The tail-switch louse of cattle is mainly a tropical species, but has been found in all mainland states of Australia, and is often found on Bos indicus type cattle. These lice are very similar in appearance to short nosed cattle lice.
The cattle tail louse can sometimes be spread from animal to animal or herd to herd by flies. The 3rd instar nymphs of the tail louse frequently migrate to the backs and shoulders of animals. There they can climb onto flies frequenting the animal and be carried to new hosts.
Type
Sucking louse, fine mouthparts puncture the skin to feed on cattle blood.
Adults
This one of the larger species of cattle lice with the adults up to 4.5 mm in length (Figure 1)
Figure 1. Tail-switch louse Haematopinus quadripertusus adult. Image credit taken by J.F. Butler and courtesy of the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) publication ENY-271 Kaufman, Koehler, Butler (2005).
Eggs
Most eggs are laid in the tail switch (brush) and in severe infestations, high numbers of eggs can be seen matting the hair in this area.
Location on animal
Adult lice are mostly found on the tail only (Figure 2). Heavy infestations may extend to dewlap or surround the eyes. Nymphs are commonly seen feeding in the softer skin around anus and vulva and sometimes around the eyes.
Figure 2. Tail-switch louse Haematopinus quadripertusus infestation on tail. Image credit taken by J.F. Butler and courtesy of the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) publication ENY-271 Kaufman, Koehler, Butler (2005).
Life cycle
The incubation period of the eggs of this species is 9-40 days depending on temperature, and the complete life cycle from egg to adult can be in as few as 25 days.
Control
Since tail-switch louse eggs can hatch up to 40 days after oviposition, treatments must be reapplied at 3 week intervals to attain good control.
Figure 3. Tail-switch louse, Haematopinus quadripertusus, nymphs on the vulva of a cow. Image credit the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology, ncvetp.org
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