Phthiraptera (lice)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Phylum: Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda > Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola > Paraneoptera > Psocodea (booklice and lice)

The majority of louse species are found on birds and to a lesser extent mammals. The three most important louse species from a human point of view are the Head louse Pediculus capitis, the Body louse Pediculus humanus, and the Pubic louse Pthirus pubis (also called crabs). Head lice like even the cleanest of hair so don't take their presence as a sign of poor hygiene. However, body lice do like dirty bodies and pubic lice are often associated with sexual promiscuity because they move from person to person during sexual intercourse (you might be unlucky and pick them up in a much more innocent fashion but nobody will believe you).

Amblycera Mainly parasites of birds
Ischnocera Parasites of birds and mammals
Rhynchophthirina Parasites of Elephant and Warthog.
Anoplura (sucking lice)
	Family: Pediculidae Includes Pediculus capitis (head louse) and Pediculus humanus (body louse).
	Family: Pthiridae (pubic louse)

Links

• PHTHIRAPTERA CENTRAL Sharing and Advancing Knowledge about Lice - a comprehensive scientific site dealing mainly with nomenclature and host records but also includes a most useful bibliography with links to full papers.