Louse

Head louse ( Pediculus humanus capitis)

• Amblycera
• Ischnocera
• Rhynchophthirina
• Real Animal lice ( Anoplura )

The animal lice ( Phthiraptera ), also known as Lauskerfe or Läuslinge, are a parasitic insect living - order within the Neuflügler ( Neoptera ). Approximately 650 to 1000 of the 3500 species are used in Central Europe, they are usually great 1-6 mm. The animals of the genus Laemobothrium reach a total length of 11 mm.

Description

The body of the louse is usually strongly flattened, the head usually above. In general, the animals have piercing sucking mouthparts, but especially in the Mallophaga, they are also biting. The individual segments of the chest (thorax) are fused and do not wear wings, relatively short legs are equipped with clamp mechanisms, so that the animals can hold on to the host.

Way of life

All animal lice live as ectoparasites of birds ( bird lice ) or mammals ( Real Animal lice and hair lice ). They thus represent the only major group of insects (order) in which all members are permanent parasites of birds or mammals. The Most species are specific to find more or less on a host, often populate multiple types the same host. Without this host they are usually only a few days viable. Transmission is usually by direct physical contact or through the nest, in the body louse also about clothes.

Descent

Contrary to the original doctrine that emanates from a single ancestor of extant Tierlausarten, could prove descent from two different ancestors, an international research group led by Kevin Johnson. The parasitic louse developed accordingly in spite of their great morphological similarity in the course of evolution independently twice. The big match of the parasitic body features is the opinion of the scientists the result of adaptation to the host animal, but not a sign of the close relationship among the animals (see also: convergence).

System

Within the louse four taxa are distinguished which can be identified primarily on the basis of mouthparts. ( Hair lice and feather lice ) are commonly the Amblycera and Ischnocera in a taxon called Mallophaga summarized:

Amblycera

The animals of the taxon Amblycera feed mainly of keratin substances such as hair, skin scales and feathers. They live in the fur of mammals or in the plumage of birds. Important representatives of this group are Gliricola Porcelli, which has been introduced from South America with the guinea pigs and parasitized at these as well as the largest species of louse Laemobothrium atrum who lives in the plumage of the coot.

Ischnocera

The Ischnocera feed as the Amblycera keratin substances and are also present in birds and mammals. In this group the blackbird spring Ling include ( Philopterus merulae ), the dogs biting ( Trichodectes canis), the core of the cucumber tapeworm ( Dipylidium caninum ) transfers in dogs and cats biting ( Felicola subrostratus ).

Rhynchophthirina

The Rhynchophthirina the front head area is trunk-like extended and pulled forward. This feature divides the genus Elefantenlaus ( Haematomyzus ) with their hosts, the elephants and warthogs.

Anoplura Real Animal lice

The Real animal lice are bloodsucking insects that live on mammals. They have no wings and are one to six millimeters in size. Their eggs, the nits so-called, they stick firmly to the hair of the host. Lice are part of disease vectors. About 400 species of lice are known in Central Europe are about 20 before.

This group includes the well-known representatives of the lice, people lice ( Pediculidae ) as the crab louse ( Pthirus pubis) and the two sub-species of human louse, the body louse ( Pediculus humanus humanus ) and the head louse ( Pediculus humanus capitis). In addition, about living on seals and accordingly saltwater tolerant Seehundlaus ( Echinophthirius horridus ) and the hog are many other ways ( Haematopinus suis ) in the domestic pig.