Gourt > Science > Biology > Flora and Fauna > Animalia > Arthropoda > Insecta > Phthiraptera
Lice (singular: louse) (order Phthiraptera) are an order of over 3,000 species of wingless parasitic insects. They are obligate ectoparasites of every mammalian and avian order, with the notable exception of Monotremata (the duck-billed platypus and the echidna or spiny anteater) and Chiroptera (bats).
A louse egg is commonly called a nit. Lice attach their eggs to their host's hair with specialized saliva which results in a bond that is very difficult to separate without specialized products. A nit comb is a comb with very fine close teeth that is used to scrape nits off the hair.
The order has traditionally been divided into two suborders; the sucking lice (Anoplura) and chewing lice (Mallophaga), however, recent classifications suggest that the Mallophaga are paraphyletic and four suborders are now recognised:
More on [ Louse ]
Typhus
Relapsing Fever
Head Lice :: Skin Disorders
The inner nerd in me adores this blog. Have a look. It's delightful: http://phthiraptera.blogspot.com/2009/12/foure-footed-beastes.html
mrbenjaminlaw (Benjamin Law) Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:45:38 -0000
The inner nerd in me adores this blog. Have a look. It's delightful: http://phthiraptera.blogspot.com/2009/12/foure-footed-beastes.html
Order: Phthiraptera - Classification, illustrations, and range maps of Australian lice.
Phthiraptera - Information and illustrations of lice from an Entomology course at N.C. State University.
Phthiraptera Central - Taxonomy of human lice, scientific meetings, announcements, list of phthirapterists, collections, and louse resources.
Phthiraptera: Lice - Classification and phylogeny of lice from the Tree of Life project.
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