Hummingbird-parasite
Guides
Ricinidae
Ricinidae is a family of chewing lice within the suborder Amblycera. All species are relatively large-bodied avian ectoparasites that feed on host blood, an atypical trait among chewing lice. The family includes three recognized genera: Ricinus (65 species, parasitizing Passeriformes), Trochiliphagus (13 species, on hummingbirds), and Trochiloecetes (30 species, also on hummingbirds but restricted to head and neck). Ricinids typically exhibit low prevalence and low intensity infestations with strongly female-biased sex ratios.