Louse: pictures, information, classification and more

Photo by:
J.A.L. Cooke/Oxford Scientific Films

Louse, common name for several species of small, wingless insects. Three types of true, or sucking, lice infest humans: the crab louse, a broad, grayish-white insect, about 0.3 cm (about 0.13 in) long, usually found in the hairs of the pubic region; and two slender, gray lice, also about 0.3 cm long: the body louse, usually found in clothing, and the head louse, found in the hairs of the head. The eggs, or nits, are attached to the hair or deposited in the seams of clothing. These species subsist on the blood of humans; the body louse is a vector in the transmission of several diseases. True lice infecting domestic animals include the hog louse, the horse louse, two species of cattle lice, and the dog louse.

The biting lice, or bird lice, are insects differing from the true lice in that they possess biting (rather than sucking) mouthparts. They feed on the feathers and skin of birds and occasionally on the skin of other animals. The chicken louse is a species about 0.3 cm (about 0.13 in) long, common on domestic fowl. There are also several species that are parasitic on turkeys and pigeons.

The name louse is also applied to several other small insects, such as the plant lice, bark lice, and book lice. The wood louse (also known as sowbug), a crustacean, is so called because of its superficial resemblance to lice.

Scientific classification: True lice belong to the order Phthiraptera. The crab louse is classified as Phthirus pubis, the body louse as Pediculus humanus humanus, the head louse as Pediculus humanus captitis, and the hog louse as Haematopinus suis. The horse louse is classified as Haematopinus asini and the cattle lice as Haematopinus eurysternus and Linognathus vituli. The dog louse is classified as Linognathus setosus. The biting, or bird, lice make up the suborder Mallophaga. The chicken louse is classified as Menopon gallinae. Plant, bark, and book lice belong to the order Psocoptera.