Bovidae-parasite
Guides
Melophagus
sheep ked, sheep louse fly, sheep tick
Melophagus is a genus of wingless, blood-feeding flies in the family Hippoboscidae. All species are obligate ectoparasites of cloven-hoofed mammals in the family Bovidae, particularly sheep, cattle, goats, and related wild species. The genus is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but M. ovinus has been introduced worldwide with domestic sheep. These insects spend their entire life cycle on the host, with females giving birth to pupae that attach to wool fibers.