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.

Kepala kutu (Pediculus humanus capitis) adalah ektoparasit obligat manusia yang menyebabkan kutu kutu (pediculosis capitis). Kutu adalah serangga bersayap menghabiskan seluruh hidup mereka di kulit kepala manusia dan makan secara eksklusif pada darah manusia. Manusia adalah satu-satunya tuan rumah yang diketahui parasit tertentu, sementara simpanse tuan rumah spesies yang terkait erat, Pediculus schaeffi. Spesies lain dari kutu menduduki sebagian ordo mamalia dan semua perintah burung, serta bagian lain dari tubuh manusia. Kutu berbeda dari ektoparasit hematophagic lain seperti kutu di menghabiskan seluruh siklus hidup mereka pada host. Kutu tidak bisa terbang, dan pendek, kaki kekar mereka membuat mereka tidak mampu melompat, atau bahkan berjalan efisien pada permukaan datar.

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.