The order has traditionally been divided into two suborders; the sucking lice (Anoplura) and chewing lice (Mallophaga), however, recent classifications suggest that the Mallophaga are paraphyletic and four suborders are now recognised:
Lice are highly host specific and many species even prefer specific sites on their host's body. As lice spend their whole life on the host they have developed adaptations which enable them to maintain a close contact with him. These adaptations are reflected in their size (0.5 mm to 8 mm), stout legs and claws in order to cling tightly to hair, fur and feathers, wingless and dorsoventrally flattened. They feed on skin (epidermal) debris, feather parts, sebaceous secretions and blood. Their colour varies from pale beige to dark grey. If feeding on blood they may be considerably darker.
The picture depicts the chewing louse Damalinia limbata found on Angora goats.
Liceeggs (nits) are about 1/30-inch long or about the size of a period at the end of a typed sentence.
Adult lice are spread mainly by direct contact with infested persons or by using infested articles such as hats, wigs, hairbrushes, combs, towels, scarves and hair rollers.
A lice shampoo is applied to the hair for 10 minutes, washed or rinsed out followed by a speciallice removal comb to remove dead lice and their eggs.
Lice are divided into two groups: lice found on mammals, which need blood for sustenance; and those found on birds, which chew on feathers and dandruff.
Pubiclice feed on human blood and remains attached at the sites of their feeding for a long period of time and can be considered as almost stationary.
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