What is the scientific name for lice? - briefly
Lice are insects of the order Phthiraptera; the species that infests humans is Pediculus humanus, with the head louse identified as Pediculus humanus capitis. Body lice are classified as Pediculus humanus corporis.
What is the scientific name for lice? - in detail
The taxonomic designation for the group of insects commonly called lice is Phthiraptera. This order belongs to the class Insecta and is divided into four suborders that reflect feeding habits and host specificity:
- Anoplura – obligate blood‑sucking parasites of mammals (e.g., Pediculus humanus and Pthirus pubis).
- Ischnocera – chewing lice that primarily infest birds and some mammals.
- Amblycera – chewing lice with a broader host range, including both birds and mammals.
- Rhynchophthirina – a small group of sucking lice that parasitize elephants and warthogs.
Within Phthiraptera, species names follow the binomial system. Two medically important species are:
- Pediculus humanus (body louse) – a vector of bacterial pathogens such as Rickettsia prowazekii.
- Pediculus capitis (head louse) – restricted to the scalp, causing pruritus but not known to transmit disease.
The order’s defining characteristics include flattened bodies adapted for clinging to host hair or feathers, reduced or absent wings, and specialized mouthparts for either chewing or sucking. Molecular phylogenetics has refined relationships among suborders, confirming that chewing and sucking lice share a common ancestor within Phthiraptera.