Biting Louse

Even though about 3,000 can be listed, different species of Bovicola are generally associated with a particular animal host (often termed host specific) upon which all of its life cycles — including feeding and reproduction — occur. After mating with an adult male, an adult female lays eggs called nits that are cemented onto the hairs or feathers of the host, usually close to the skin. When hatched, the larva looks like a smaller and paler version of the adult, and it is ready to feed. At this stage, the larva is called a nymph and will molt three times over several weeks before maturing into an adult.

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