Overview
This family, much the largest of the suborder, is world-wide in distribution, and occurs on all orders of birds that have been studied sufficiently. Approximately 40 native species in about 20 genera have been recorded from Australian birds. Roberts (1952) lists those recorded from poultry and the domestic pigeon, among the more important being
Menacanthus
stramineus
and
Menopon
gallinae
on fowls and
Colpocephalum
turbinatum
on pigeons.
Description
Head relatively large; mouth-parts mandibulate. Antennae concealed in grooves, generally capitate, usually 4-segmented, 3rd segment wineglass-shaped; mandibles horizontal; maxillary palps 2-4-segmented; meso- and metathorax usually separate. Tarsi with paired claws; on birds, marsupials, canids. Without a combinstion of the following; head elongate, with strong swelling of lateral margins in front of eye, followed by approximately parallel lateral margins to horizontal (flattened or concave) anterior margin; base of antennae widely removed posteriorly from base of maxillary palps; lateral area posterior to eye with rows of minute projections; hind femur and some sternites with dense patches of microtrichia