Chicken Body Louse vs Chinese Oak Silk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Chicken Body Louse Chinese Oak Silk Moth
Scientific Name Menacanthus stramineus Antheraea pernyi
Order Phthiraptera Lepidoptera
Family Menoponidae Saturniidae
Size 3-3.5 mm 110-150 mm wingspan
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Blood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Oceania China, introduced to parts of Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Chicken Body Louse

The most damaging louse of domestic poultry, feeding on feathers, skin, and blood. Heavy infestations cause feather loss, reduced egg production, and anemia.

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Did You Know?

This louse is unusual among bird lice because it actively feeds on blood by gnawing through pin feathers, not just on feather material.

Chinese Oak Silk Moth

A large tawny-brown silk moth with prominent translucent eyespots on each wing. It has been cultivated for thousands of years to produce tussah silk.

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Did You Know?

It is the second most important silk-producing insect after the domestic silkworm, producing a durable golden-brown silk.