Editing Sucking louse (section)

== Characteristics ==
Sucking lice are typically flattened and wingless, with sharp claws on their legs that are used to attach themselves to hair or human clothing. All sucking lice suck blood through a small [[proboscis]] that is usually kept inside of their head. Their color typically ranges between a mixture of yellow and white.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sucking louse {{!}} Parasite, Blood-Feeding, Pest {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/animal/sucking-louse |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> There are around 540 different species of Anoplura, and unlike the closely related [[Mallophaga]], sucking lice only parasitize mammals.<ref name=":8" />

Sucking lice bodies are typically oblong, with a flattened body and a head that is rounded in the front and smaller than the thorax.<ref name="bulletin-1883">{{Cite book |title=Bulletin |publisher=[[U.S. Government Printing Office]] |year=1883 |publication-date=December 12, 2011 |pages=187 |language=en |oclc=365228942 |issue=1–10}}</ref> The lice have anywhere from three to five separate thread{{ndash}}like [[antenna (zoology)|antennae]] on top of the end of the head that is used to help navigate their surroundings.<ref name="bulletin-1883" /> The head tends to slightly widen next to the antennae.<ref name="bulletin-1883" /> The antennae are composed of three to five equal sized joints that are used to aid in sensing their surrounding.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-15 |title=Lice (Phthiraptera) - Factsheet for health professionals |url=https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/all-topics-z/disease-vectors/facts/factsheet-lice-phthiraptera#:~:text=Sucking%20lice%20are%20less%20biodiverse,their%20relevance%20to%20public%20health |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.ecdc.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> The [[thorax]] contains two irregularly shaped triangular plates that help defend the insect's interior. Most sucking lice are no more than two millimeters in length.<ref name="bulletin-1883" />

=== Life cycle ===
All sucking lice undergo a process of slow [[Metamorphism|metamorphosis]], with three life stages of egg, nymph and adult.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anoplura |url=https://entomology.k-state.edu/outreach-and-services/4-h/Guide-to-Insect-Orders/anoplura.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=entomology.k-state.edu}}</ref> The entire process of Anoplura's growth occurs whilst on their host, however they are able to survive for small periods of time in outside environments.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Lice Dogs and Cats: chewing (Mallophaga), and sucking (Anoplura) - Learn About Parasites - Western College of Veterinary Medicine |url=https://wcvm.usask.ca/learnaboutparasites/parasites/lice-chewing-mallophaga,-and-sucking-anoplura.php |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=wcvm-learnaboutparasites |language=en}}</ref> Once a female louse matures, they will lay large amounts of small eggs (also known as nits) on the individual hairs of hosts.<ref name=":0" /> Nits are usually between 0.3 to 0.8 millimeters long, and are often pale in color or nearly transparent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-31 |title=Life cycle of lice: Stages, how they spread, and more |url=https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/life-cycle-of-lice#life-cycle-of-head-lice |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.medicalnewstoday.com |language=en}}</ref>