What do feather lice look like? - briefly
Feather lice are minute, elongated insects about 1–2 mm long with a flattened, oval body and short legs for gripping feathers. Their coloration varies from pale yellow to brown, and they are wingless, appearing as tiny, immobile specks on bird plumage.
What do feather lice look like? - in detail
Feather lice are tiny, wingless insects that inhabit the plumage of birds. Adult specimens measure 1–3 mm in length, with a laterally compressed, elongated body that facilitates movement between feather barbs. The exoskeleton is sclerotized, giving a glossy, brown to reddish‑brown coloration; some species display a pale, yellowish hue on the ventral side.
Key morphological traits include:
- Head: small, rounded, equipped with short, robust antennae bearing 5–6 segments; compound eyes are reduced or absent.
- Mouthparts: chewing-type mandibles adapted for feeding on feather debris, skin scales, and occasional blood.
- Thorax: bears three pairs of short, stout legs, each ending in a claw that grips feather shafts; leg segments are heavily sclerotized.
- Wings: absent; the loss of wings is a defining adaptation to a permanent ectoparasitic lifestyle.
- Abdomen: segmented, tapering toward the posterior; dorsal surface often bears fine setae that aid in sensory perception.
Eggs (nits) are oval, about 0.5 mm long, and adhere firmly to the base of feathers using a cement‑like secretion. Nymphal stages resemble miniature adults, undergoing three molts before reaching maturity, each instar retaining the same overall body plan but lacking full sclerotization.
These characteristics collectively enable feather lice to navigate dense feather structures, remain attached during host preening, and sustain their parasitic existence.