Louse

Louse is a term used to refer to any member of the order Phthiraptera, which contains nearly 5,000 species of wingless insect. Lice are obligate parasites, living externally on warm-blooded hosts which include every species of bird and mammal, except for monotremes, pangolins, and bats.

Anatomy

Lice are small insects, with adults ranging in size from 1–8 millimetres. They have a flattened body and a head that is narrower than the thorax. There are no wings or powerful hind legs for jumping like in fleas. They have mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood and claws designed to cling tightly to hair, fur and feathers.

Life cycle

Lice have a complete metamorphosis. The female louse lays eggs which are glued tightly to hairs or feathers. The eggs hatch into nymphs, which moult three times before becoming fully grown, a process that takes about four weeks.

Types of lice

There are three types of lice that infest humans:

• Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis)
• Body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis)
• Pubic lice (Pthirus pubis)

Treatment and prevention

Treatment for human lice includes the use of lotions, shampoos, and rinses that contain chemicals that kill lice. Additionally, regular washing of clothes and bed linens also helps control lice. Lice on pets can be controlled by regularly checking pets and using flea combs to remove them.

See also

• Pediculosis
• Nitpicking
• Lice in hawks

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  Louse

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  Louse diagram, Micrographia, Robert Hooke, 1667

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  Mother Louse, Alewife