6.3.2 Ectoparasites

Ectoparasites are more of a threat to farmed deer than to wild ones, because in general, higher stocking rates are apt to result in higher parasite incidence.
Lice occur frequently on farmed deer. Lice could affect young animals and deer in poor conditions during winter, but so far no serious problems have been experienced. Ticks are often found on deer. Among the many species, Ixodes ricinus is most commonly recorded.
Keds (Lipoptena Cervi) have been observed on farmed deer in Scotland (Blaxter et al, 1974).
Mite (Demodex) species have been described from deer, but their importance is not yet known.
Warble flies may frequent deer in the wild to such and extent that hides can be rendered useless for leather production. Only in New Zealand, where warble flies do not occur, are skins not damaged. The throat warble fly, which occurs among red and roe deer, causes much irritation. Rates of infestation usually depend on stocking rates.
The headfly, Hydrotaea irritans, can affect food searching behaviour.