Shaft Louse vs Large Turkey Louse
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Shaft Louse | Large Turkey Louse |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Menopon gallinae | Chelopistes meleagridis |
| Order | Phthiraptera | Phthiraptera |
| Family | Menoponidae | Philopteridae |
| Size | 1.5-2 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Oceania | North America, Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Shaft Louse
A fast-moving louse found on the feather shafts of chickens and other poultry. It feeds primarily on feather barbs and can cause significant plumage damage.
Did You Know?
Shaft lice can run so quickly across feathers that they are difficult to catch even with practiced fingers during bird examinations.
Large Turkey Louse
The largest louse found on domestic turkeys, feeding on feather material. It prefers the breast and thigh feathers of its host.
Did You Know?
Benjamin Franklin studied this louse while advocating for the turkey as America's national bird.