Human body louse - Definition

Anoplura
Sheep lice
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Phthiraptera Suborder: Anoplura
Families
Echinophthiriidae (seal lice) Enderleinellidae Haematopinidae (ungulate lice) Hamophthiriidae Hoplopleuridae (armoured lice) Hybothiridae Linognathidae (pale lice) Microthoraciidae Neolinognathidae Pecaroecidae Pedicinidae Pediculidae (body lice) Phthiridae (public lice) Polyplacidae (spiny rat lice) Ratemiidae

Sucking lice (Anoplura) have around 500 species and represent the smaller of the two traditional suborders of lice. The Anoplura are all blood-feeding ectoparasites of mammals. They can cause localised skin irritations and are vectors of several blood-borne diseases.

At least three species of Anoplura are parasites of humans. Pediculus humanus is divided into two subspecies, Pediculus humanus humanus, or the body louse, sometimes nicknamed "the seam squirrel" for its habit of laying of eggs in the seams of clothing, and Pediculus humanus capitis, or the head louse. Phthirus pubis (the pubic louse) is the cause of the embarrassing condition known as crabs.