What do lice on a calf look like? - briefly
Calf lice are tiny, wingless insects about 2–3 mm long, gray‑brown to reddish, with a flattened, elongated body and six legs designed for gripping hair. They congregate in clusters on the hide, especially around the neck, udder, and hindquarters, and may cause itching or skin irritation.
What do lice on a calf look like? - in detail
Lice that infest a young bovine are small, wing‑less insects measuring approximately 2–4 mm in length. Their bodies are laterally flattened, allowing easy movement through the animal’s dense hair coat. The head is proportionally large, bearing sturdy, backward‑curving mouthparts designed for chewing skin debris and blood.
The thorax consists of three distinct segments, each bearing a pair of legs. Legs are short, robust, and equipped with claw‑like tarsi that grip hair shafts firmly. This adaptation prevents the parasites from being dislodged during grooming or movement.
Coloration ranges from pale gray to light brown, often matching the surrounding hair to provide camouflage. The abdomen is segmented, appearing slightly broader than the thorax, and may show a faint translucent quality that reveals internal organs under close inspection.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Size: 2–4 mm, comparable to a grain of rice.
- Body shape: Flattened, elongated, with a pronounced head capsule.
- Legs: Six, short, ending in hooked claws.
- Mouthparts: Strong, curved mandibles for chewing.
- Color: Light gray to brown, blending with the host’s coat.
- Movement: Rapid crawling along hair shafts, often congregating near the skin’s surface.
When observed on the calf’s hide, lice tend to cluster in the neck, shoulder, and hindquarter regions, where the hair is thicker. Their presence may be detected by the presence of tiny dark specks (excrement) and occasional irritation marks on the skin.