Anoplura (sucking lice) and Mallophaga (chewing lice) used to be treated as separate orders
Explanation of Names
Phthiraptera Haeckel 1896
Numbers
[TBA in our area], ~5000 spp. in 330 genera of 36 families total(2)
Food
external parasites of birds & mammals
Life Cycle
Simple metamorphosis. In most species, females lay 50‒150 eggs, attaching them to the host's hairs or feathers. Eggs usually hatch in about a week, and there are generally three nymphal instars.(3)
Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 12 October, 2009 - 11:40am Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, v belov Last updated 16 November, 2023 - 8:41pm