Economic
importance
Injures fowls by chewing dry skin scales and feathers, not by sucking blood. Heavy infestations can cause severe skin irritation, weight loss, and reduced egg production. Birds may become more susceptible to disease; infested chicks and hens may die.
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Distinguishing
characteristics
Small, wingless external parasites. Adults are flat-bodied, yellowish colored, and 1 /16 inch long with broad heads and chewing mouthparts. They have 3 pairs of short, two-clawed legs with 2 rows of setae on each abdominal segment and a pair of 4-segmented antennae.
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