Head Louse

The head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) is an obligate ectoparasite of humans that causes head lice infestation (pediculosis capitis). Head lice are wingless insects spending their entire lives on the human scalp and feeding exclusively on human blood. Humans are the only known hosts of this specific parasite, while chimpanzees host a closely related species, Pediculus schaeffi. Other species of lice infest most orders of mammals and all orders of birds, as well as other parts of the human body. Lice differ from other hematophagic ectoparasites such as fleas in spending their entire lifecycle on a host. Head lice cannot fly, and their short, stumpy legs render them incapable of jumping, or even walking efficiently on flat surfaces.

O piolho da cabeça (Pediculus humanus capitis) é um ectoparasita obrigatório de seres humanos que faz com que a infestação de piolhos (pediculose capitis). Os piolhos são insetos sem asas que passam suas vidas inteiras no couro cabeludo humano e alimentam exclusivamente de sangue humano. Os seres humanos são os únicos hospedeiros conhecidos deste parasita específica, enquanto que os chimpanzés acolher uma espécie estreitamente relacionada, Pediculus schaeffi. Outras espécies de piolhos infestam maioria dos pedidos de mamíferos e todos os pedidos de aves, bem como em outras partes do corpo humano. Piolhos diferem de outros ectoparasitas hematófagos, tais como pulgas em gastar todo o seu ciclo de vida num hospedeiro. Os piolhos não pode voar, e as suas pernas, stumpy curtos torná-los incapazes de salto, ou mesmo a pé de forma eficiente em superfícies planas.

The head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) is an obligate ectoparasite of humans that causes head lice infestation (pediculosis capitis). Head lice are wingless insects spending their entire lives on the human scalp and feeding exclusively on human blood. Humans are the only known hosts of this specific parasite, while chimpanzees host a closely related species, Pediculus schaeffi. Other species of lice infest most orders of mammals and all orders of birds, as well as other parts of the human body. Lice differ from other hematophagic ectoparasites such as fleas in spending their entire lifecycle on a host. Head lice cannot fly, and their short, stumpy legs render them incapable of jumping, or even walking efficiently on flat surfaces.