General

These are the "sucking lice". They are maily parasites of mammals. All species are parasitic. The "sucking lice" are grouped by some with the "chewing lice" into the Phthirpatera.

Life Cycle

Adults mate and the female deposits eggs on the host, cementing them onto hairs or feathers. A nymph hatches and feeds. There are usually a few nymphal stages before the final molt to the adult stage. They feed on blood.

Morphology

Sucking lice usually have dorso-ventrally compressed bodies,1-6 mm long. They are wingless. Mouthparts are adapted for sucking.