sheep ked

insect

Also known as: Melophagus ovinus

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

The sheep ked, also known as a sheep tick, is a wingless, bloodsucking fly (Melophagus ovinus) that primarily infests sheep. It feeds on the sheep's blood and can transmit sheep trypanosomiasis. The term "sheep louse" can also refer to the sheep ked, though it can also describe a biting louse (Bovicola ovis) that feeds on wool. The origin of the word "ked" is unknown, and it was first used in 1925.12

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louse fly
…most common wingless species, the sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus), is about 6 millimetres (0.2 inch) long, red-brown in colour, and parasitic on sheep. Each female produces from 10 to 20 larvae at the rate of about one per week. The sheep ked cannot survive if separated from its host for…
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…most common wingless species, the sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus), is about 6 millimetres (0.2 inch) long, red-brown in colour, and parasitic on sheep. Each female produces from 10 to 20 larvae at the rate of about one per week. The sheep ked cannot survive if separated from its host for…
Read More