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OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 356 



Description of Louse. — The louse has about the same general 

 shape as the short-nosed ox louse, though it is scarcely as broad and 

 is slightly smaller. The darker portions of the body being more 

 restricted give it a more immature look than the cattle louse. Pro- 

 fessor Herbert Osborn first found this louse attacking the legs of 

 sheep at Ames, Iowa, in 1896. So far as all examinations indicate 

 this louse confines its operations to the legs and feet below where 

 the wool is found. It is especially common to the region of the 

 "dew claws" where the eggs appear to be most commonly deposited. 

 These are attached to the hair near the skin. This louse has since 

 been recorded from Virginia and Colorado. As yet, no specimens 

 have been taken in Ohio. 



Sheep foot louse — after Osborn. Bui. 5, Division of Entomology, 



U. S. D. A. Haematopinus pedalis: a, adult female; 6, 



ventral view of terminal segments of same, 



showing brushes; c, terminal segments 



of male; d, egg, — all enlarged. 



Control. — The restricted distribution of this pest upon the host 

 animal should make it an easy matter to treat the parasite at any 

 season of the year. The feet and legs can be washed with any of 

 the effective dipping solutions, or the sheep may be driven into a 

 shallow vat containing enough of the solution to reach up to the 

 body without wetting the wool. Dipping at shearing time for 

 "keds" or ticks and biting lice will destroy this blood-sucking louse 

 also. 



