Latin: Melophagus ovinus
The sheep ked is a small fly that can boast of several names. Therefore, it also appears under names such as “sheep lice”, “sheep tick” and “sheep bites” as well as under its Latin name Melophagus ovinus. Common to them all, however, is that they all refer to the fly’s favorite host – namely the sheep.
Appearance
The body of the sheep ked is flattened and hairy. At the same time, it has an almost leathery skin and is also quite wingless. The chest of the sheep ked is brownish, while the broad hind body, on the other hand, has a grayish-brown color. An adult sheep ked grows between 4.5 and seven millimeters long.
Biology and behavior
In the temperate zone, which also includes Denmark and neighboring countries, the sheep ked is a commonly known figure that feeds on the blood of its hosts. It is especially in the winter months that sheep ked are active and where most infections occur. This is due to the close contact between the sheep, which means that the wingless fly can easily spread from sheep to sheep.
The sheep ked spend their entire lives in the wool of the sheep, which manifests itself in a period of between 4-5 months. They cannot live if they do not cling to their host. In that case, they die after a maximum of eight days. The sheep ked settle mainly in the sheep’s neck and shoulders or in the cross and tail region.
The female sheep ked gives birth to one larva at a time and about 10-15 larvae in total. The larvae are glued to the sheep’s wool with a sticky secretion that the female releases. They are most often placed 1.5-2.5 centimeters from the tip of the wool hairs. And here, too, it is the sternum of the sheep, in the crotch and tail region, as well as the lower part of the flanks, that is used for the purpose.
As soon as the eggs are placed, they immediately begin to pupate. A sheep ked pupa grows between three and four millimeters long. In the beginning it is golden brown, but gradually it becomes more black-brown and shiny. The empty pupae remain in the sheep’s wool afterwards, and the pups can be found all year round in the wool.
Damage
There is no doubt that the sheep ked can be extremely unpleasant and troublesome to its host, for the fly can move agilely around the wool and ruthlessly suck blood from the sheep. A single bite is hardly the great irritation, but if the sheep ked appears in large numbers with its troublesome bite, it can lead to the sheep rubbing itself in frustration over the itching.
This can have an impact on the wool. For the constant rubbing can result in a messy wool layer with wool waste as a result. At the same time, the sheep ked excrement can also have a dull effect on the wool, which often becomes greenish and discolored, which can be difficult to clean.
But the sheep can also suffer from the sheep ked in other ways. Their appearance can lead to possible anemia in the sheep, just as it can have a negative effect on both growth and wool production. In the worst case, the sheep ked can transmit the non-pathogenic blood parasite called Trypanosoma melophagium to the sheep.
Prevention and pest control
As the sheep ked appears in the wool of sheep, it requires the veterinarian’s instructions to combat. Therefore, always contact your own veterinarian if you have the slightest suspicion of an attack by the sheep ked in your flock.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)