Poultry-pest
Guides
Alphitobius diaperinus
lesser mealworm, litter beetle, buffalo worm
Alphitobius diaperinus is a darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) with cosmopolitan distribution. It evolved as a scavenger in bird nests and bat caves but has become a major pest in poultry production facilities and stored grain products. The species is a significant vector of poultry pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Its larvae are approved as novel food in the European Union and marketed as "buffalo worms" for human consumption and animal feed.
Argas
Bat-ticks
Argas is a genus of soft ticks in the family Argasidae, containing 44 species across two subgenera: Argas and Persicargas. These ticks lack the hard dorsal shield characteristic of hard ticks (Ixodidae) and exhibit distinctive feeding behaviors, taking multiple short blood meals rather than prolonged single feedings. The genus includes species with exceptional longevity—Argas brumpti individuals have survived 27 years in laboratory conditions and endured eight years without feeding. Argas species serve as vectors for tick-borne pathogens including those causing tick-borne relapsing fever.
Chelopistes
turkey lice
Chelopistes is a genus of chewing lice in the family Philopteridae, parasitic primarily on galliform birds, notably domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). The best-studied species, Chelopistes meleagridis, is the largest louse affecting turkeys and has been successfully reared in vitro, revealing strict dietary requirements for development. These lice require host skin (epidermis) in addition to feathers to reach adulthood; feather-only diets result in severe developmental failure. The genus exhibits high reproductive output relative to other Ischnocera, with females producing approximately 2-3 eggs daily.
Chelopistes meleagridis
Large Turkey Louse
Chelopistes meleagridis is a chewing louse (suborder Ischnocera, family Philopteridae) that parasitizes domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). Known as the Large Turkey Louse, this ectoparasite has been studied extensively in laboratory settings to understand its reproductive biology and developmental requirements. The species exhibits high fecundity relative to other Ischnocera, with females producing approximately 2-3 eggs daily and 26-29 eggs over their lifetime. Development from egg to adult requires about 29 days under optimal conditions, but successful maturation depends critically on access to host skin fragments in addition to feathers.
Echidnophaga
Stick-tight Fleas
Echidnophaga is a genus of fleas in the family Pulicidae, commonly known as stick-tight fleas. Species in this genus are found across Africa, Asia, southern Europe, and Australia. Adults attach firmly to host skin and remain in a single location for extended periods, feeding on blood and causing localized tissue damage. The genus includes notable pests of poultry, rabbits, and other birds and mammals.
Echidnophaga gallinacea
hen flea, sticktight flea, stickfast flea
Echidnophaga gallinacea is a small, dark brown flea that parasitizes a broad range of bird and mammal hosts including poultry, dogs, cats, and occasionally humans. Adult females embed permanently into host skin—typically on bare areas of the head and face—using a serrated mouthpart to feed on blood, while males remain mobile. Heavy infestations cause ulceration, dermatitis, anemia, and can be fatal to young or small hosts. The species has spread globally through poultry farming and is now established across tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions.
fleaectoparasitepoultry-pestvectorinvasivecosmopolitanintegrated-pest-managementcage-free-poultrybackyard-chickenshematophagypermanent-attachmentsessile-femaleresilinjumpingctenidia-absentanaemiadermatitisulcerationRickettsiaBartonellaplaguediatomaceous-earthmaldisonpesticide-resistanceorganic-farminganimal-welfareeconomic-entomologyveterinary-entomologyhost-generalisturban-wildlife-interfacesynanthropicFannia canicularis
Lesser House Fly, Little House Fly
Fannia canicularis, the lesser house fly, is a small dipteran (3.5–6 mm) widespread in association with human habitation and livestock facilities. It is distinguished by its habit of circling in the centers of rooms and its slender build with a straight median wing vein. The species is a significant pest in poultry operations, where larvae develop in accumulated manure. Males exhibit complex swarming behavior in shaded, enclosed sites, performing aerial chases controlled by precise visual-motor mechanisms. Among Fanniidae, this species is most frequently associated with myiasis.
Fannia pusio
Chicken Dung Fly
Fannia pusio is a small calyptrate fly in the family Fanniidae, commonly known as the chicken dung fly. Native to Central and North America, it has achieved near-global distribution through human-mediated dispersal associated with livestock. The species is notable for its synanthropic association with poultry facilities, where it can reach nuisance-level populations. It has forensic significance as a colonizer of decomposing remains, including buried corpses inaccessible to larger flies, and serves as a developmental indicator for post-mortem interval estimation. Females also function as phoretic hosts for Dermatobia hominis eggs, linking the species to veterinary and medical myiasis cases.
Menacanthus
bird lice, chewing lice
Menacanthus is a genus of chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) that parasitizes birds. The taxonomy is highly uncertain, with recent studies synonymizing dozens of previously recognized species and invalidating other names. Species in this genus feed on blood and feathers by piercing feather quills and gnawing epidermis. They are significant pests of poultry, causing feather loss, reduced egg production, and disease transmission. The genus has a global distribution across all major landmasses.
Menacanthus stramineus
Chicken Body Louse, Poultry Body Louse
Menacanthus stramineus, commonly known as the chicken body louse, is an obligate ectoparasite of domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). It is the most abundant and widely distributed louse species on poultry worldwide. All life stages occur on the host, where they feed primarily on feathers and skin debris, occasionally consuming blood from pin feathers. Heavy infestations cause feather loss, skin irritation, reduced egg production, and decreased feed conversion efficiency. The species shows temperature-seeking behavior, aggregating in warmer body regions such as the vent, breast, back, and under the wings.
Menoponidae
chicken body lice, chicken body louse family
Menoponidae is a family of chewing lice (suborder Amblycera) comprising ectoparasites of birds. They are frequently called the chicken body louse family due to the economic importance of species like Menacanthus stramineus on poultry, though the family parasitizes diverse avian hosts including migratory birds and passerines. Members possess short antennae concealed in grooves behind the eyes, and many retain partial dependence on blood-feeding through specialized mouthparts such as the hypopharynx. This hematophagous capability allows broader host distribution and reduced microhabitat specialization compared to other chewing lice.
Muscina stabulans
False Stable Fly
Muscina stabulans, commonly known as the false stable fly, is a cosmopolitan synanthropic muscid fly distributed worldwide. Adults are medium-sized flies averaging 8 mm in length, distinguished by four dark thoracic stripes, partially reddish-brown legs, and a pale spot above the thorax. The species exhibits strong synanthropic tendencies, with higher abundance in urban-suburban environments compared to rural areas. It has significant economic and public health importance as a mechanical vector of pathogens, a facultative predator of house fly larvae in poultry facilities, and a forensic indicator species for post-mortem interval estimation. Rare cases of intestinal myiasis in humans have been documented.
Ornidia
jewel flies
Ornidia is a small genus of metallic hoverflies (Syrphidae) native to the New World. Species range from 2.3–4.2 mm in body length and display distinctive metallic coloration. Ornidia obesa, the most widespread species, has been introduced to the Pacific, Asia, and Africa through human commerce. The genus comprises four described species.
Ornidia obesa
Green Jewel Fly
Ornidia obesa is a metallic green syrphid fly widely distributed across the Americas and introduced to the Old World. Adults are frequently observed in association with decomposing organic matter, particularly animal feces and compost. The species has been documented as a host for pteromalid parasitoids and is noted for harboring bacteria of public health significance.
Ornithocoris
Ornithocoris is a genus of hematophagous cimicid bugs that parasitize birds. Species in this genus are temporary ectoparasites, feeding on blood during all life stages and retreating to nests or shelter crevices between meals. The genus includes economically significant poultry pests, with O. toledoi documented from galliform hosts and parrots in South America and the southern United States.
Ornithonyssus
bird mites, fowl mites, rat mites
Ornithonyssus is a genus of hematophagous mites in the family Macronyssidae. The genus includes economically important poultry pests such as the northern fowl mite (O. sylviarum) and tropical fowl mite (O. bursa), as well as the tropical rat mite (O. bacoti) which affects rodents and can bite humans. Species in this genus are obligate blood-feeders that complete their entire life cycle on the host or in close association with host nesting material. Several species have significant veterinary and medical importance due to their impacts on poultry production and potential to cause human dermatitis.
Ornithonyssus sylviarum
Northern Fowl Mite
Ornithonyssus sylviarum, commonly known as the northern fowl mite, is a blood-feeding ectoparasite of birds that has become a major economic pest of poultry worldwide. The entire life cycle occurs on the host, allowing populations to expand rapidly under favorable conditions. Heavy infestations cause anemia, reduced egg production, and can lead to death in severe cases. The mite has been reported on over 72 host species across 26 bird families and has shown ability to infest mammalian hosts including humans, though it does not permanently establish on non-avian hosts.
Pycnoscelus
burrowing cockroaches
Pycnoscelus is a genus of burrowing cockroaches in the family Blaberidae, containing approximately 15 described species. The genus is distributed across India, China, Southeast Asia, and has been introduced to other regions including the Americas. The most studied species, Pycnoscelus surinamensis (Surinam cockroach), is notable for being parthenogenetic and serving as an intermediate host for poultry parasites.