Lice

Lice are wingless insects that are flat.  They are usually tiny in size (from 1 to 5 mm long) and can be seen with the naked eye.

Lice (singular form is louse) are insects that belong to either the sucking louse order (Anolpura) or the biting louse order (Mallophaga).  There are approximately 460 species of sucking lice and 3000 of biting lice. 

Sucking lice feed on blood and have mouthparts that are designed for sucking.  Their mouthpart goes into the skin and fits into the blood vessel where the blood meal is drawn.  These lice only occur on mammals. 

Biting lice have mouthparts that are designed for chewing and they can feed on feathers, hair and skin scales.  This allows them to live on mammals and birds.

Lice are very host specific meaning that they can only live on the species for which they are intended.  The lice that are found on dogs are not the same as the lice that are found on humans.  There is no threat from the lice that live on dogs as they are not interested in human blood.

Lice do not survive long once they have been removed from the host, so they spend all of their life on that host.  They can be transferred from host to host via direct contact. 

Life cycle of the louse

Lice eggs are called Nits, and are cemented to the hair or feathers on the host.  The eggs then hatch and nymphs (larval lice) emerge.  These nymphs feed on blood and will molt three times before maturing into adult lice.  The adults mate and the female lays eggs on the hosts feathers or hairs.  The entire cycle takes 2-4 weeks depending on the temperature.

Keep lice infested animals separate from non infested animals and seek veterinary assistance for help in treatment.  Adult lice can be killed with flea shampoo but the eggs need to hatch before they can be treated.  Baths can also help relieve any itchiness.