Overview
This family is parasitic on primates.
Pediculus
occurs on humans and other hominoids and on Neotropical monkeys. The human louse (
P
.
humanus
), comprises two forms, the head and the body louse.
Description
Head relatively small; mouth-parts developed into an unjointed more or less pointed beak, or rounded anteriorly, without mandibles. Head with distinct eyes or ocular points behind antennae. Head with eyes having distinct lens but without ocular points; on humans. Abdomen much longer than basal width, without hairy lateral tubercules; all three pairs of legs subequal.