Cattle-parasite
Guides
Musca autumnalis
face fly, autumn housefly
Musca autumnalis, commonly known as the face fly or autumn housefly, is a nonbiting muscid fly native to the Palearctic region that was introduced to North America in the 1940s–1950s. Adults are obligate pests of cattle and horses, feeding on ocular and nasal secretions, tears, saliva, and blood from wounds. The species exhibits pronounced seasonal population dynamics, with peak abundance in late summer and autumn, and undergoes facultative diapause in adults triggered by short photoperiod and cool temperatures. Larval development occurs exclusively in fresh cattle dung, where larvae feed on microbial flora and fauna.
Solenopotes capillatus
Little Blue Cattle Louse, Tubercle-bearing Louse
Solenopotes capillatus is the smallest of the sucking lice species that parasitize cattle. It is a relatively immobile ectoparasite with a worldwide distribution tied to domestic livestock. The species is most commonly found on the head of its host, particularly the face. It is known by different common names in different regions: "little blue cattle louse" in the United States and "tubercle-bearing louse" in Australia.