Family PEDICULIDAE


Compiler and date details

S.C. Barker Department of Parasitology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Introduction

The Pediculidae Leach, 1817 comprise three species that are restricted to primates. Two subspecies of a single species, Pediculus humanus parasitise people in Australia. Despite high levels of hygiene, P. humanus remains relatively common particularly among school children.

General accounts of the biology of P. humanus can be found in a range of medical parasitology and entomological texts, e.g. Voge & John (1986).

 

General References

Voge, M. & John, D.T. 1986. Medical Parasitology. London : W.B. Saunders Co. 383 pp.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
19-Jul-2012 19-Jul-2012 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)

Genus Pediculus Linnaeus, 1758

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
19-Jul-2012 19-Jul-2012 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)

Species Pediculus humanus Linnaeus, 1758

Taxonomic Decision for Subspecies Arrangement

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
19-Jul-2012 23-Jul-2012 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)

Subspecies Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer, 1778

Human Head Louse

 

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Undoubtedly cosmopolitan.

Introduced.


Ecological Descriptors

Ectoparasitic (host(s): Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 [HOMINIDAE] Human), sanguinivore.

 

General References

Buxton P.A. 1939. The Louse. An Account of the Lice which Infest Man, their Medical Importance and Control. London : Edward Arnold & Co. 115 pp. (biology)

Durden, L.A. & Musser, G.G. 1994. The sucking lice (Insecta, Anoplura) of the world: a taxonomic checklist with records of mammalian hosts and geographical distributions. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 218: 1-90 (full synonymy)

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
15-Sep-2023 Phthiraptera 15-Sep-2023 MODIFIED Dr Alice Wells (ABRS)
28-Sep-2022 Phthiraptera 26-Jul-2023 MODIFIED
19-Jul-2012 15-Sep-2023 MODIFIED
15-Sep-2023 MODIFIED

Subspecies Pediculus humanus humanus Linnaeus, 1758

Human Body Louse

 

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Undoubtedly cosmopolitan.

Introduced.


Ecological Descriptors

Ectoparasitic (host(s): Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 [HOMINIDAE] Human), sanguinivore.

 

General References

Buxton P.A. 1939. The Louse. An Account of the Lice which Infest Man, their Medical Importance and Control. London : Edward Arnold & Co. 115 pp. (biology)

Durden, L.A. & Musser, G.G. 1994. The sucking lice (Insecta, Anoplura) of the world: a taxonomic checklist with records of mammalian hosts and geographical distributions. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 218: 1-90 (full synonymy)

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
15-Sep-2023 Phthiraptera 15-Sep-2023 MODIFIED Dr Alice Wells (ABRS)
28-Sep-2022 Phthiraptera 26-Jul-2023 MODIFIED
19-Jul-2012 15-Sep-2023 MODIFIED
15-Sep-2023 MODIFIED