Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Phthiraptera (Parasitic Lice)

Hog Sucking Louse - Haematopinus suis - male Dog biting lice - Trichodectes canis Found at the office - Pediculus humanus Damalinia caprae Avian Louse Avian Louse Chicken Body Louse Nymph - Menacanthus Female, Pediculus humanus capitis - Pediculus humanus - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Psocodea (Barklice, Booklice, and Parasitic Lice)
No Taxon Phthiraptera (Parasitic Lice)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
sister group to Liposcelididae(1)
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)