What category do head lice belong to? - briefly
Head lice are ectoparasitic insects classified in the order Phthiraptera, suborder Anoplura. They belong to the family Pediculidae.
What category do head lice belong to? - in detail
Head lice are insects belonging to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Arthropoda, and class Insecta. Within Insecta they are placed in the order Phthiraptera, which comprises all true lice. More specifically, they fall under the suborder Anoplura, the sucking lice, and are members of the family Pediculidae. The genus Pediculus contains the species Pediculus humanus; the head‑specific form is the subspecies Pediculus humanus capitis.
As obligate ectoparasites, head lice live on the scalp and feed exclusively on human blood. Their life cycle includes three stages—egg (nit), nymph, and adult—each completed within a few weeks. Morphologically, they possess a dorsoventrally flattened body, clawed legs adapted for gripping hair shafts, and mouthparts specialized for piercing skin and sucking blood.
In summary, head lice are classified as:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Phthiraptera
- Suborder: Anoplura
- Family: Pediculidae
- Genus: Pediculus
- Species: Pediculus humanus
- Subspecies: capitis
This taxonomic placement reflects their status as specialized, blood‑feeding insects that inhabit the human scalp.