Dog Biting Louse vs Severini's Rover Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dog Biting Louse Severini's Rover Ant
Scientific Name Trichodectes canis Tetramorium severini
Order Phthiraptera Hymenoptera
Family Trichodectidae Formicidae
Size 1.5-2 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia, North America Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dog Biting Louse

A chewing louse that infests domestic dogs, feeding on skin debris and secretions. It can serve as an intermediate host for the dog tapeworm.

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Did You Know?

Dogs can acquire tapeworm infections by accidentally swallowing these lice during grooming, as the lice carry tapeworm larvae.

Severini's Rover Ant

A small leaf-litter ant with a finely striate head and propodeal spines of moderate length. It belongs to the T. severini species group endemic to Madagascar.

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Did You Know?

Its species group contains numerous cryptic species that can only be reliably distinguished using DNA barcoding methods.