louse)

Haematopinus tuberculatus - affects carabaos and buffaloes in Asia and Pacific

H. quadripertusus – affects cattle and buffalo in temperate and tropic regions

H. eurysternus - affects cattle (absent in the Philippines)

H. bufali – affects buffaloes in South Africa

H. suis – affects swine; largest anopluran found in domestic animals

H. asini – affects horses

After a blood meal, short-nosed louse adult lays eggs or “nits” attached to hair close to the skin at the region of the neck, shoulder, flank and lower abdomen

Short-nosed louse eggs hatch into 1st nymphal stage after 2-3 weeks

Short-nosed louse nymphs molts 3x within 15 days (5 days/molt)

Short-nosed louse adult sexually mature after 3 days

Entire life cycle of short-nosed louse is 23-32 days.

Family Linognathidae (Long-nosed Louse)

Linognathus vituli- occurs in cattle; present in the Philippines; “long-nosed cattle louse”

L. africanus – occurs in goats and sheep “sucking louse of sheep and goats”

L. stenopsis – occurs in goats

L. pedalis – occurs in sheep “foot louse of sheep”

L. ovillus – occurs in sheep “body/blue/face louse of sheep”

L. setosus – occurs in dogs “canine sucking louse”

Solenopotes capillatus – occurs in cattle, “tubercled lice”; reported from imported cattle

Microthoracius cameli – occurs in camel and dromedary in Africa and Asia

Microthoracius praelongiceps – occurs in llama in South America

Long-nosed louse eggs (dark blue in color) when laid are attached to the hairs of the dewlap, sides of the neck and face or anywhere in heavy infestation

Long-nosed louse eggs hatch into nymph after 10-13 days

Long-nosed louse nymph molts 3x within 15 days.

Entire life cycle of long-nosed louse: 23-27 days

Pediculus humanus capitis “human head louse”

Pediculus humanus corporis “human body louse”

Pediculus eurygaster –occurs in macaque

P. obtusus – occurs in monkeys, baboons

Phthirus pubis- crab louse or pubic louse; occurs in the pubic region; may also occur in the armpit, eyelashes, eye brows, beard, mustache

Pediculidae eggs are attached to the hairs.

Pediculidae eggs hatch into nymph after 5-10 days

Pediculidae nymph molts 3x within 21 days

Entire life cycle of Pediculidae: 3-4 weeks.

Polyplax serrata – occurs in mouse (transmits Eperythrozoon and Francisella species)

Polyplax spinulosa – occurs in mouse and rat (transmits Haemobartonella)

Hoplopleura acanthopus – occurs in mouse

H. captiosa - occurs in mouse

H. pacifica – in rats

Haemodipsus ventricosus – in rabbit

Hoplopleuridae characteristic # 1 Paratergal plates project apically from the body

Hoplopleuridae characteristic # 2 Tergal and sternal plates usually distinct

Antarctophthirus microchir -  hosts are sea lions

Echinophthirius species – occurs on various pinnipedia (sea lions, fur seals walrus, etc.)

Echinophthiriidae body is densely clothed with thick setae sometimes modified into scales

Sucking lice effects on host # 1 Cause irritation, pruritus and subsequent biting and scratching resulting to thickened, pigmented and darkened skin (Vagabond’s disease), shaggy, rough, matted hair coat and hair ball in the stomach

Sucking lice effects on host # 2 Restlessness and interrupted feeding results to loss of weight and reduced milk/meat yield

Sucking lice effects on host # 3 Considerable anemia

Sucking lice effects on host # 4 Lameness (foot louse)

Sucking lice effects on host # 5 Reduce body resistance to viral and bacterial diseases

Sucking lice effects on host # 6 Hematopinus suis may transmit African swine fever virus and swine pox virus

Sucking lice effects on host # 7 The body louse is a vector of: Rickettsia prowazeki (Epidemic typhus), Rickettsia quintana (Trench fever), Borrelia recurrentis (Relapsing fever), Yersinia/Pasteurella pestis (Plague), Pasteurella tularensis (Tularemia), and Poliomyelitis virus

Sucking lice effects on host # 8 Attracts myiasis flies

Mallophaga (biting or chewing lice) is a group of obligatory ectoparasites mainly of birds and to a lesser extent (only 12%) of mammals.

The large diversity of avian mallophaga of more than 3800 different species in 253 genera can be explained by the strict stenoxeny of most species and their presence in nearly all bird species. Up to 20 different lice species can be found on a single bird species. Depending on species, size varies between 0.5 and 14 mm.

The body of the wingless insects is dorsoventrally compressed and clearly divided into caput, thorax, and abdomen.

Mallophages are divided into two morphologically distinct suborders, Amblycera and Ischnocera, containing 30% and 70% of all avian species, respectively.

Damalinia bovis/Trichodectes scalaris – occurs in cattle; absent in the Philippines; present in the US

Damalinia equi - occurs in horses

Damalinia ovis – occurs in sheep

Damalinia limbata – occurs in goats

Trichodectes canis - reported in the Philippines but not common

Heterodoxus spiniger – occurs in dogs; most common biting louse of dogs in the Philippines

Heterodoxus longitarsus – in kangaroos, wallabies

Felicola subrostratus – occurs in cats; common in the Philippines especially stray cats

Gyropus ovalis – in guinea pig and other rodents; present in the Philippines

Gliricola porceli – occurs in guinea pig and other rodents

Trimenopon hispidum – occurs in guinea pig

Biting lice eggs or nits are attached to the hairs close to the skin of the host

Biting lice eggs hatch into nymph in 5-8 days

Biting lice nymph molts 3x within 3-4 weeks

Entire life cycle of biting lice : 26-30 days

Mammal biting lice effects on the host # 1 Severe irritation and restlessness

Mammal biting lice effects on the host # 2 Trichodectes canis and Heterodoxus spiniger serve as intermediate host of Dipylidium caninum

Mammal biting lice effects on the host # 3 Pruritus and consequent skin lesions due to scratching

Mammal biting lice effects on the host # 4 Reduced production due to interrupted feeding

Control of biting lice of mammals # 1 Spray/ dip livestock with insecticides (0.06% coumaphos; 0.5% malathion; 0.5% chlordane; 0.15% neguvon; 0.5% sevin; 0.5% coumaphos)

Control of biting lice of mammals # 2 Dusting with 5% malathion dust or 5% sevin powder

Control of biting lice of mammals # 3 Apply ointment (5% rotenone in 10 parts petrolatum)

Control of biting lice of mammals # 4 Ivermectin

Control of biting lice of mammals # 5 Shave carabaos and buffaloes during summer

Various species of lice are common external parasites of poultry worldwide. They are spread by direct contact between birds and by litter etc.

Away from birds, biting lice adults survive about 4-5 days. The parasites are 1-6 mm in size and their life cycle takes about 3 weeks.

Menacanthus stramineus is the most pathogenic and is said to be capable of causing anemia in heavy infestations.

Check flocks regularly for rapidly moving insects at the base of the feathers on the abdomen or around the vent. Crusty clumps of eggs ('nits') may be visible at the base of feathers.

Menopon gallinae- shaft louse

Menacanthus stramineus- body louse

M. pallidulus- small body louse

M. cornutus- body louse

Lipeurus caponis- slender wing louse

Oxylipeurus dentalus- neck louse

Goniodes dissimilis- brown louse

Goniodes gigas- large body louse

Goniocotes gallinae- fluff louse

Cuclotogaster heterographus- head louse; absent in the Philippines

Turkey biting lice include Menacanthus stramineus, Menopon gallinae, Chelopistes/ Goniodes meleagridis, and Oxylipeurus polytrapezius

Pigeon biting lice include Menopon giganteum, Columbicola columbae (most common), Campanulotes bidentalus, and Colphocephalum turbinatum

Duck and geese biting lice include Trinoton anseris, Menopon gallinae, Anaticola crassicornis, Anaticola anseris, and Holomenopon leucoxanthum (causes “wet feather” in ducks)

Quail biting lice include Menopon gallinae and Goniocotes spp.

Poultry biting louse eggs are attached to the base of the feather, singly or in cluster (pair of lice may produce 120,000 adults in a few months)

Entire life cycle of poultry biting louse: 2-3 weeks

Life span of poultry biting louse: several months on the host; 5-6 days off the host

Poultry biting louse effects on the host # 1 Unthriftiness and loss of weight

Poultry biting louse effects on the host # 2 Anemia

Poultry biting louse effects on the host # 3 Lowered production

Poultry biting louse effects on the host # 4 Menacanthus stramineus is the injurious of the poultry lice

Poultry biting louse effects on the host # 5 M. stramineus may carry equine encephalitis virus

Poultry biting louse effects on the host # 6 M. gallinae transmits ornithosis

Poultry biting louse control # 1 Spray/ dust insecticides on large flocks (Malathion, Sevin, Neguvon, Coumaphos)

Poultry biting louse control # 2 Dip birds on insecticides (small number of birds)

Poultry biting louse control # 3 Repeat application after 2 weeks to prevent nymphs from reaching maturity then 2x a year.