Goat Biting Louse vs Cattle Sucking Louse

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Goat Biting Louse Cattle Sucking Louse
Scientific Name Bovicola caprae Linognathus vituli
Order Phthiraptera Phthiraptera
Family Trichodectidae Linognathidae
Size 1-2 mm 1.5-2.5 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Farmland
Diet Omnivores Blood Feeders
Regions Worldwide Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Goat Biting Louse

A chewing louse infesting domestic goats worldwide. It feeds on skin flakes and causes intense itching and coat damage.

💡

Did You Know?

Angora goats are particularly susceptible because their long mohair provides an ideal habitat for these lice.

Cattle Sucking Louse

A blood-sucking louse found on calves and young cattle worldwide. It has a distinctive long narrow head adapted for piercing skin.

💡

Did You Know?

Heavy infestations on calves can cause severe anemia and even death in young animals.