Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Melophagus ovinus

Melophagus ovinus

9.9
A wingless fly that lives on sheep and sometimes cattle and feeds on their blood
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : melófago ovino
  • The veterinarian found several Melophagus ovinus attached to the sheep's fleece.

Examples

  • Sheep infested with Melophagus ovinus may suffer from irritation and skin damage.

  • Regular inspections help farmers detect and control Melophagus ovinus infestations.

  • The Melophagus ovinus is a common pest in sheep farms.

  • Farmers often struggle with Melophagus ovinus infestations.

  • Farmers often implement treatments to prevent Melophagus ovinus infestations in their sheep.

  • When sheep have Melophagus ovinus, they may show signs of restlessness due to itching.

  • An outbreak of Melophagus ovinus can result in significant health issues for livestock.

Synonyms

ked
vsMelophagus ovinus
  • UK
1 9.9

A small fly without wings that lives on sheep and other animals and drinks their blood

is the specific species mainly infesting sheep and sometimes cattle
sheep ked
vsMelophagus ovinus
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wingless fly that lives on sheep and drinks their blood

is the species' scientific name for that same fly
sheep-tick
vsMelophagus ovinus
9.3

A small wingless fly that lives on sheep and cattle and sucks blood

is a more precise name for the same species rather than any blood feeder
sheep tick
vsMelophagus ovinus
9.2

A small animal that lives on sheep, drinks their blood, and can spread disease

identifies that particular fly species not all sheep parasites

Surface Forms

Melophagus ovinus singular
Melophagus ovini plural

Morphology

Melophagus + ovinus

The form is a scientific binomial (genus + species) and thus compositional: 'Melophagus' is given as a genus of flies parasitic on sheep, and 'ovinus' is clearly related to Latin/English 'ovine' meaning 'of sheep'. A learner who knows both constituents can directly infer this refers to the sheep-associated fly (sheep ked), so the meaning is transparent.

Etymology

Melophagus ovinus may come from older word parts where -phagus means 'eater' and ovinus means 'of sheep'. This wingless fly lives on sheep, clings to their wool and feeds on their blood, so the name helps you remember it is a parasite of sheep.