Turnip Sawfly vs Cattle Biting Louse

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Turnip Sawfly Cattle Biting Louse
Scientific Name Athalia rosae Bovicola bovis
Order Hymenoptera Phthiraptera
Family Tenthredinidae Trichodectidae
Size 6-8 mm 1.5-2 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Turnip Sawfly

A small orange and black sawfly whose larvae defoliate brassica crops.

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Did You Know?

Larvae sequester glucosinolates from their food plants for chemical defense.

Cattle Biting Louse

A chewing louse that infests cattle worldwide, causing irritation and economic losses in livestock. Infestations worsen in winter when cattle have thick coats.

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Did You Know?

Winter infestations of this louse can cause cattle to rub and scratch so intensely that they damage fences and lose significant weight.