Chewing Lice (Mallophaga)

This order of wingless ectoparasitic insects is thought to have evolved from barklicelpar;Psocoptera). Certainly it is not difficult to imagine insects that dwell in animal nestslpar;many Psocoptera) evolving into insects that dwell on animalslpar;Mallophaga). The order name is based on the Greek words mallo (wool) and phago (eat). Modern chewing lice now are obligate parasites, and cannot survive long off their hosts.

Classification

About 5000 species from around the world are distributed in three suborders, and often associated with specific bird hosts, but sometimes mammals. Some have common names that reflect their hosts.

• Class: Insecta

• Order: Mallophaga

• Suborder: Amblycera

• Family: Menoponidae - poultry lice

• Family: Trinotonidae

• Family: Laemobothriidae - hawk lice

• Family: Ricinidae - hummingbird lice

• Family: Trochiliphagidae

• Family: Boopidae - marsupial chewing lice

• Family: Gryropidae - guinea pig lice

• Family: Trimenoponidae - marsupial lice

• Family: Abrocomophagidae

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