What are External Parasites?

Question 1

What is another name for external parasite?

Answer 1

ectoparasite

Question 2

What do external parasites do?

Answer 2

live or feed upon the skin of an animal

Question 3

What is the presence of multiple external parasites called?

Answer 3

infestation

Question 4

What are the two groups of arthropods that are the most important external parasites?

Answer 4

1. insects

2. arachnids

Question 5

What are examples of insects that are parasites?

3

Answer 5

1. lice
2. fleas
3. flies

Question 6

How are insect’s bodies divided?

3

Answer 6

1. head
2. thorax
3. abdomen

Question 7

How many legs do insects have and where do they originate?

2

Answer 7

1. 6 legs

2. originate from the thorax

Question 8

What are the examples of arachnids that are parasites?

2

Answer 8

1. ticks

2. mites

Question 9

How is the body of an arachnid divided?

2

Answer 9

1. fused head/thorax

2. abdomen

Question 10

How many legs do arachnids have and where do they originate?

2

Answer 10

1. 8 legs

2. originate from the abdomen

Question 11

How do external parasites damage the host?

4

Answer 11

1. irritation
2. loss of body condition
3. anemia
4. disease transmission

Question 12

How do external parasites cause irritation to the host?

2

Answer 12

1. biting

2. crawling

Question 13

How do external parasites cause a loss of body condition?

Answer 13

decreases food intake

Question 14

What diseases do external parasites transmit? (3)

Answer 14

1. Ehrlichiosis
2. Lyme disease
3. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Question 15

How are external parasite infestations diagnosed?

2

Answer 15

1. some visible to the naked eye

2. some easily collected by skin scraping for micro identification

Question 16

What are the Seasonal Variations of External Parasites?

2

Answer 16

1. some spend entire life cycle on the host and are there year round
2. some spend part of their life cycle off the host need warm weather