Veterinary-entomology
Guides
Ceratopogonidae
biting midges, no-see-ums, sand flies, punkies, midgies
Ceratopogonidae is a family of minute flies in the order Diptera, commonly known as biting midges, no-see-ums, or punkies. Adults range from 1–6 mm in length, with most species between 1–3 mm. The family contains over 5,000 described species distributed worldwide except Antarctica and the Arctic. While many species feed on the blood of vertebrates including humans and livestock, the majority feed on the hemolymph of other insects. Several species serve as important pollinators of tropical crops, notably cacao.
Cochliomyia
New World screwworm flies, screwworm flies
Cochliomyia is a genus of blowflies (family Calliphoridae) comprising four species: C. macellaria, C. hominivorax, C. aldrichi, and C. minima. The genus is commonly known as New World screwworm flies, distinguished from Old World screwworms. C. hominivorax, the primary screwworm, is an obligate parasite whose larvae feed on living tissue, causing severe myiasis in livestock, wildlife, and humans. C. macellaria, the secondary screwworm, feeds only on necrotic tissue and carrion. The primary screwworm has been eradicated from North America through the sterile insect technique, though it persists in parts of Central and South America.
Cochliomyia hominivorax
New World screwworm fly, New World screwworm, screwworm, screw-worm
Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screwworm fly, is an obligate parasitic blowfly whose larvae feed exclusively on living tissue of warm-blooded vertebrates. It is the only parasitic species in its genus; other Cochliomyia species are facultative parasites or carrion feeders. The species was eradicated from the United States, Central America, and much of the Caribbean through the sterile insect technique beginning in the 1950s, though it persists in tropical and subtropical South America and portions of the Caribbean. A 2016 outbreak in the Florida Keys was successfully eliminated, but detections in southern Mexico in 2024–2025 triggered renewed eradication efforts and trade restrictions.
Coquillettidia perturbans
Cattail Mosquito
Coquillettidia perturbans is a mosquito species with a broad intercontinental distribution spanning Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. It is a documented vector of Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus and West Nile virus, with particular significance in disease ecology due to its ability to fly long distances and feed on large mammals including humans. The species exhibits a distinctive larval adaptation: specialized siphons that pierce aquatic plant aerenchyma to obtain oxygen, allowing larvae and pupae to remain submerged and avoid surface predators and insecticides.
Culicoides
biting midges, no-see-ums
Culicoides is a genus of over 1,000 species of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. These tiny flies, measuring 1–3 mm in length, are significant vectors of animal pathogens including bluetongue virus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, and Schmallenberg virus. Only females take blood meals, required for egg maturation, while both sexes feed on nectar. The genus has a fossil record extending to approximately 99 million years ago in Burmese amber.
Culicoides villosipennis
Culicoides villosipennis is a species of biting midge described by Root and Hoffman in 1937. As a member of the genus Culicoides, it belongs to a group of small blood-feeding flies known for transmitting viral pathogens to livestock and wildlife. The species is placed in the subgenus Amossovia within the broader Culicoides classification. Published records for this species are limited, with few documented observations relative to more extensively studied congeners such as C. sonorensis and C. stellifer.
Cuterebra polita
Cuterebra polita is a New World skin bot fly whose larvae are obligate parasites of rodents. Adults are non-feeding and short-lived, lacking functional mouthparts. Larvae develop in subcutaneous warbles on host rodents, feeding on host tissues and fluids. The species has been documented in four rodent hosts in Florida: white-footed mouse, cotton mouse, eastern woodrat, and cotton rat.
Cytoditidae
Cytoditidae is an accepted family of arachnids in Sarcoptiformes. Members are documented as members as mites associated with birds, including mites found in respiratory passages and air sacs. Records include North American bird hosts and Brazilian veterinary cases. Named species and host records describe examples, not every member.
Damalinia
Damalinia is a genus of chewing lice in the family Trichodectidae, parasitic on mammals including ungulates, equids, and sheep. Species are host-specific ectoparasites that feed on epidermal debris, skin secretions, and hair. Several species are economically significant veterinary pests, notably Damalinia ovis (sheep body louse) and D. equi (horse louse), which cause skin irritation, dermatitis, and wool damage. The genus exhibits sexual dimorphism in antennae morphology and terminalia. Temperature and humidity strongly influence reproduction and population dynamics.
Dermacentor
Dog Ticks, American Levi tick
Dermacentor is a genus of hard ticks (family Ixodidae) with 43 recognized species as of 2025. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all continents except Australia, with most species in the Nearctic ecozone. Members are obligate blood-feeding parasites of mammals, including large ungulates, lagomorphs, and humans. Several species are medically significant vectors of human and animal pathogens, including the agents of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, tularemia, and tick paralysis.
Dermacentor andersoni
Rocky Mountain wood tick
Dermacentor andersoni, the Rocky Mountain wood tick, is a three-host hard tick found in the Rocky Mountain region of western North America. It is a medically significant vector, primarily transmitting Colorado tick fever virus, with secondary potential for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. Unlike larvae and nymphs, which feed on small mammals, adults will feed on humans. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in coloration and size, with engorged females reaching nearly three times their unfed size.
Dermacentor similis
Western Dog Tick
Dermacentor similis is a recently described hard tick species (2021) previously misidentified as western populations of Dermacentor variabilis. Molecular and morphological analyses confirmed it as a distinct species restricted to western North America. Like its eastern counterpart, it is a three-host tick with significant medical and veterinary importance, though its specific vector competence for pathogens remains under investigation.
Dermanyssidae
dermanyssid mites
Dermanyssidae is a family of mesostigmatid mites. It includes the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, and other small, often host-associated species. Family-level biology is diverse and should not be inferred from one pest species.
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.
Felicola
Felicola is a genus of parasitic chewing lice in the family Trichodectidae, established by Ewing in 1929. The genus comprises at least 50 described species, with Felicola subrostratus being the only species known to infest domestic cats. These obligate ectoparasites exhibit high host specificity and are distributed across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. Infestations are considered uncommon in pet cats but occur more frequently in stray or shelter animals.
Gasterophilidae
Gasterophilidae is the traditional family name for horse bot flies and their relatives, a lineage of parasitic flies in Diptera. Modern classifications commonly place these flies in the subfamily Gasterophilinae within Oestridae, so the family name remains useful in older literature and database records. Gasterophilus is the best-known genus and is associated chiefly with horses and other equids. Other gasterophiline genera have been reported from large herbivores such as elephants and rhinoceroses.
Haemaphysalis longicornis
Asian longhorned tick, longhorned tick, bush tick, cattle tick, Asian tick
Haemaphysalis longicornis is an invasive three-host tick native to temperate East Asia that has established populations in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and the United States. First detected in New Jersey in 2017, it has since spread to at least 19 U.S. states. The species exhibits facultative parthenogenesis, with all-female populations documented in northern Japan, Russia, and the U.S. It is a significant veterinary pest of livestock, particularly cattle, and has been shown to transmit multiple pathogens to animals. While associated with various human tick-borne diseases in its native range, human pathogen transmission has not been confirmed in North America.
Haematobia irritans
Horn Fly
Haematobia irritans, the horn fly, is a small blood-feeding muscid fly native to Europe that has become a major livestock pest across North America, Latin America, and other regions. Adults are obligate hematophages that remain continuously on cattle hosts, feeding 20-40 times daily and causing significant economic losses through blood loss, stress, and reduced productivity. The species exhibits remarkable life history plasticity, with generation times as short as 10-14 days under optimal conditions and multiple annual generations. Overwintering strategies vary geographically: active adults persist year-round in tropical regions, while colder latitudes see pharate adult dormancy beneath dung pats. The horn fly has developed extensive insecticide resistance, driving research into alternative control methods including biological control, botanical repellents, and Wolbachia-based strategies.
Hypoderma lineatum
Common Cattle Grub, Ox Warble Fly
Hypoderma lineatum is a parasitic warble fly in the family Oestridae, commonly known as the common cattle grub. Adults emerge from puparia in early May, approximately one month before the related H. bovis. Females oviposit on cattle during sunny, calm weather from late May through early September, showing a preference for open areas and avoiding water and shade. First-instar larvae penetrate the host's skin and migrate to the gullet, where they develop for an average of 42.5 days before moving to subcutaneous tissues of the back. The species causes significant economic damage to cattle through hide degradation, reduced milk yield, and irritation during adult oviposition activity. Unlike H. bovis, H. lineatum does not terrify cattle during oviposition; animals typically show little uneasiness.
Hypodermatinae
warble flies
Hypodermatinae is a subfamily of bot flies (Oestridae) containing nine genera of large parasitic flies commonly called warble flies. The larvae develop as subcutaneous parasites in mammals, particularly bovines, causing economically significant damage to livestock. Adult flies are non-feeding and short-lived.
Ixodida
ticks
Ixodida is the order comprising ticks, obligate blood-feeding arachnids within the subclass Acari. The order includes approximately 850-1000 described species worldwide, classified into three families: Ixodidae (hard ticks), Argasidae (soft ticks), and Nuttalliellidae (a monotypic family). Ticks are ectoparasites of mammals, birds, and reptiles, with significant medical and veterinary importance as vectors of bacterial, viral, protozoan, and rickettsial pathogens. They possess a unique life cycle involving multiple developmental stages and host associations.
Ixodiphagus
Ixodiphagus is a genus of minute chalcidoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, comprising approximately 10–11 described species worldwide. These wasps are obligate parasitoids of ticks (order Ixodida), with females ovipositing into larval or nymphal tick hosts. The genus was erected by Leland Ossian Howard in 1907, with I. texanus as the type species. Ixodiphagus has been extensively studied as a potential biological control agent for medically and veterinary important tick species due to its unique host-specific biology.
Lucilia
greenbottle flies, green bottle flies
Lucilia is a genus of blow flies in the family Calliphoridae, commonly known as greenbottle flies for their metallic green coloration. Species in this genus are among the most frequently encountered carrion-associated flies worldwide and hold significant importance in forensic entomology, medical maggot therapy, and veterinary contexts. The genus includes species with cosmopolitan distributions due to human commerce, notably Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina. Larvae are obligate scavengers of decomposing organic matter, with some species capable of causing myiasis in living hosts.
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.
Oestrus ovis
sheep bot fly, sheep nostril fly
Oestrus ovis is an obligate parasitic fly (Diptera: Oestridae) that develops exclusively within the nasal and sinus cavities of sheep and related ungulates. Females are larviparous, depositing live first-instar larvae directly into host nostrils during flight. Larvae develop through three instars within the host before exiting to pupate in soil. The species causes oestrosis, a condition marked by nasal discharge, respiratory distress, and reduced productivity in livestock. Human infestations, though uncommon, have been documented worldwide.
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 bacoti
tropical rat mite
Ornithonyssus bacoti, commonly called the tropical rat mite, is a hematophagous mesostigmatid mite in the family Macronyssidae. It is an obligate blood-feeding ectoparasite primarily associated with rats and other rodents, but will opportunistically bite humans and domestic animals when primary hosts are unavailable. The mite is of significant medical and veterinary importance due to its role in causing rat mite dermatitis in humans and its potential to vector several pathogens. It exhibits remarkable survival capabilities, traveling hundreds of feet to locate hosts and surviving extended periods without feeding.
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.
Paratriatoma
kissing bugs
Paratriatoma is a genus of kissing bugs (subfamily Triatominae) in the assassin bug family Reduviidae. The genus contains at least two species: Paratriatoma hirsuta, the type species, and Paratriatoma lecticularia. Members are blood-feeding insects that serve as vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease. Research on P. lecticularia has revealed notable parasite persistence in dead specimens and aggregation behavior mediated by fecal pheromones.
Phortica
Phortica is a genus of small flies in the family Drosophilidae, subfamily Steganinae. Several species are medically significant as biological vectors of the zoonotic eyeworm Thelazia callipaeda, which causes ocular infections in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. The genus includes at least five species in Europe and the Middle East, with P. variegata and P. okadai being the best-documented vectors. These flies exhibit unusual zoophilic feeding behaviors, including lachryphagy (tear-feeding) in adult males of some species. The genus has gained increasing attention due to climate-driven range shifts and expanding transmission of thelaziosis.
Psorophora columbiae
dark ricefield mosquito, glades mosquito
Psorophora columbiae is a large, aggressive mosquito species native to North America, commonly known as the dark ricefield mosquito or glades mosquito. It is notorious for its capacity for massive population explosions following hurricane and flooding events, which have resulted in documented livestock fatalities through exsanguination. The species is a significant pest of mammals, including cattle, horses, sheep, and deer, and is considered difficult to repel with standard insect repellents.
Sarcoptes scabiei
Scabies Mite, Itch Mite
Sarcoptes scabiei is a parasitic mite that burrows into the epidermis of mammals, causing scabies in humans and sarcoptic mange in animals. The mite has a cosmopolitan distribution and infests numerous host species including humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Adult females create characteristic S-shaped burrows in the stratum corneum where they deposit eggs. The disease produces intense pruritus through host immune responses to mites, eggs, and fecal pellets. Different host-adapted variants exist, though cross-infectivity between closely related hosts has been documented.
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.
Stomoxyini
Stomoxyini is a tribe of biting flies within the family Muscidae. Members are hematophagous and of recognized medico-veterinary importance, with documented roles in transmitting pathogens to humans and livestock. The tribe includes approximately nine genera, notably *Stomoxys* (stable flies), *Haematobia* (horn flies), and *Haematobosca*. These flies are distributed globally but have been specifically documented as disease vectors in North African Maghreb countries.
Stomoxys
stable flies
Stomoxys is a genus of muscid flies distinguished by its blood-feeding ectoparasitic lifestyle, unusual among the Muscidae. The genus comprises approximately 20 described species, with Stomoxys calcitrans (stable fly) being the most economically significant and widely distributed. Species in this genus are obligate hematophages of mammals, causing substantial livestock losses through blood loss, stress, and disease transmission. Current phylogenetic evidence suggests the genus is paraphyletic.
Tabanidae
Horse and Deer Flies, Horse-flies, Deer flies, Gadflies, Clegs, Green-headed flies
Tabanidae is a family of large, agile true flies comprising approximately 4,455 described species worldwide. Adults are characterized by prominent compound eyes, with females possessing widely separated eyes and males having eyes that nearly touch. Females of most species are blood-feeding ectoparasites of mammals, using blade-like mouthparts to lacerate skin and lap blood for egg development, while males feed exclusively on nectar. Larvae are predaceous and develop in semiaquatic or moist soil habitats. The family includes three well-known subfamilies: Tabaninae (horse flies), Chrysopsinae (deer flies), and Pangoniinae.
Trichodectes
Trichodectes is a genus of chewing lice in the family Trichodectidae, described by Nitzsch in 1818. Species are ectoparasites of small to medium-sized mammals, primarily carnivores including mustelids, canids, and felids. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution across multiple continents. Individual species show varying degrees of host specificity, with some documented on multiple host families.
Trichodectes canis
canine chewing louse, dog chewing louse
Trichodectes canis is a chewing louse (suborder Mallophaga) that parasitizes domestic dogs and wild canids worldwide. It is a permanent ectoparasite, completing its entire life cycle on the host. The species is a known intermediate host for the dog tapeworm Dipylidium caninum, which can be transmitted to canids (and rarely humans) through ingestion of infected lice. Infestations are generally uncommon in well-cared-for dogs in developed countries but can occur in neglected or immunocompromised animals. A 2023 study reported T. canis from domestic cats in Tehran, Iran, representing a new host record.
Vermipsyllidae
Vermipsyllidae is a family of fleas in the order Siphonaptera. The family includes the genera Vermipsylla, Chaetopsylla, and Dorcadia in the GBIF backbone, although taxonomic treatments and the number of included taxa can differ among sources. Published work on Vermipsylla shows that members can be collected from wild or domestic mammals, but a host record for one species should not be treated as a family-wide rule. Family-level information is uneven, so identification is usually based on detailed morphology and, increasingly, molecular comparisons.
Wohlfahrtia vigil
fox maggot, myiasis fly
Wohlfahrtia vigil is a flesh fly (Sarcophagidae) known for causing myiasis in mammals. The species has been studied for its laboratory rearing methods and behavioral characteristics. Adults are active during warmer months and females deposit larvae on or near hosts rather than laying eggs.