
Community identification
Louse
Phthiraptera
- Order & Family
- Order Phthiraptera; families vary (e.g., Pediculidae for head lice)
- Size
- 0.33 mm to 11 mm depending on species and life stage
Natural Habitat
Typically found on the bodies of warm-blooded hosts like humans, mammals, and birds
Diet & Feeding
Obligate parasites that feed on host blood or skin debris/secretions
Behavior Patterns
Wingless insects that spend their entire life cycle on a host; eggs (nits) are glued to hair or feathers
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, skin irritation, and in some species, transmission of diseases like typhus; no known benefits to the host