Home / Fact sheets / Pediculus

Pediculus

Pediculus

Pediculus

Taxonomy

  • Kingdom Animalia
  • Phylum Arthropoda
  • Class Insecta
  • Order Phthiraptera
  • Suborder Anoplura
  • Family Pediculidae

Final host

  • Humans

    Morphology

  • Adults: small wingless insects dorso-ventrally flattened, with a small pointed head which is narrower than the thorax
  • The sucking mouthparts are terminal and protected by a snout-like haustellum
  • The three thoracic segments are fused
  • The powerful legs have a single large claw which can make contact with a thumb-like process on the tibia in order to clamp the hairs of the host
  • The eggs are glued to the hair of the host (nits)
  • The nymphs are similar to, though much smaller than, the adult

    Cycle

  • Direct
  • Hemimetabolous
  • Obligate blood-feeding insects
  • The entire life cycle (egg, nymphal stages and adult) occurs on the host

    Location

  • Hairs (head) or clothing (depending on species)

    Feeding

  • Haematophagous (all stages)

    Diagnostic

  • All stages

    Transmission

  • Adults and nymphs