Overview
This family consists of 2 genera, one on Neotropical humming-birds and the other (
Ricinus
) parasitising small passerines of several families.
Ricinus
is found on several passerine families in Tas. and south-eastern Australia. These lice seem incongruously large relative to the size of their hosts.
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. Abdominal segment 1 fused to thorax; spiracles on apparent segments 2-7. (Head elongate in
Ricinus
; base of antennae widely removed posteriorly from base of maxillary palps).