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The Mallophaga are a possibly paraphyletic section of louse, known as chewing lice, biting lice, or bird lice, containing more than 3000 species. These lice are external parasites that feed mainly on birds, although some species also feed on mammals. They infest both domestic and wild mammals and birds, and cause considerable irritation to their hosts. They have Hemimetabolism or incomplete metamorphosis.
Mallophaga have mandibulate mouthparts which are located on the ventral side of their heads. They use these mouthparts to feed on feathers, hair, and epidermal skin scales. Some species also use these mouthparts to feed on blood, which they obtain by piercing the pulp of young feathers or by gnawing through the skin.
Mallophaga are often adapted to live on a specific part of their host and typically spend their entire lives on a single host. They can only survive for about three days after their host has died, and they typically use phoresis, which is hitching a ride from a fly, as an attempt to reach a new host. Mallophaga may also use the phoresis to spread to a new host even if the present one is still alive.Ramel, Gordan. "The Biting Lice (Mallophaga)". Gordon's Mallophaga (Biting Lice) Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.
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