Phthiraptera
Guides
Brueelia
Brueelia is a hyperdiverse genus of chewing lice in the family Philopteridae, forming the core of the 'Brueelia-complex'—one of the largest and most heterogeneous groups of avian lice. Over 300 species have been described, with estimates suggesting more than 1,000 species may exist from African hosts alone. The genus is predominantly associated with Passeriformes (perching birds), with most species exhibiting high host specificity; more than 85% of described species are known from a single host bird species.
Brueelia brunneinucha
Brueelia brunneinucha is a species of chewing louse in the family Philopteridae, described by Cicchino in 1983. It belongs to a genus of feather lice that parasitize birds. Members of this genus are typically specialized to particular host species or groups.
Chrysops cincticornis
Ring-clawed Deer Fly
Chrysops cincticornis is a deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Walker in 1848. It is commonly known as the Ring-clawed Deer Fly. The species has been documented in Vermont and other parts of the United States, with 291 observations recorded on iNaturalist. Research on this species has focused on its oviposition behavior and fecundity, with laboratory studies showing females deposit eggs in gelatinous masses on mud substrates near water, averaging 156 eggs per female.
deer-flyTabanidaeDipteramedical-entomologyovipositionfecundityring-clawed-deer-flyVermontUnited-Statesmud-substrategelatinous-egg-massChrysopsinaeChrysopsiniWalker-1848iNaturalistlaboratory-rearingegg-mass156-eggsrange-42-312near-watermud-like-substrateegg-depositionreproductionbehavioral-studymedical-entomology-researchinsect-vectorsbiting-fliestabanid-flieshorse-fliesdeer-fliesChrysopsNorth-AmericaNew-Englandobservation-recordssynonym-status-in-Catalogue-of-Lifeaccepted-status-in-GBIFarthropodinsectflyBrachyceraTabanomorphaHexapodaPterygotaAnimaliaArthropodaInsectacincticornisChrysops-cincticornis-Walker-1848Chrysops-(Chrysops)-cincticornisdeerflyhorseflytabanidbiting-flyvectoroviposition-behaviorfecundity-studyJournal-of-Medical-Entomology198210.1093/jmedent/19.5.597gelatinous-secretionmudwaterlaboratory-conditionsmean-fecundityegg-productionreproductive-biologyentomologyinsect-behaviorinsect-reproductiondipterantrue-flytwo-winged-flynematoceranCyclorrhaphaAschizaSchizophoraAcalyptrataeCalyptrataeOestroideaMuscoideaHippoboscoideaGlossinidaeCalliphoridaeSarcophagidaeMuscidaeFanniidaeAnthomyiidaeScathophagidaeOestridaeTachinidaeSiphonapteraPhthirapteraHemipteraColeopteraLepidopteraHymenopteraNeuropteraMegalopteraRaphidiopteraTrichopteraStrepsipteraMecopteraDipluraProturaCollembolaZygentomaArchaeognathaEphemeropteraOdonataPlecopteraGrylloblattodeaMantophasmatodeaPhasmatodeaOrthopteraDermapteraEmbiopteraZorapteraIsopteraBlattodeaMantodeaPhyllodocidaNotopteraWalker1848speciestaxongelatinoushabitatdistributionGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeNCBIlaboratory-studybehaviorlife-cyclesubstratemud-likemeanrange42-312femaleobservationrecordspecimencollectionmuseumresearchstudyarticleabstractDOIbiologyecologyhorse-flyacceptedsynonymtaxonomyclassificationUS291-observationslaboratory291-iNaturalist-observationsGBIF-distribution-recordsaccepted-species-statussynonym-in-Catalogue-of-Life156-eggs-mean-fecundityrange-42-312-eggs1982-Journal-of-Medical-Entomology-publicationDOI-10.1093/jmedent/19.5.597entomology-researchdipteran-biologyDamalinia caprae
Damalinia caprae is a species of chewing louse in the family Trichodectidae, parasitic on goats. The species was described by Gurlt in 1843 and is currently treated as a synonym of Bovicola caprae. Like other members of this group, it feeds on skin debris, hair, and secretions of its mammalian host.
Degeeriella
Degeeriella is a genus of ischnoceran feather lice in the family Philopteridae. Species in this genus are ectoparasites of birds of prey, with documented host associations including vultures and related Accipitriformes. The genus is characterized by distinctive genitalia with penial sclerite and typically more than four sternocentral setae on abdominal segments III and IV. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Degeeriella is paraphyletic, with some species showing closer relationships to other genera than to congeneric species.
Felicola
Felicola is a genus of parasitic chewing lice in the family Trichodectidae, established by Ewing in 1929. The genus comprises at least 50 described species, with Felicola subrostratus being the only species known to infest domestic cats. These obligate ectoparasites exhibit high host specificity and are distributed across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. Infestations are considered uncommon in pet cats but occur more frequently in stray or shelter animals.
Menoponidae
chicken body lice, chicken body louse family
Menoponidae is a family of chewing lice (suborder Amblycera) comprising ectoparasites of birds. They are frequently called the chicken body louse family due to the economic importance of species like Menacanthus stramineus on poultry, though the family parasitizes diverse avian hosts including migratory birds and passerines. Members possess short antennae concealed in grooves behind the eyes, and many retain partial dependence on blood-feeding through specialized mouthparts such as the hypopharynx. This hematophagous capability allows broader host distribution and reduced microhabitat specialization compared to other chewing lice.
Pediculus humanus capitis
Human Head Louse, Head Louse
The human head louse is an obligate ectoparasite specialized for life on human scalp hair. Unlike its close relative the body louse, it has remained associated with hair rather than clothing throughout human evolution. Populations in many regions have developed widespread resistance to pyrethrin and permethrin insecticides, complicating control efforts. Transmission occurs primarily through direct head-to-head contact, with infestations clustering in settings where children interact closely.
Psocodea
bark lice, book lice, parasitic lice, barklice, booklice
Psocodea is an order of insects comprising approximately 11,000 species across three extant suborders: Trogiomorpha, Troctomorpha, and Psocomorpha. The group includes free-living barklice and booklice, as well as the parasitic lice (formerly Phthiraptera). Molecular and morphological evidence demonstrates that parasitic lice evolved from within the barklice lineage, rendering the former order 'Psocoptera' paraphyletic. Members range from 1–10 mm in length and occupy diverse habitats from forest canopies to stored products.
Pthiridae
Pubic Lice
Pthiridae is a family of sucking lice containing the single genus Pthirus with two extant species: Pthirus pubis (human pubic louse) and Pthirus gorillae (gorilla louse). These obligate ectoparasites are highly host-specific, with each species restricted to a single primate host. The two species diverged approximately 3-4 million years ago, possibly associated with a host switch from gorillas to humans. Members of this family possess dorsoventrally flattened bodies and broad, crab-like claws adapted for grasping coarse hair.
Pthirus pubis
Crab Louse, Pubic Louse, Crabs
Pthirus pubis is an obligate ectoparasite of humans, the sole species in its genus to infest humans. It is dorsoventrally flattened, wingless, and 1-2 mm in length, with a crab-like appearance due to its broad, short body and specialized clawed legs adapted for grasping coarse human hair. The species has infested humans for approximately 10,000 years, with archaeological evidence from Roman and Medieval Britain, pre-Columbian South America, and southern Peru. Unlike the closely related head and body lice (Pediculus humanus), P. pubis is extremely sedentary, rarely leaving direct contact with the host body, and is transmitted primarily through sexual contact.
Trichodectes
Trichodectes is a genus of chewing lice in the family Trichodectidae, described by Nitzsch in 1818. Species are ectoparasites of small to medium-sized mammals, primarily carnivores including mustelids, canids, and felids. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution across multiple continents. Individual species show varying degrees of host specificity, with some documented on multiple host families.