What are lice and fleas called? - briefly
Lice belong to the order Phthiraptera, commonly referred to as chewing or sucking lice. Fleas are classified in the order Siphonaptera, known as wingless, blood‑sucking parasites.
What are lice and fleas called? - in detail
Lice belong to the order Phthiraptera, a group of wingless insects that live permanently on the bodies of birds and mammals. Within this order, the suborder Anoplura comprises the sucking lice that feed on blood, while the suborder Mallophaga includes chewing lice that consume skin debris. Representative families are Pediculidae (head lice, body lice, pubic lice) and Pthiridae (body lice of larger mammals). Scientific names for the most familiar species are Pediculus humanus capitis (head louse) and Pthirus pubis (pubic louse).
Fleas are classified in the order Siphonaptera, another order of wingless ectoparasites. Their bodies are laterally compressed, facilitating movement through the hair of hosts. Major families include Pulicidae (the common cat flea Ctenocephalides felis and the human flea Pulex irritans), Ceratophyllidae, and Hystrichopsyllidae. All flea species are blood‑feeding as adults, with larvae feeding on organic debris in the environment.
Key distinctions between the two groups:
- Morphology: lice retain a flattened, elongated body; fleas possess a compact, dome‑shaped form.
- Mobility: lice crawl slowly and remain attached to a single host; fleas can jump many times their body length, enabling rapid host switching.
- Life cycle: lice lay eggs (nits) directly on the host; flea eggs are deposited in the host’s surroundings, where larvae develop in the soil or carpet.
Common terminology used in everyday language reflects these classifications. The term « lice » designates the entire group of chewing and sucking parasitic insects that inhabit hair or feathers. The term « fleas » refers to the jumping parasites of mammals and birds, commonly encountered on pets and in human dwellings. Both groups are medically significant because they transmit pathogens, such as Rickettsia species from fleas and Bartonella species from lice.